New Britain herald., 1925-07-18
NEW WITNESSES
 10 ASSIST SCOTT
Several Ready to Testify to
 Mistaken Identity

Chicago July l8 P'-Russell Scott crstw hlle Canadian hnancier count ing the hours of the week Of life given him in the county jail death cell, has been buoyed up in his hope of ultimately escaping the eallows by development as strange IS the message which brought him a re- prieye.
 This vas the finding Of three new purrorted witnesses, two here and one in Detroit, declaring the murder of Joseph Maurer, drug clerk, for which Scott was condemned 10 die, was not in a holdup, but In q quar- rel over bootleg whiskey and that Robert Scott. his brother, actually fired the shot
 The Chicagoans are women "hoso names were not revealed by Scotts attorneys. The netroiter Is James M Ball, telegraph operator. who said he saw Maurer killed by Rob ert Scott
 Balls story "as branded as pure fake" by George F. Gorman. assist ant prosecutor. who procured Scots conviction. He also termed "a bit of strategy the telegram signed Robert Scott. sent 10 Governor Len Small from Detroit, in which re- sponslbility for the killing vas as- sumed,
 Receipt of this telegram caused Governor Small to grant Scott 4 re prieve of one week, siH hours before the time set for his hanging.
 Rall Tells Story
 Ball told his story in the office of the Detroit Free Press, He said he Was in the drug store, across the street from the Chicago city build ing, when Scott brothers entered Robert spoke to Maurer and asked him for money the store owed them
 Maurer denied the debt and heat ed words passed, Balls story con- tinued Maurer ordered them from the store and raised his hand in a striking position,
 Robert Scott bent forward Ball related Several reports rang out, Maurcr crumpled up, Russell, tht eldest brother, was standing with his hands 10 hls sides and could ID have done it Robert might have fred from his coat pocket or with the gun in his hand.
 Ball did not discover the mistake in Identities between the Scots until Thursday when he saw newspaper photographs of the condemned man. He said his knowledge troubled him and that after he learned Scott had been reprieved he telegrsphed him in the death cell, asking Scott 70 send his father 10 Detroit
 The two nomen witnesses. Scott 3 attorneys said, are prepared to tell that they were in the drug store on the night of the killing IS comr2n- ions of the Scotts at 2 drinking par It~. during which Maurer and Rob crt Scott quarrelled The women did not see the shooting. the at'or- neys said
 Robert Is Missing Meanrhile. Robert Scott. Tho promised in the message 70 Cover nor small that he would surrender, has not put in all appearance, But other messages, purporting 10 gl]+ Information which would save Scott from hanging were received by the authorities and hv Scotts relatives.
 If the message IS hoax. it is the socond time in ChiCago's crime Qn- .rals that telegram has saved th' lie of a condemned man. The only ether was in l&1U 'in the ease of nan Walsh uho killed his sweet heart
 After the governor had refused d rerrieln of communication and prep2 rations for the execution were com rlete. a telegram signed "ith the governors name uas delivered to the sheriff. ordering him to stop the exc. ruticn, The telegram was hoax The governor did not learn Of II until after the hour set for the exc culon had passed He vas forced tn commute Nalsh's sentence and the prisoner died in the penitentiar, after serving 4@ years.