New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1925-11-03
TWO LIFERS ARE
GIVEN LIBERTY
Two Other COnViCtS Have Sen
fences COMMITTED

Hartford, Oct. 8 Up)--Two men
serving life sentences at the
Wethersfield state prison were
granted unconditional pardons yes
terday by the state board OF pardons
and two others were allowed COM
mutations of one year and two years
respectively each on their sentences.
Thirty six applications were refused
after thirty seven appeals for par
dons or communications had been
withdrawn voluntarily
Walter Olson Al years old, who
has served 10 years of the life sen
tence given on April 10. 1915 for the
killing of Nelson Quicker an Ansonia
bartender was granted al uncondi-
tional pardon.
The other pardon was given 10
Joseph Toscano of New London 54
years old who served II years Of a
life sentence imposed in November
1904 for the murder of Doreni Men
CHI, during d quarrel.
The Becker Case.
The futiliy OF weapons as a de-
fense for policemen was touched up
on by States Attorney Hugh NJ. AL
corn In strenuous opposition offered
TO the appeal for Communication for
Arthur NJ. Becker Of New Britain,
who was convicted of assault with
intent to murder in 1922 after shoot
Ing and seriously wounding Detec-
tive Sergeant Larry Lowe of this
city. The prisoner. who is making
his fourth appeal for clemency, shot
the detective when, the latter was
about to aarest him at the Union
Station after a robbery in Danbury.
Sergeant Lowe had been warned.
Mr.. Alcorn said, that Becker was a
bad man" but, following the COM
mon custom of using his revolver
only for defense, failed to cover the
criminal, who se'zed the advantage
and shot the policeman. Telling of
the previous record of Becker, the
states attorney opposed the request
ed communication to five years from
the imposed ten to twenty years.
Becker has served three years and
Is now 2S years old
Pleads For Eyanoff.
Mayor Paonessa of New Britain
was among those to plead leniency
for George Evanoff OF that city who
Is serving ten to fifteen years for
manslaughter for the death of his
wife. He said that previously the
prisoner had been OF exemplary hab-
its and was sure that he had suffered
sufficiently for a rash act. The de-
tails of the murder we're recounted
by Mr.. Alcorn in opposing pardon.
The prisoner. he said, had first used
his hands to choke his wife and later
had buckled strap about her throat
to make certain of her death. Evan
off was convicted in 1920 and has at
present received communication of
eleven months for good behavior.
Other New Britain Cases.
The tale of the shoe box shift"
on a New Britain shoemaker in
which he was victimized to the eX.
tent Of $4,000 was told when, Tony
Astolsh, 80 years old requested par
don for his share In the crime. He
was sentenced December 80, 1924
for from one to three years.
Ernest Sacs of New Britain ap-
peared for Emil Fraiter, who is
serving fifteen year sentence for
mansIaughter. Ho was sentenced In
1915, The lawyer declared that the
physical condition of the prisoners
father, who should be operated upor
demands that the son be released
to aid In securing the money for the
operation. Mr.. Alcorn declared tina
the sentence for manslaughter fit
ted the case"