New Britain herald., 1925-04-06
REPORT NEW EVIDENCE
 AS BASIS FOR APPEAL
Groehl Laying Plans to Carry Case to Court
 of Errors

Developments since Saturday morning when Gerald Chapman was sentenced to hang at the Wetherst1eld prison on the morning of June 25 for the murder of Patrol man James skeliy in the Davidson & Leventhal store on the morning of October 12. 1874, seem to indicate that the battle to save the life of the daring criminal has only begun. ,
 Judge Frederick J. Groehl is busy in his New York ,office making preparations for an appeal to the state supreme court Of errors in an effort to get a new trial for the murderer of the local policeman. He is quoted as saying that he has found important new evidence upon which he will base his appeal for new trial. i,
 The sentencing of Chapman has also started the wheels grinding in the department of justice at Wash- ington and Assistant Attorney Gen. eral William J. Donovan has an- nounced hat corps of legal experts has been set to work investigating the status of Chapman and whether there Is any legal obstacle to his execution in accordance with the sentence imposed Saturday.
 States Attorney Hugh M. Alcorn is carefully noting developments in the case and 1t Is understood that he Is making study of the situation to be prepared to oppose any at- tempt to save the twentieth century Rallies from the gallows.
 Public sentiment on the conviction of Chapman has baffled the compre- hension of court and police officials. Judge Newell Jennings, the presid- ing judge at the trial, remarked Sat- urday as he sat in his chambers after sentence had been imposed on Chapman: T cannot understand the attitude Of the public toward this trial. It seems to have been enamour- ed of the man." That the reckless daring of the cool, calculating and unemotional criminal has appealed and won its admiration In spite of his conviction for the cold blooded murder of Patrolman Skelly is the opinion of the officials and members of the bar who heard the evidence in the case.
 Deputy Warden Hughes of the Atlanta prison, who was present at the trial, took note of the public sentiment in favor Of Chapman, and remarked: Tt Is all well and good for the public to stand in awe and gaze at Chapman while he is under arrest and a very heavy guard, but turn that man loose among them and you would find a very quick change of feeling would take place."
 The only hope of saving Chapman from the .gallows, according to at- toreys who were present at the trial, would be insistence by the federal authorities that he complete his 25 year federal sentence for the S2,400,- GOO New York mall robbery before the Connecticut sentence was car ried out. It Is generally conceded that Chapman's health is impaired and that he would not outltve that sentense.
 The notorious criminal is at the present time in the custody of the state of Connecticut as the result Of a writ of habeas corpus issued by Judge Newell Jennings to States Att torney Alcorn. The question now to be decided is whether the sentence Of death imposed by the state can take precedence over the 25 year federal sentence. No precedent has been found In the federal archives in which a similar situation existed l and the only case in the minds of of- fcials In which a federal prisoner [ was turned over 10 state authorities | for trial was the famous Ponzi trial 1 in Massachusetts. The circumstances i in that case were different in regard | to the sentence, It Is pointed out, as the sentence imposed by the state ! was similar to the one imposed by l the federal court, entailing a prison 1 term.
 If Chapman had received a life ! sentence here, it Is understood that
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