The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-03-09

WaS never done" He aomlbteu tuat the system had been established by himself.
 Examination Dull
 The cross-examination continued in very dull fashion today, 9 con- tinuation of yesterdays form of pro cedure. Spectators were at mini- mum today.
 Attorney Crawford obtained 8 large croup of checks from Alcorn late in the morning session. For the record, tell uc how many you return" said Alcorn as Crawford handed some back.
 Crawford replied, For the record, 1o returned"
 And now for the record, how many are you keeping" asked Al- corn. r
 Crawford, after counting, replied, ''24 retained"
 Date of Checks
 All of the checks were dated Jan- uary or February, 1936. In the ma jority, they were made out on or- dinary typewriters, instead of the pinpoint machine. They contained numbers written with typewriter, and in one instance the number was written in ink.
 In this latter case the check was to Robert F. Birt, well known local veteran, dated January 9, 1936, for $500. Purcell admitted, under ques- ticning that 1t might be a personal tax abatement.
 The remainder of the list included: Connecticut Motor Vehicle depart msnt, $86.83; payroll account, City of Waterbury, $40,945.45; Teachers Pension Fund, $4,787.63; Charles Babil, postmaster, $482.52; Charles Babin, postmaster, $135.20; Carmella Cocciola, $62.5o;
 Also, John Emons, $49.00; Ralph Tramaglio, $6250; Charles Babin, postmaster, $92,50; Joseph Russell, $75OO; Charles Babin, postmaster, H.16; Charles Babin, postmaster, $lO000; Joseph Stango, $29.50; Al Ferraro, $73.75; Dr. Edward J. God- frey thealth officer) $4O.00; Dr. P. T. Keeley, Crawford omitted the amount; Adolph OBernier, $5400; John J. Hart. $50; Mitchell Gordon, $8400: Ralph Tramaglio, $62.50; RoMe Rinaldi, $75.00; Jerry Cesa- rtelli, $6250.
 Crawford read long list of items from warrants payapie registers, the essact purpose of which was not clear to observers.
 Weather No Hindrance
 Unfavorable weather conditions failed to hinder the court from opening at the 10 o'clock hour this morning. The streets in the vicinity of the courthouse had been nicely ssnded to make travel by auto and fcot safer, and traffic was being handled capably by Captain William J. Duggan and Sergeant Charles Nolan.
 Today was the 45th day of the trial, the middle of the 14th week and 18th consecutive day Purcell has been on the stand. It was the wit ness third day of cross examina- ton by Defense Attorney George w. Crawford.
 A payroll binder for the first six IEonths of 1887 was placed in evi- dence at the very outset of the trial today. The binder had been in the possession of the state, but was brought to the witness stand on re- quest of the questioning attorney.
 Special Prosecutor Alcorn insisted, however, that it be offered in evi- dence before referred to in question ing the witness. The defense of- fered no objection to presentation of the book in evidence.
 Payroll February 6, 1887
 With references to the binder, Purcell testified that the payroll in the controllers office for the week of February 6, 1887, was $426.28, making total for 52 weeks at that rate. $22,166.56. He wasn't sure whether a five per cent cut was in effect that year, he said.
 In addition to the $22, ,166.56, Con- troller Leary's salary brought the total salary item in the controllers once that year to $26,91656, while the appropriation was only $25, ,740.00.
 There was an over expenditure that year of $1,176.56. Crawford asked of Purcell,
 "Your raise for 1897 was $500?"
 "Yes," was the reply. The witness started to say T have the authority for 1t right here" but his continua- tion was ignored by the questioning attorney.
 1890 Sheets Used
 Warrants payable sheets for 1880 were called into play as the cross examination continued, not quite so uliinteresting as 1t had been yester- day.,
 Yesterdays dull session had it's ef- feet on the attendance today, how ever. for the crowd was at mini mum, and there was plenty of seat ing space left unused.
 Two hundred and five items on the 1880 warrants payable sheets, per- tatning to payment of bonds and in- terest on bonds, showed no sign of having been approved by the board Of finance, and the warrants payable slleets were not even signed.
 Payments Attract
 A series of payments, other than bond issues, however, attracted more attention from the attorney doing the cross examining. He referred to various payments, under sheets dated January, 1880, including a few dol- lars to Postmaster A. N. Colgrove. The sheet was not signed by the board Of finance. S < Tn addition to the several items of sn1ell payments to the former post master, was the largest item on the pnee, $237, 7,410.11 to D. J. Leary, corl- fFcller. payment of second tax cash deflcit for 1928.
 < one of the payments to the for mer postmAster was dated, January 1o3O. t.Did the members of your t~ - --....l- < x<r v.xr 4 20 a slred E.raW-