New Britain herald., 1930-12-05
RuInors Persist Alleged Bandit
 Plans Break for Liberty Dur ing Bridgeport Hearing
POLICE SEARCH DEFENDANT
 FOR WEAPONS AT RECESS
West Haven Mans Case Sees Armed Deputies Ranged About Room Ready For Emergency-Corrid Cleared By Order of Judge-Man Admits Part in Shooting or Three Policemen.

Policemen.
 Bridgeport, Dec. LT-Careton searles, Of West Haven, alleged gunman who shot three police off cers, took the stand in superior court at 11:15 o'clock today, while deputy sheriffs moved into strate- gic positions and Judge Alfred C. Baldwin ordered aisles opened in the crowded court room and the outside corridors cleared of those who had no business in the building.
 A rumor persists that Searles in tends to make break" for free dom. He was stripped and search ed in his cell during the noon recess yesterday, it was learned today. No weapons were found.
 Admits Part in Case
 Searles admitted on the stand that he was one of the two men that Po- licemen Wilbur Simpson and Arnold Schulze found in car in Danbury on the morning of September l9, at the beginning of his recital of his story of crime. Searle may know his fate by night,
 The state finished it's case at 11:15, after putting on seven witnesses, six policemen and one the owner of a store alleged robbed in Danbury by Searles and Harold Skiff.
 Policeman Teufel, of Greenwich, limped to the witness stand at the opening of the second days trial. and testified that he was shot while running away from Searles in the East Port Chester woods while seeking the shelter of a tree. He vas not in uniform at the time.
 Searles was standing in the open when he first saw him, he said, and started firing. Searles shot him in he leg as he ran. Teufel said he re- loaded his revolver behind the tree and exchange shots with Searles. who had taken refuge behind an- other tree. He said he was unable to continue with the pursuit of Searles because Of his wounded leg. Searles moved then from behind the tree to the protection offered by a nearby stone wall.
 Threatened "SuiCidc"
 When he first saw Searles. Teu- fel said, Searles had his gun point ed toward his head.
 Let's get him before he commits suicide" one of the policemen sug gested, Teufel said.
 Teufel said he went forward to capture Searles and that Searles took the gun from his head and fired at him, wounding him. It was at this time he ran for the shelter of a tree.
 He was followed on the stand by Policeman John Burke. of Green wich. to whom Searles surrendered after his stand in the woods on Mo- vember 22. Burke wounded Searles before he surrendered it came out.
 "I heard shots" said Burke on the stand. and l ran in the direc- tion of the shooting. l saw a man behind a stone wall and challenged him. He fired and l fired. l saw him throw up his arms across his face and then disappear behind the stone wall from view"
 Did you go forward them asked Public Defender Harry Silverstone, who is representing Searle.
 Waited on Ground
 No, I lay on the ground for five or ten minutes and then Searles came out and surrendered
 Burke identified cartridge belt he took from Searles and an auto matic pistol that Seares had. Burke had scratched the gun in order to identify it, it developed.
 Burke said that Searles told him he could have shot him.
 Did you ask him why he did not shoot you?" Attorney Silverstone asked.
 Yes. he told me had not wanted to shoot me in the head" Burke re- piled.
 Searles told him he had seen him in clear view on the hill and that he was a perfect target.
 Policeman William Pyne, of