The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-21
Prison Terms
 ToCircusmen
(Continued from Page D

Aylesworth, two to seven years on each count, concurrent.
 Rolling Stock Superintendent Da- vid w. Blanchlield, six months in jail on each count, concurrent. Chief Electrician Edward R. Ver- steeg, one year in jail on each count, concurrent.
 William Galley, a seatman, one year in jail on each count, con- current.
 Judge Shea prefaced the sen tencing with brief observation that 'all of these accused are guilty of involuntary manslaughter where | death is caused unintentionally The imposition of sentence m crim- inal cases is not as a punishment, | but rather as basis for the re- formation of the accused.
 The spirit of vengeance has no place in the administration of criminal law. The sentence im- posed is not an eXpiationox or an atonement for the offenses, but to 1 prevent their recurrance." | Then, as the accused were lined before his bench, Judge Shea read off the sentences in firm, even tones.
 The maximum manslau9hter penalty is 15 years in prison and q $1 ,000 fine, and the maximum fine was imposed upon the corporation
 All six men were Visibly disturbed by the sentences and their counsel | former Lieut.. -Gov. William l.. Had den immediately asked the court for permission to confer with them in small room just off the court room. Judge Shea granted the re- quest.
 The sent 3nces came more than seven months after the tragic fire, the worst in the history of the big top, which leveled the main tent while it was jammed with spec tators. most of them children, last July 6. Tn addition to the dead, another 682 were injured and some of them hospitalized for months.
 The imposition of prison and jail terms apparently came as a sur prise to Hadden who explained last week that the reason the nolo con tendere pleas were offered was be- cause it was necessary that the key employees go back on the road with the circus as soon as possible. A long trial, he said, would have caused considerable delay and heavy expense to the management already saddled with lawsuits total ing millions of dollars.
 Two days of argument and re- buttal by the defense and state con- cludcd early last night when States Attorney Hugh M. Alcorn, Jr., told the court that these accused may justly ask for rather unusual con sidcration because they have pleaded guilty to these charges. In so doing, he said, the state was saved the eX- pcrse of long trial and 1t would be unnecessary for families of the victims ito relive the horror" of the fire on the witness stand.
 AlCorn discounted contention Of Defense Counsel William l.. Had den that the fire, w !ch leveled the main tent in 15 minutes, might have l->1 of incendiary origin.
 Hadden said that soon after the fire, an inmate of fl Montana State prison told the warden that for mer circus employc had told him he planned to destroy the circus be- cause he had been discharged. Had den claimed the dismissed worker could not be located.
 Acorn informed Hadden that the nmnloVa WoS a man named WplCh who, investigation showed, was in Miami, Fla, before, during, and after the fire, that he had denied threatening the circus and that "Welch is waiting at the other end of telephone line waiting to come here to testify if he is needed"
 One of the most serious accusa- tions against the corporation and defendants was that the main tent had been Waterproofed with mix turc of gasoline and paraffin, creat- ing "a terrifying fire hazard"
 Hadden said this had been stand ard practice for years and 1t was impossible to obtain any other wa terproofing material because of gov crnment restrictions. The fire fighting equipment, said Hadden, had always been considered ade- quate, and in the past 25 years the circus had played to O0000 GOO peo- pie without loss of life by fire.