The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-03-24
CHAPMAN PASSES JUROR
Defendant Takes Active Part IN
Murder Trial.
Bv United Pres,

BV United Press
HARTFORD, Conn. March "a
Gerald Chapman, prince of bandits,
viii take an active part in his own
defense on a charge Of murder.
That became evident nearly as
soon as his trial on charges of
having killed Policeman James j.
Skelly of New Britain, Conn.
opened today.
Fred w. Vets. a farmer. was the
first juryman passed and he was
passed on Chapman's personal
recommendation.
He looks like fair man." Chap
man said to his attorney when
Veits was called to the jury box. at
believe he will Judge the case on
nothing but the evidence"
After brief questioning, Vets was
accepted.
He will be transported to and from
the courtroom In an armored car
and will be handcuffed to an officer,
while other officers will form a guard
around him. In the courtroom two
Before the evidence is completed,
1t may explode stories that Chap
man is college graduate; a man of
linguistic attainment, and the scape-
goat son Of prominent family.
1t is understood that 1t will be re-
vealed that Chapman in reality was
born in New York on the East Side;
that niS education, rxvor r~olno1 a.. A. =.
public schools of New York and in
few months at a private school,
during which time his honest, Irish
parents hoped to make priest of
him, and that he left school to
launch a criminal career which has
lasted for approximately twenty
years. He was first arrested when
he was IT years old and is now
said to be 81.
1t is true that he speaks several
languages. but 1t is understood that
he learned these in Jail and from
underworld associates.
Sensation of this generation,
Chapman will fight for the right to
complete a twenty-year sentence in
the Atlanta penitentiary. The State
will ask that he be put to death at
Wethersfield prison for the murder
of a New Britain policeman.
With the mysterious MRS. Bees
wax" of Providence, r. T., as a State
witness. Chapman's trial is expected
to unfold a rare drama of love and
intrigue.
Following his capture by a police
man in Muncie. Ind, several months
fago. Chapman was returned to At
lanta penitentiary, from which he
had escaped while doing twenty
years for robbery.
But States Attorney Alcorn went
to Washington and convinced Fed
eral officials he had good murder
case against the bandit. Chapman
was brought here secretly and has
been in jail awaiting trial since.
1.-THE cards are stacked against
me-" Chapman pleads from his close
~ guarded cell.
Mrs. Beeswax," whose real iden-
tity is kept secret. is understood to
have acted as Chapman's banker. 1t
is alleged the profits Of his activities
were entrusted to her and that she
gave him monthly allowance. 1t
was through letters that she wrote
to Chapman that the bandit was
captured and Mrs. Beeswax" is
expected to prove an important
State witness in establishing that he
was in New Britain, the night OF
the shooting.
The most important State witness.
however. probably will be Walter F..
Shean, BLACK sheep Of wealthy
Springfield. Mass, family, who is
said to have made a complete con-
fession regarding the robbery that
led to the officers murder. The
confession. according to the police,
indicates Shean had only a small
part I'm the crime and that Chapman
fired the fatal shot
The policeman. James Shelly. was
shot and killed last October when he
surprised two men who had brok an