New Britain herald., 1927-12-05

10 good friend Ills companions had absolutely no connection with the theft and did not know of it un- til they were arrested, Decearse said. He would not have stolen the dresses but for the drink. Once be- fore, in Hartford. he drank too much and woke up in q hospital with a fractured jaw, he said. Tells Of Holiday Loot
 After leaving the store with the dresses under his coat, he told his companions he was going to the taxicab 10 have 2 drink. but in reality he hid tho dr"sses, he said The girl he had in q to give the dresses to, lives C.. Park street, Hartford, be said, nut he had mot the slightest idea as to the house i number.
 Had Date With Girls
 Tyler testified that he accom- panied the others to New Britain to meet three girls. One of the girls was Julia Brown he said. The appointment was to be kept at the park where the Hartford trolley comes in," and while waiting, he and his friends went into the store. He knew nothing of any plan 10 steal anything, he said. He admitted that he and his companions had told the police they came by trolley because he was afraid they might be arrested on account of having liquor in the l. ,,l rnt h1A girls and take them back to Hart ford.
 Littlcfeld testified that the reason he gave his name as Lundberg was ! that he did not want 'certain peo- pie" in Hartford 10 learn of his ar are these pcople?" Prosecuting At i torncy Woods asked. My mother-in- law he replied. Questioned fur ! ther. he said he was married De- . tober ,. His wife. who was In the court room. stood up at the request ] of Mr. Woods. Her eyes were red and her checks tear-stained as sh'
 listened to her husband of less than two months admit that he, too, had i intended to keep the "date' with the girls at Central Park He was quick ! to add, though. that his only con- nection with the party was relative i to the liquor "Oh. after that. you
 were to pass right out of the picture
 were you?" Mr. Woods asked. "Ah-
 solutcly," he replied.
 Makes Full Denial
 Li,tleheld denied, as had his com- { panions. that he had ever been in | Davidson X Leyenthal's store prior 1 10 Saturday. He had tried on an ovcrcoat in another New Britain
 store short time before going tC Davidson X Leventhal's, he said. The lounging robe Mrs. Lynch showed him was priced at sl7.50, and he
 considered it too expensive, especial.
 ly as he did not have that amount
 of money in his possession. He de.
 nied that his purpose in engaging
 the SalesWoman in conversation was
 to allow DecearSe time to steal th'
 dresses. He alone discussed mer.
 chandiSe with her. he said. and q.
 his companions stood by, he did no
 know that one of them was to com
 init the theft.
 Prosecuting Attorney Woods com
 plimented the police and Mr. LyOn'
 and Mrs. Lynch on their work il
 experimenting the trio. He said ther,
 was no question of their guilt, ant
 their stories were untrue and plainl!
 so. They had no engagements witt
 New Britain girls, he said, but the!
 came here for the express purpos, ] of thieving They had been in d least one other store, where perha D.
 the opportunity for appropriatin, ; ed itself, and then they went t Davidson X Levcnthals and whil two Of them kept the attention O Mrs. Lynch. the other stole tn dresses. The merchants of New Brit
 ain must be protected against sucl : men, ne said. and if would be wei , to impose heavy fines and jail sen 5 tenCes of 30 days.
 : Attorney Casalc contended tha l Littletield and Tyler were not con } nec1ed with the theft and should b ? discharged. As for Decearse, ther { was nothing to say inasmuch as h , had freely admitted his guilt. According to the police. and tn l testimony of the men themselve. Dccearse claims to be a painter, em