The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-09

By mathematical deductions, Wholean attempted to show to the jury that all the records for the eight years in question could not have been taken from the 99 box es in evidence and destroyed. He claimed that 1t would have required at least $50 boxes to hold the rec ords.
 Regular Practice
 In addition, ne argued that the state has not even tried to prove that more than IS or 20 boxes were emptied of their contents. Janitors testified that they carried IS or 20 boxes to the basement. Timothy Horgan, superintendent of the city hall testified that 1t was a regular practice to take the records to the basement.
 Arguing 40 minutes, wholean said that every one of the 1897 checks which Simon J. Alderman took from the controllers office for listing, in the presence of Dunn, was in the courtroom, and according to the tes- timony of James P. Purcell, had been available for reconciliation in Jan- uary, 1898.
 When Wholean concluded his ar- gument he rushed from the court room, holding handkerchief to his eyes. It required several moments before he regained his composure and returned to his seat.
 | ah 70 ney Harold Ashworth pleaded the in- nocence of Detective John Purdie of New York, and contended that the state had absolutely failed to im- plicate him in any conspiracy to de- fraud the city of Waterbury.
 It's Nonsense
 Evidence against Purdie, the de- fense lawyer said, in @ pleasant voice, consists merely of testimony of War ren M. Brown, concerning @ sim- ilarity of amounts, between checks paid to Purdie and an account at the Waterbury Trust Co. entitled 70. D. Olsen special"
 "It's nonsense" he cried.
 Ashworth dealt also with the tes- timony of Former County Detective Edward J. Hickey, whom he called ferret" He's supposed to look guilty because he wouldn't hob-not with Ed Hickey, ace ferret of the prosecution" said Ashworth, with reference to Hickey's testimony that Purdie refused to talk to him about , the case, unless 1t was of the rec. ord"
 Characterizing Alcorn, he said } There is no more dangerous com bination than zealous prosecutor ] gifted with the artistry to paint a picture and make 1t glow" Previously he had said, T yield to no one in my respect for MT. AL corn" He called upon the jury tc consider the absence of evidence against Purdie, and to protect theii fellow citizen John Purdie, in the presumption of innocence"
 Quotes Shakespeare Quoting Shakespeare, Attorney Cassel compared the conspiracy trial to Hamlet, saying the trial is but 6 play, in which more than the lives of individuals are at stake." Con. victions would leave a stain which would not die with an individual, bu, would remain with his children, children, he cried.
 He asked the jury if they coulc believe that the state was seriou. when $663,000 of an alleged fraud oi $1 100000 was assigned to Philir Coppeto. He called the jury's atten. ton to the fact that Warren M Brown since the start of the tria had changed that figure to $802, ,O0O
 "Is this man trying to be honest and fair with your" he asked. "Tht amounts Coppeto received are no. where near what the state claims"
 The evidence is distorted" h, continued. ''They-especially Browr l-would have you believe that tn, treasurers' checks were given tt Coppeto in order to lose their iden. tity. There is no evidence to supper it-except similarities of amounts and his imagination"
 The mere receipt of money iron the city of Waterbury, in large O small amounts, does not constitut, a conspiracy, Cassel said.