The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-04-06
BANDIT FOUGHT
To The END
Photo 81 InternatlOnal
BY InternationaI News service

by international news ScfStcp
HARTFORD. Conn, April o.
Seventeen months after New Brit
ain policeman fell beneath a vol
ley Of bullets from the revolver OF
burglar surprised at work IN g
tirygocd store in that city; Ieraio
CHAPMAN, arch bandit, paid with
his life for the life of the police
man.
The policeman died in a store
II miles southwest of Hartford:
Chapman died in the Connecticut
state prison II miles southeast Of
Hartford Here. at the apex OF
the triangle Chapman was tried,
convicted, and sentenced for Lhe
crime.
It was in the early hours of the
first Sunday of October in 1924
that a livery stable hostler, ending
long night OF duty, stepped out
side the stable to smoke q pipe in
an alleyway A strange noise from
building across the way struck
his car. The Waterman slipped
back into his stable and .telephOned
the policeman.
Al patrol wAgon full OF officers
dashed to the front Of the David.
son and Levent.lal drygOods store.
Shelley Shot Dead
Officer James Shelley. gun in hand.
led the groun into the store. Skelley
had hardly crossed the threshold
when shots spurted about the door.
SkeI1ey scumpled onto the floor
shadow seemed to fit across rear
window and SkeIIey's companionS
pumped bullets at it. Silence fol-
lowed and though they searched the
town no trace could be found Of the
person who shot Policeman SkelIey
Meanwhile a lettering stranger mad
been taken 10 the police station.
where in course Of time he declared
he was Walter Shean, son of a
wealthy Springfield. Mass, banker
Shean was placed in the county jai.
here and shortly afterward officials
announced that Policeman James
SkelIey had been murdered by Gerald
Chapman. Of Leonard Street, New
York. Of mail robbery fame.
Another few days elapsed and
news came from Muncie. Ind. that
Gerald Chapman had been captured
in that city and would be charged
with numbering the New Britain
policeman.
I'VE have clear case" the
States attorney. told the public.
Chapman Convicted
Chapman's trial was finished. on
April 4. 1925: he was convicted Of
murder in the first degree and
sentenced to be hanged Judge
Frederick j. GrohI. Of New York,
who defended Chapman. promptly
appealed to the State supreme
court Of errors for a new trial on
the ground that State Judge Newell
S. Jennings. presiding at the trial,
had erred in various ways. The
supreme court overruled this appeal.
Then began a legal battle to- save
the bandits life. in which reprieves,
appeals and all delays known to
law were used to no avail
Chapman's defense, which in
voIved points never before present.
ed in a criminal court I'm the
United States. is said to have been
worked out by the prisoner him
self. Chapman was confined in the
hospital section OF the state prison
on the bank of the Connecticut
River. and though under constant
guard was able to work out his
plans as he saw fit. He had for
his assistance one of the best
libraries available, choosing his
books from a card catalogue, which
was placed at his disposal when
he first entered the prison.
All through the trial Chief Coun-
sci Grohl seldom made a move
without consulting his client. Chap
man often was observed to pluck
at his counseIs sleeve. Then the
two men would converse with
heads close, and Immediately Judge
Grohl would resume the floor to
make some new observation or ask
an unexpected question.
Chapman, on the witness stand,
was what lawyers described as "a
model witness.5 In prison he was
equally a model