New Britain herald., 1925-06-15
LOVED SLAIN MAN,
 SAYS MISS PERKINS
Accused Girl on Stand Bares
 Her Life
DOESN'T RECALL KILLING
17 Year old Defendant Says that Connors Was Unduly Intimate With Her Until She Fell in Love With Tommy Templeton.


 New York, July IS P--Dorothy Perkins, 1T years old. took the wit ness stand today In general sessions court to tell her story of the fatal shooting on St. Valentines Day of Thomas Tempeton. her former sweetheart.
 Although nervous, she was ap- parently in excellent spirits compar- ed with her condition last week. when she collapsed in court.
 Under the questioning of Defense Attorney Lash, the girl in a barely audible voice told of intimate rela- ton she had had with Mickey Con- nors, her middle aged married suitor who is now serving sen tence for wife-beating.
 Familiar With ConnOrs
 These relations began in 1923. she said. when she was barely Is.
 Connors. she said, compelled her  threat of punishment. She met TempIeton on December 1S, 1924. and fell in love with him,
 Relating events leading upsto the fatal St. Valentines Day party st which Templeton was shot. the girls voice fell to a barely audible whisper. Connors and Templeton became friendly. sine declared, even taking a drink together.
 There was much drinking" at the party at her home, she said, and the bedroom was Uttered with bottles.
 Did you drink with Tommy" questioned Defense Attorney Lash.
 "Yes. I had one drink the girl answered.
 Tells of Threat
 While drinking with Tommy. she said. her father entered the room and said, "If Connors comes up to- night, you1 go down with a bull let"
 why dld you 1ake lHe sun Lash asked the girl.
 50 my father wouldn't break up the party" she answered.
 Her mother entered at this point the girl testified. grabbed Perkins by the shoulder, and in the scuffle the shot was fired,
 She denied any intention of shoot ing Templeton and declared she could not remember having had the gun in her hand.
 She Loved Tommy
 "I loved Tommy TNmpleton' the girl said when pressed as to whether the shooting was proposed.
 'I don't know whether the gun was in my hand; ] don't kno" whether l pulled the trigger; I don't know how the gun went off
 Under crosse examination Dorothy admitted Tcmpleton saw the pistol which caused his death when her pocketbook unexpectedly opened In a Jersey movie house. She hau taken the gun from her aunts nome "so that Tommy could teach me marksmanship." but added Tempie- ton had ordered her to stop carry : ing it. ,.u
 She claimed she did not kno" whether the revolver was loaded un- til the shot was fired.
 "lf you did not think it was load cd. then why were you afraid o' your fathers threats to Kill Con norsc" demanded the prosecutor
 "I don't know" she said.
 When Templeton fell, Dorothy said she fed to the street and thre" tbe gun into the gutter because she was afraid she would be arrested
 A number of letters written py Dorothv while imprisoned Tn '"7 Iegerson Market jail and given to StrI visitor 10 be delivered to Mickey Sonpors were read into the recorus' some were signed. Lots or 'oFe' Dorotbv." And one closed Wi,h 'he n,ea For Gods sake Miche!' write"
 Broke oi Relations
 Dorothy told the prosecutor she .d hrorer off relations with Con- mor, n a month before his marriage. ,as, year and denied knowledge or being named as correspondent ln divorce suit brought by Mrs. Con nors She said Connors threatened to kin her if she told his wife oi their intimacies.