The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1945-04-26

81 the rulings made by the judges
On the trial.
The trial judges conclusions are
that zukauskas "unlawfully killed
the deceased of his malice afor y
thought, without justification or ex-
Ctse," that the killing was wiiful.
deliberate, and premeditated, that
1.-THE accused shot the deceased in
the vicinity OF the Bradley avenue
dump in Waterbury with the spe-
cific intent to kill her," and that
he was proven guilty of first d.
gre murder, beyond reasonable
doubt. The claims Of the state in
regard to these considerations are
overruled.
In the finding of facts, the judges
state that no argument or quarrel
preceded the shooting which oc-
Cured on Bradley avenue and that
AIRS. Plungis did not strike or az
tempt to strike the accused during
that ride. They conclude further
that she did not speak to him In a
coherent manner.
That conclusion is in direct con-
tradiction of the claim made by
ZukauSkaS during the trial that
Mrs. Plungis had spit at him, had
struck him with her fists, and had
abused him with foul language;
while he was driving her along
Bradley avenue, allegedly to her
mothers home.
References to the reputation OF
zukauskaS are made in several
paragraphs Of the finding of facts
The judges state the accused Was
well regarded by his superiors and
his fellow workmen and was con-
sidered to be SOBER and 1ndustri-
Gus.
They state further that 'the
character Of the accused was not
put in issue upon the trial and no
evidence was introduced to show
otherwise than that his record and
his reputation were good except for
the circumstances of his illicit re-
lationship with the deceased.
A brief history of Zukauskas' life
Is contained in the finding OF facts,
and his meeting and relationship
with Mrs. Plungis also noted.
In the section based on the rul-
ings made by the court on the trial
the Judges state that no claim YVES
made by the accused that any
glaring lights, extremes OF Genpel
aturs, unduly prolonged periods of
interrogation, deprivation of sleep
or any other techniqueS of a COM
pulsory or So-called 'Star-chamber'
or 'hquisitorial type were used by
any person or persons in question
ing him, or that he knew of airy
illegality in his detention"
Reference Is made to testimony of
the officers who had been present
when Zukauskas was in the cell
block in Waterbury, and WHO
claimed Zukauskas had been we'll
treated while he was confined. The
judges state that the officers tes-
tfied and the court finds that tile
accused was given food and had OPP
portunity to sleep but that he was
Wakeful during many of the hours
Of the night and day :"
In another section relating to
the confession the judges refer to
an admission by Zukauskas on the
/. stand that he answered questions
voluntarily. They state, I'm all his
statements the accused freely, will
Iingly. voluntarily, and without any
threats or inducements, answered
the questions put to him, and read
lily admitted that fact in answer to
questions put to him by his own
counsel when he took the witness
stand in his own defense"
The judges presumably refer to
an abrupt affirmative answer made
by zukauskas to his counsel, who
asked him If he made incriminat-
ing statements to his examiners
voluntarily. That particular ques-
ton and answer have been much
quoted by court observers as being
q crucial turning point in the trial.
The particular times and places
of the questionings made are
enumerated in the court findings.
Scores of pages are devoted to tes-
timony given by Coroner Stephen
A. Homick and County Detective
Thomas r. Laden during the trial
on statements made by Zukauskas
to them. Testimony of the accused
. likewise Is contained in the papers.
Zukauskas made his confession
Nov. 4 and led police to the lonely
Middlebury bride path where Mrs.
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