New Britain herald., 1925-04-01
Connect Groove in Lead Pellets With Bit of Steel in Barrel of Pistol Taken From Chapman in Muncie, Ind. Prosecution Rests and Defense Takes up Task of Breaking Down States Evidence
WITNESS SAYS ATWATER TOLD HIM HE
 COULD NOT IDENTIFY SHELLY SLAYER
Especial to The Herald)


 Hartford April 1.-Two pistol experts positively declared the witness stand in superior court today that the bullets taken from the body of James Skey New Britain policeman were fired from gun seized from Gerald Chapman, mail bandit when he arrested in Munce Indiana last January Despite long and grueng crossexamnaton by Frederick J. Goeh chief counsel for Chapman, their testimony not shaken Chapman remained unperurbed during their recital
 The experts J. Henry Fitzgerald of the Colts Patent Fire Arms Co., of Hartford and Roy E. Jones of Smith Wes son Co.,, fncr of Springfield, Mass F..
 Motion to Dismiss Indictment Denied
 Immediately after they had been dismissed from the stand States Attorney Hugh M Acorn announced that the states closed Nathan Freeman of counsel for the defense immediately moved that the murder indictment against Chap be dismissed the ground that the state had failed to its The motion denied by Judge Newell Jen nings.
 Even though Fitzgerald and Jones were subjected to searching examination by Groeh they remained firm in their statements that the fatal bullets from the gun found in Chapmans possession. Assisting him. Groeh had William A. Jones' former captain and pistol expert of he New York po lice department Between he they framed series of tech ncal questions which shot at the witnesses rapid succession. ... ss"asea N
 Bit of Steel Made Groove in Bullet
 tiny piece of steel said to have projected from the - tero of the barrel of gun taken from Chapman may make all the difference in the world The experts for the state es ned that this bit of steel made slight in the bullets and they showed the in the lead removed from Skey body According to their statements identical groove would not be found again in 10,000,000 cases.
 Groeh brought up the of Harold Israel who con- fesed to the murder of priest in Bridgeport During the trial there long legal Wrange between pistol experts and although Israel admitted he had done the shooting the case was dropped because the state could prove fired the gun.
 Boyd Not On Stand
 Spectators and court officials surprised when Acorn rested his without putting w. F. Boyd state witness on the stand Boyd occupied cell with Chapman at Munce h. diana when the bandit captured and Chapman said to have made statements to him which were considered of vital interest to Alcorn.
 Contradcts Atwater's Testimony
 The first blow at the states evidence offered by defense witness came when Arthur w. Bagn manager of grocery store in New Btan testified that Patroman Atwater said to hm Il could not recognize the man who did the shooting if saw him. Atwaer had previously identified Chapman as the man who shot Skely.
 An attempt to establish an ab came when James Pendan denS fut dealer of Springfield Mass testified that he saw Shean and two companions in Springfield at o'clock on the morning of the murder and that neither of the companions was Chapman