New Britain herald., 1926-12-24
TROLLEY MAN SAW
 VICTIM OF MURDER
Conductor Links Meriden Hotel
 Worker With Staying
THREE OTHERS DETAINED
Body of John Mastriano, Jr., of Sil- yer City Found In Hamden-Fred Etzel. Matis Employe, Questioned By Coroner Mix.

New Haven, Conn.,, Dec. 24-Fred Etzel, counter man in the cafeteria of Hotel Matis, in Meriden, was un- der examination by Coroner Eli Mix in his office here today to secure in formation, if he had any, as to the murder of John Mastriano, Jr., 2s, of that city. The latter's body was found in Mt. Carmel, town of Ham, den, late yesterday. He had been killed probably Sunday.
 Three men have been detained for questioning at Meriden, it was reported to the coroner, following the testimony of trolley car con- ductor who had told of seeing Etzel leaving a car near Dudleys switch, near the place where the body was found, Sunday. A coat and hat had been brought to the coroner's office from Etzers home in Meriden.
 Etzel Questioned
 Coroner Mix working on the the- ory that Mastriano had been. rob- bed before or after his death dues- toned Etzel as to his being in com- pany with the former. Mastriano's clothing pockets had been turned inside out, and it was known that he had had $50 about him, the money having been paid to him by his father. While Coroner Mix held his session behind closed doors. it is understood that Etzel had said that he saw Mastriano Sunday night. Both were employed in Hotel Matis which is owned by Mastrianos cou- sin, D. Materese.
 Etzel, the police say, has worked in the hotel for three months. Last summer he was employed on the Dudley farm.
 The police have been informed that he was sentenced to three to five year sentence for robbry in 1921. Since release from Sing Sing prison a year ago he had been liv- ing in or around Meriden. Etzel came to this country from Germany in 1910 and had wandered about the country
 Body Dragged There
 The police have been trying to determine the locality of the mur- der. They said there was no sign of a struggle near the body and from a trail of blood in the snow. it was evident that the body had been dragged face downward from the road.
 What connection the three men detained in Meriden might have with the crime, Coroner Mix re- fused to say and declined to give names.
 Had Played Cards
 From questioning with witnesses 1t is understood Coroner Mix learned that Mastriano had been card play ing for several days prior to Sum- day, and the coroner probed to learn if there had been quarrellng or any heavy winnings and losses.
 The outside investigation is in charge of Captain Whelahan, of the Hamden police, takin up the story as reported by Mrs. Levialling, of SS46 Whitney avenue who followed a trail of blood through the snow from Dudley road opposite the en- trance to the property of Frank Butterworth, to clump of woods about 100 yards away.
 Reported Frozen Body
 Mrs. filling told the police that she had noticed the blood trail while on her way to Jepp's pond some distance away. She reported the frozen body of the man to Captain Whelahan and after pre- liminary examination by Medical Examiner George H. Joslin, it was removed to Beecher, Bennett and Lincoln's undertaking rooms. Mas triano had been shot just below the left eye the bullet lodging In the back of the head. No weapon was found. Powder marks on the face indicated close range shooting.
 In the course of his identification Of Etzel as a passenger who got off his car the conductor also said there was another man and the de- scription fitted that of Mastriano. Word from Meriden before this had been that Mastriano was at Matis hotel with his father Sunday and left in an automobile with another man. The conductors testimony re. located Mastriano as he alighted from the car at Dudley switch.