New Britain herald., 1925-04-04
Did Not Think l Had a Chance, :" Prisoner Says. "They Didn't Con- vict the Man Who Committed the Murder, But They Convicted Ger aid Chapman Solely On His Past Record'- d'-Groehl Weeps At Jury Report = Judge Jennings Denies Plea To Have Verdict Set Aside
(By The Associated Press)

Hartford, Conn, April 4-Gerald Chapman. spec- tacular mabandit jailbreaker and criminal extraor dlnay today was sentenced to hang in the Connecti cut state prison June 25 in payment for the life of New Britain patroman of whose murder last October l2 jury had convicted him less than an hour before
 Chapman, the stoic notorious criminal did not finch or fater as sentence passed With his arms folded across his breast and his fral body held sy erect he listened to the judges words spell out his doom with only flushed face to mark his emotion
 Sentence is Pronounced
 Judge Jennings convened court for the grim busi- ness of the death sentence at Il :35 o'clock
 "Mr Sheriff" he called make proclamation of silence while sentence of death is pronounced"
 "Oyez, Oyez, Oyez" called Sheriff Edward Dewey from his official post q now decaim silence in the courtroom while the prisoner sentenced to his death"
 Chapman, his ever vigilant guards pressed closely about him. was led before the judges high bench as the omnous words of the ancen- proclamation died away Chapman Has Nothing to Say
 The prisoner, his prison pallor suffused by one of his rare Hushes, braced himself on his slender legs crossed his arms, and with head thrown back stared directly at the squarebut judge out of his cold blue eyes. To the customary question as to whether he wanted to make presentence statement Chapman an- sWered in clear, level tones:
 T have nothing to say"
 "Ihe sentence of this court" Judge Jennings pro- ceeded, lis that you, Gerald Chapman forthwith be taken to the states prison at Wetherseld and there confined until June 25 1925, when before sunrise of that day, you shall be hanged by the neck until you are dead"
 The prisoners gaze fell. That with the flush that still mantled his checks his only evidence of emo- tion.
 The jurors were not due to report in court until 10 o'clock to which hour court had been adjourned by Judge Jennings last night after they had considered the without decision for eight hours and 32 minutes But at o'clock Samuel s. Chamberin, Hartford bus- ness man who elected foreman after the case was submitted, told Sheriff Dewey that the 12 men, re- freshed by their nights rest were eager to resume deliberations. The F immediately were taken to the plain little jurors in the courthouse building and locked into their conference, although neither Judge Jennings nor the spectacular defendant had yet arrived
 Chapman in Heavy Irons
 Chapman arrived from the state prison at Wethersfed four miles from here shortly before o'clock He heavily manaced and oned to of the five guards constantly with him when he is out of his prison cell.
 The prisoner appeared debonair as ever despite the strain of waiting He reported to have slept as soundly as he had every other night since he was brought to Wethersfed from the federal penenay at Atlanta to stand tl1al for the murder of PatTolnan James Skelly.
 Shows No Emotion
 Chapman standing in the bleak prisoners dock in the courtroom evidence of emotion as the court clerk Lucus Fuller read the verdict handed him by the jury fore man.
 GroehI Will Appeal
 Frederick Groeh chief defense counsel had previously that he would file an appeal in the event his sec tacuar client was convicted.
 After dSiSSing the jury and congraulating the jurors on reaching this verdict which believe is just verdict Judge Jennings recessed court for half hou which time he SeI TOT nearing dese counsel motion to set aside the verdict State Prosecutor Hugh M Alcorn 'ho lavvers hand and ia aoh the looer tnars all rrht- rpoune sentence on Cbanman Chapmans body erect uris his striking high eyes the defense motion looking straight ahead the side the verdict compressed as his guards manaced