Date: Fri 28-Aug-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

Laslo-Briscoe-Zimmermann

Full Text:

From The Case Files of Detective Laslo Briscoe (A Newtown Crime Series)

By Andrea Zimmermann

Although this has been a busy week at Newtown's police department, staff

members have spent their break time sorting through more of the mysterious

items found in the sealed box at the station. The brittle pages in the leather

sleeve reveal more of villainous activity rampant in Newtown at the turn of

the century. Assistant Dog Warden George Mattegat matched these three pieces

of evidence with the correct cases in the files of Detective Laslo Briscoe:

three matches, bullets from a revolver wrapped with splinters of wood, and a

telephone cord .

No. 58 -- The Case of the

Deranged Arsonist

Thieves may lie dormant as the holidays wax and wane, but a disturbed mind

loosed, is bridled by neither calendar nor conscience. This is evidenced by

the bold incendiarism attempted on Queen Street December 29, 1894.

Not once, but eight times was a fire set that day in the farmhouse of E.S.

Lovell. That the house was not ultimately reduced to ashes is a testament to

the quick actions of Lovell's hired men and fine neighbors; that the town

would be so divided over the guilt or innocence of the accused leaves me to

wonder how the intellect has been employed. In my own mind, there is no

question.

All evidence points to the hired girl, Kate Hurley -- she had motive,

opportunity, and instability of mind. It bears no weight that she so

steadfastly denies setting light to the wood house, a bed in a hired man's

room, a bed in an unoccupied room, and in closets of the home. For it would

require a clever and steely personality to persist with such a diabolical

mission as the family was at home (Mr Lovell being absent as he was visiting

relations in New York).

Upon his return, Mr Lovell engaged me to assist William A. Leonard, of the

fire insurance business, with investigation. Although no one had seen Miss

Hurley set match to straw bedding, it is apparent she, alone, could have

carried out these deeds.

At the trial in Town Hall, settees were arranged by the heaters but the

audience was so large, many were forced to stand at the rear of the hall in

the cold. We presented the damning facts:

1) Kate Hurley, a domestic at the Lovell home, had been dismissed last March,

her service having been found unsatisfactory to Mr Lovell.

2) Twelve days before the arsonist activities, she asked to return to the

Lovell household -- which was granted -- but refused to eat with the family,

as had been her custom heretofore. She was cordially treated and fairly

compensated for her work as a domestic ($10 with washing, $8 without).

3) Last summer, in the interim of her employment, Kate Hurley received a shock

of lightning and was deemed "not right in the head" by the doctor.

4) As testimony bore out, she was the only member of the household who knew

where to readily access matches that evening.

5) The young Miss Emily Lovell attested to having seen Miss Hurley twice enter

and leave the wood house, with wood in her hands, about half an hour before

the fire broke out.

6) When asked by Mrs Lovell to run and solicit help from the neighbors, she

responded she "could not" which is, on balance, equal to "would not."

7) Miss Hurley refused a meeting with me and the insurance agent.

8) For such dastardly acts to continue unchecked throughout the afternoon and

evening, the perpetrator must have been a familiar in the home.

9) The insurance on the home was but a small amount, $1,200, so that as motive

is not worth consideration.

10) When Miss Hurley was sent away that evening at 10 o'clock, no more

attempts at burning were discovered.

Many witnesses have been called, including prominent citizens as historian

Ezra Johnson, and Newtown Savings Bank secretary and treasurer attorney

Charles H. Northrop. It is agreed that this has been one of the longest

justice trials ever held in town. Although Williams is reputed one of the best

criminal attorneys in the state, and his two-hour appeal to dismiss charges

was impassioned, it is to the credit of Justice Hobart Camp that he bound the

accused over to Superior Court. Williams' comment that Hurley is a "girl just

budding into womanhood," might better be stated as a girl budding into a

flower of the poisonous nightshade.

No. 74 -- The Case of Too

Late to the Telephone

On Saturday, November 9, 1895, thieves made a large effort to secure little

reward. The station at Botsford was entered by the criminals who smashed out a

light of glass and turned the window catch; their target was the telephone

instrument. Upon breaking the instrument open, the thieves secured only $1.35

for their trouble. They were a little too late, for only a few days before

about $5 had been taken out of it. Upon my advice, the telephone people will

try and fix it so that it will be harder to get the change hereafter, as the

receptacle for it will be made of iron, securely fastened.

No. 101 -- The Case of the Hobo

Hold-Up at Hawleyville

It is the whimsy of fate that strands an honest man on the path between a pair

of roughs and the object of their corrupted desire. And it is foolish, if not

impossible, for any man to hold a position of defiance when revolvers are

being discharged near his feet.

Such was the situation Abraham Baldwin awoke to, August 29, 1896, at the

Hawleyville Railroad Station. Baldwin, an aged Negro and respected citizen,

had dropped in for a visit with the night telegraph operator, as was his

custom. At the time two hoboes entered the office, Baldwin was enjoying a

little sleep on one of the benches.

The two burglars entered the station at 2:15 am and, with the muzzles of their

revolvers pointed at the operator, called for all of his money. He declared he

had none, where upon one of the hoboes took an iron bar and pried open the

money drawer. Baldwin, awaked by the commotion, was ordered to give up his

money, but refused. It was only when the bandits discharged their weapons into

the floor surrounding his feet, did he surrender his $8.

The ticket case was unmolested. Although the accosted men believe the hoboes

were headed for New Milford, there are precious few clues by which to track

them save for the meager description of one being tall and slender and the

other, short and stocky.

The vagabonds may have made it away clear, so I am left to find satisfaction

in knowing Abraham Baldwin will not alter his nightly habit for fear of

recurrence. He has taken my advice and, upon setting out for the station, now

arms himself with two razors and a club.