The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-03-11

o0A uCh up W1LIl AdIl dI1 A1S CO11s He had known the mayor before he met Harrington, he said. Never Personal Friend A humorous moment, based on Alcorn's question of what the at torney meant by struck up" took the trial away from its serious na- ture for time. Purcell admitted that he had never become a per- sonal friend of Mayor Hayes.
 McDonough scornfully reminded the witness of his testimony that he had discovered numerous" in stances of irregularities in the con- trollers office. Individually, the att torney asked Purcell if he had taken his information to the states att torney, attorney general, or gover- nor, and each time the answer was T did not"
 Purcell made only one complaint of irregularity to Mayor Hayes, he said. On that subject, he said, After my second trip I didn't think it worth while to go back" He admit ted that he had never gone to any, one with the information he had testified to before the jury, but added that in loyalty to the city of Waterbury, report should have been made.
 McDOnough Blocks View During his cross-examinatiOn of Purcell at one time, MoDcnough stood in front of Alcorn, and the latter objected to his back and the 1 fact he was blocking the view of the witness.
 McDonough reminded Alcorn that defense counsel had looked at his back for some weeks, but added, He's your witness-keep an eye on him."
 He's not my witness, he's the states witness" retorted the special prosecutor. VI,
 "All right, if you want to disclaim him, go ahead" came back the smiling McDonough.
 After considerable harangue, and the demand for a ives or no'' answer, Purcell denied that he is now keeping records similar to those he kept during the Leary regime. Not Necessary Now
 Some of them are not 1ieces- sary," he added. The remark was stricken from the record. Purcell said that he has no interest in poli- tics and has no personal grudges in the present trial. He admitted that he owned no property when he entered the city's employ in 1880 but bought home six months later
 He admitted transferring title to other property to his wife and dared McDonough to ask him why. Mo- Donough didn't care to ask.
 "You don't mind being a witness, do you?" asked the cross-examiner
 "Yes, I do," was the reply.
 "You rather enjoy it don't you?' continued McDonough.
 Doesn't Like Being Witness
 No, I don't" was the answer.
 Further reference was made to a dinner rendered in honor of Julia Laguna, prior to her marriage. Leary is said to have told the employees of the controllers office that he would try to take care of all those who lost their jobs. Leary is said to have ad- vised Purcell to open an account ing office of his own.
 Another dinner was held Decem- Der 27, 1887, in honor of Dan Leary.
 Were you there to testify your esteem and affection for Leary?" asked McDonough. ,, Changed His Mind
 Purcell replied yes at first, but when McDonough ridiculed him slightly, changed his mind and said, What's the difference?" He denied having stood up to speak with high est regard for Dan Leary as an in- dividual and officer of the city of Waterbury. T don't recall it." he said.
 Purcell admitted that he, Con- | troller Rowland and William J. Armstrong, an accountant, had started for the office of the "city sheriff" one evening at 6 o'clock, early in January, 1888.
 "It was serious business, we were looking for the city's records" said l Purcell, when McoDnough char acterized the trip as an excursion" :" Denied Arrest Threat He denied that they were going to force their way into the office, but said, T wouldn't have been sur | yoricod tn find co,,,o o,,o tJ,ora IJo denied that the watchman had threatened the trio with arrest and then gone for police captain, while he, Rowland, and Armstrong ran out of the city hall.
 That deal was fixed up later, ," shouted Purcell, while McDonough attempted to gag him. He said that the trio "strolled" out of the city hall.
 'No captain of police came looking for us," he continued.
 Scannel Subpoenaed Bartholomew Scannel, clerk in the assessors office, has been sub poenaed as state witness in the trial. Yesterday he brought several books containing assessors records to the courthouse, under subpoena. He expects to be in daily attendance at the trial, and it is probable that he will be the next witness. During the grand jury investiga- tion he was called upon to identify the books, containing references to property owned by various contrac- tors who had business relations with the city.