New Britain herald., 1929-07-25
Bristol Mews
ABEL DISCHARGED
 ON THEFT CHARGE
Defendant Maintains He Bought
 Electric Drill in Question
PLAYGROUND BODY MEETS

Increases Supervisors Salary-PeCk
 Leaves Fund for Girls Club Autos Colide-Forestvil Takes League Lead-T. Boroyy Dies. In a trial which lasted over an | hour this morning and in which many witnesses were called both by the state and the defense, John Abel. proprietor of Abel's Garage, was found not guilty of the theft of an electric drill from the property of David Cohen, automobile repair man of 115 school street.
 Abel was arrested last Friday aft ornoon by Detective Sergeant Daniel McGillicuddy upon complaint of | Cohen, who. when the case was first presented in court last Saturday positively identified the drill as one which was stolen from his premises in June. 1928. The identification was confirmed by Ernest Couture, who runs a gasoline station in the vicinity of Abel's garage, and Peter | Boardman, who used the drill on one occasion, Boardman testified | that he had borrowed the drill from ! Cohen and upon returning it | early the next morning and finding 1 the garage locked, left it near side door.
 Abel at last Saturdays hearing | testified that he had purchased the drill from travelling vendor in Berlin about five years ago, and his testimony was corroborated by his brother, Ralph Abel, former garag proprietor in Berlin. This morning Attorney Edward A. Mag of New Britain appeared for Abel and sev- eral additional witnesses were called by the defense.
 John Shea Of Forestvillo, whc work for Abel on Saturday after noons identified the drill as ono which he had seen and used ir Abel's garage almost two years ago i uncertain as to the dates. Ine' Johnson of Middletown. who worked as bookkeeper in Abel's garage i Berlin from April 1924 10 February 1927. identified the drill as one pur. chased by Abel from the trayeline vendor in April, 1924. She recallel the transaction because cash waS paid for the drill and other article" , William Coan of Berlin. employed at the Berlin garage in 1925 anG 1926. said he knew the drill by sim. ply looking at it.
 John Bernardo of Berlin wa somewhat hay about dates. inform ing the court that he went 0 worl for Abel in May, 1924. and that tn, drill was purchased the preccdin: month. When asked how he knev that Abel had purchased it thu month before he went 10 work there Bernardo innocently asked the cour if April doesn't follow Nay"
 The last witness called was Napo. lean Gervais, d former employe ot Cohen's, who testified that he be. 1 levod the drill to he the same one which he had used in Cohcn's garage on several occasions.
 Following the summing up of tht case by Prosecuting Attorney An thony J. Rich and the rcbuttal bN Attorney Mag, Judge Donovan found Abel not guilty, remarking that there vas sufficient doubt in his mind as to the identity of the dri, as 10 render any other verdict i'm. possible
 City Playground Meeting
 At the monthly meeting of the city playground commission hclc last evening in the city court room the recommendation of Commission CT A. (. Hitchcock that the weekly salary Of Miss Nancy Shcehy. super visor of the new playground at tn, corner Of King and Fifth streets h, increased from SS to SI2 a week wa; approved. Miss Sheehy assumed he duties two weeks ago.
 Commissioner Frank Merrill in formed the commission that th American Legion had offered to do nate two flags. one for the Eas Bristol and the other for the For cstville playerounds and these wcr accepted by the board.
 Superintendent Carl M Penny 0 the city playgrounds was authorizc by the board 10 contract with in water department for a, water pip to run from the East Bristol school , house to the playsrounds adjointnG | The expense involved os estimated a
 $100.
 Upon tho recommendation c P Commissioner Frank Merrill. a dc tailed report q the playgroun baseball activities Hil be requeste
 of Assistant Superintendent Thoma , Monahan at the next meeting. , The playground attendance for th past month has been very satistat
 tory Superintendent Penny report ing that between 60 and 100 chi