The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-03-08

|
threats began after Fits obtained
indictments against 345 sitdown
strikers at the Douglas aircraft plant
In Santa Monica.
Authorities said they believed that
either strike sympathizers or venge-
full criminals whom Fits had prose-
cuted, were involved.
Deputy District Attorney Jack
Southland, who took charge of the
investigation, said the ambuscade
was evidently well planned. He be-
lieved one Of the assailants had
been watching Fits home and had
signaled his confederates when the
prosecutor left his garage unat-
tended.
Premonition Of Trouble
There was premonition Of
trouble when Fits left his own
home, 400 yards from his fathers,
after dinner, party. The cook was
upset over the nervous behavior Of
the dog and "knew there was some-
thing wrong" One of the guests,
Jack w. CuShman, had arisen from
the dinner table, drawn shade and
remarked; II feel you are unsafe,
Buron. You should have a body
guard. There are too many tough
characters in town because Of the
strikes"
Fits said several shots were fired
from the darkened little sedan, and
all but one bullet went astray. He
continued up the driveway to his
parents home, crawled from his car
and rushed In the front door.
Crawled Into Home
"I've been shot. Call a DOCTOR" he
gasped to his mother. The elder
Fits called for an ambulance. The
prosecutor lay on sofa and related /:
Il was just driving into the inter-
section when ! noticed q car without
lights approaching from the left.
Three men were In 1t, maybe more.
It looked like collision and
jammed on my brakes and brought
the car to dead stop.
Suddenly the other car swerved
toward mine. Shots burst from the
other car. My windshield was shat
tered and I felt q bullet enter my
arm. The other car raced away
without pausing. They probably
thought I was dead"
Father Noticed Car
The father, Buff Fits, said he had
noticed q dilapidated car parked In
the shadows across the highway but
paid no attention to 1t.
DR.. Benjamin Blank, sheriff's sur
geon who first examined the wound,
said that had not the bullet been
detected by Fits arm, which rested
high on the steering wheel, it un-
doubleday would have pierced his
chest, probably his heart.
The copper jacket Of the spent bull
let was found In the seat of the car.
1t provided the chief clue.
The investigation today back
tracked over Fits stormy political
career, beginning from the time he
TOOK Office and had his predecessor,
the late Asa Reyes, sent to prison
for taking bride. He has won ma
tionwide publicity by his crusades
against vice and gambling and his
handling Of Hollywood scandal cases.
Won Bitter, Election
In 1884. Fits was indicted on a
perjury charge as the result of his
handling of Hollywood love mar
ket" case. He was acquitted and won
bitter fight for reelection last
November.
His recent troubles began when he
had the sitdown strikers indicted on
forcible entry and detainer charges.
Deputy sherifTs who went to serve
the warrants at the Douglas plant
found the aircraft workers barri-
caded In the building. Union lead
ers offered to surrender the men if
Fits would release them on their
own recognizance. He refused, forced
the men to surrender uncondition-
ally. and had them placed under ST.
900 bonds each.
Fits was unable, because OF the
darkness, to ascertain the license
number OF the assassins' car and he
said he could not identify them.