New Britain herald., 1925-03-17
Mysterious W o m an With Shean Said To Be Former Wife Who
 Returns To His Side.
Bandit Accused of killing Policeman Skelly Cool and Unperturbed During Court Proceedings.
Especial to the Herald.)

Special to the Herald.)
 Hartford, March 1.-The open ing shot in the legal battle for the life of Gerald Chapman, charged with the murder of Patrolman James Skelly in the Davidson & Lev enthal store, New Britain, on the morning of October IF. was exploded in superior court this morning be- fore Judge Newell Jennings when Attorney c. W. Murphy of Danbury. one of Chapman's counsel, argued his motion for a change of venue.
 As soon as the proceedings were under way and Johnstone Vance. publisher and managing editor Of the Herald" was called as the first witness in support of the motion, it was apparent that the session would be long, tedious one, and that in all probability, a decision on the motion would not be given today. The court was called to order al 10 o'clock and immediately after murmur went about that Chapman was downstairs and was being brought up to the prisoners pen. This was the signal for all eyes to focus or. the head of the stairway, up which Chapman soon same. heavily guarded. Warden Scott of Wethersield prison. who has been appointed guardian Of the body of the super-bandit by the federal au. thorities, was in charge of the guard and was seated beside Chapman ir the pen.
 F Chapman Swaggers To Seat The prisoner was not handcuffad swhen he appeared in court and
 walked with swagger as he strolled
 over to his seat. He appeared much
 less concerned over the proceedings than did his guards. The only thing about him that gave the impression of cool cunning for which he is noted. was his keen, penetrating eyes that shifted about the courtroom apparently taking in every detail. Seated outside the pen, in the sec ond row containing witnesses, was Walter E. Shean, the partner in the burglary, who will be the star wit ness for the state against Chapman. Beside Shean was young woman. about whose identity there was con siderable speculation. She was con. stantly engaged in conversation with Shean, and accompanied him in and out of the room during the reeesses.
 One story as to her identity that came from an apparently authorita- tive source was that she was Shean's former wife, who divorced him shortly after the local crime. The report was that a reconciliation had been effected between the couple.
 Chapman Prefers Trial By Jury. States Attorney Hugh NJ. Alcorn was the first to address the court. He moved that Chapman be pre- sented before the bench to declare his preference for trial by court or by jury. Judge Jennings then order ed Chapman presented and the pris- oner was ushered before the bench. He was asked by the clerk to an- nounce his choice and after about a minutes whispering with Attorney Murphy, the latter announced that Chapman chose trial by jury. Chap man never said a word aloud. After the choice was made, he was taken back to the pen where he remained throughout the proceedings.
 Chief William c. Hart and Detec- tive Sergeant William P. McCue or New Britain were in the courtroom and with them were all the witnesses from New Britain who will be called upon to testify at the trial of Chap man on March 24. It could not be learned for just what purpose these witnesses were present, but it is un- derstood they were to identify the prisoner.
 Two witnesses whose identity has been concealed by the police and who have said they saw the murder CT of Skelly were here. These were James White, proprietor of a Main street livery stable and Bernard Carlson, an employe of the Conncc ticut Company.
 On the morning of the murder Carlson is reported 10 have been il. the office of the trolley company fooling with a fellow employe. His partner made a dive at Carlson causing him 10 run out the dooi into the alley. As he did so. tn murderer, who was making hi escape through the alley, almos' ran into him. Carlson jumped aside, taking a good look at thy man. and watched him proceed ( Chestnut street where he disap peared from view.
 Newspapermen Questioned Questioning Johnstone Vance
 Atty. Murphy asked him to quot, the circulation figures for his paper and also to produce his filed show ing the issues in which the stories concerning Chapman were pub nshed. These files were submitted i for consideration by the court Officials of the two Hartford pa
 sers. the New Britain Record. the i Bristol Press and the Bridgeport IContinued sR raRa iET