Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1929-02-14
PUT TO PLEA ON BENCH wARFANT.-ANSWERs NOT
GUILTY AND ELECTS JURY TRIAL---REMANDED
TO JAIL WITHOUT BONDS
Widow Daughter of Slain County Investigator Testify
Appear Calm But Show Signs of Strain

From stores nearby neeks were cram
ed. The curiosity eentered in a
glimpse Of the accused and Mrs. Jack
son and her daughter. As soon as
they arrived the small gathering dis
persed. The public was admitted 70
the court room as long as there were
seats. These, however we're soon tax
and the doors were closed. None
were allowed 10 stand. Rice was
under guard in the bar library. Mrs.
jackson and her daughter were N the
states attorneys room. None in the
court room got a glimpse Of the three
under a cloud since the night Of the
murder until later n the day.
Judge Newell Jennings opened
court at eleven o'clock. The grand
jury was polled by Clerk Curtis Dean
and the following eighteen members
responded 20 their names, Deputy
Sheriff Charles +. Aver announcing
the count;
The Grand Jury
Clarence II. Barlow. Ashford, farm
er: Oscar r. Atwood, Brooklyn, town
ERIK: Frank ID. Spaulding, Jr., Brook
lyn. auto livery; Christian Kerr, Can.
terbury, farmer; Clinton Il. Frink
Canterbury. merchant; George A.
Reed, Chaplin, retired; Archa 5.
Walker, Eastford merchant; Jesse /.
Burnham. Hampton, farmer; Sabin >.
Russell. Killingly. attorneys Henry >.
King. Plainheld, merchant; Alfred ID.
Briggs, Fumfret, farmer; Edward h
Perry. Putnam. physician; A. A. Bro
dcur, pptnam. merchant. James II.
Johnson. Scotland, retired; Irving +.
Frink Sterling. mechanic; Frank NJ.
Knight. Thompson, retired; Robert
O. Snow, Windham. clerk; Ewart &.
IIealey, Woodstock, farmer.
Eliminates Suicide
II took judge Jennings exactly ten
minutes 10 instruct the jurors in their
duties. He read to the jurors a charge,
which he said. was drawn up a hun
bred years ago and told the jury that
be would supplement the charge with
facts pertaining TO the particular case
as each ease presents different PROB
lem. He instructed the jurors that
the theory of suicide had been elm
mated and the matter under consider
alton was to determine who killed
Jackson. lie told the jurors that they
could use knowledge gained outside
of ihe jury room as we'll ms what they
could gain from witnesses. He said
that the accused would be present
and that he had right to ask ques.
lions bat not right to produce evi-
denee in his own behalf. He also
stated that 1t was not in the province
Of the jury To determine guilt or in
nocenee but TO determine II the case
should be submitted TO a petit jury.
After explaining the law as TO muir
! der in the first and second degrees
he instructed the jury to retire.
Eighteen Witnesses
/ The eighteen witnesses who enter
ed the grand jury room were; DR.
+ Henry N. Costello Of Hartford, who
performed the autopsy on the murder
victim in the absence of DIR. l.. l.
I Mason. medical examiner Of Wilt
mantle. DR. Costello was followed
by DR.. Fred NJ. Smith. Willimantic,
summoned to the Jackson home when
the murder was discovered The third
witness was j. Henry Fitzgerald of
Hartford, ballistic expert Of Colts
Patent Fire Arms Company.
While the above witness was In the
grand Jury room County Detective
Edward j. Hickey Of Hartford coun-
ty escorted Miss Juanita jackson 20 a
seat in the court room that she might
be ready when called upon To testify
She was dressed In black and appear
ed composed, showing little sign Of
nervousness or the strain she has been
under. Miss Jackson remained in the
grand jury room for over half an
hour When she came out she still
appeared calm but somewhat pale as
she walked through the court room to
the states attorneys Office, pausing a
moment O. seassgringly press the arm
Of her mother ~ chs mother left TO
give her testimony.
Widow Testi6es
Mrs. Jackson, like her daughter,
was dressed in black. She was before
the jurors but a minute or two less
than the time her daughter testified,
or about thirty-one minutes. When
the door opened and she came into
the court room from the bar library,
where the jury session was held. she
walked quickly 20 join her daughter
out Of the sight Of those in the court
room.
After two Willimantie policemen had
been questioned Miss Eva Ellis Of
Willimantic. who has said she saw a
man crossing through the field near
her home the evening Of the murder,
was called She was followed b.
Gerard Loiselle. Norwich Bulletin"
correspondent in Willimantie. who re-
I ported 60 the investigators that he
discovered tracks leading from near
the Jackson home 10 a point near the
Rice home.
Last Witnesses
+ Others called were Otis Fairbanks.
"a neiFhbor Of the Jackson's, Roger r.
Pahmg. ueighbor Of Rice, 20 whom il
Is said Mrs Jackson telephoned a
message for Rice to come and care
for the cattle on the night of the
murder. Maurice Leonard. friend Of
the Jackson family. Stanton l..
BriggS one Of the FIRST 70 arrive AZ
the Jackson home after the murder,
and the three investigators. Ohicer
Hickey. Rowe II. Wheeler and Police
man Arthur Hurley.
Nothing leaked out as 60 what
transnired in the grand Jury room