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Freedom €kmw TurnsV r 37 Days in Prison into Years of Cells By JUNE UNTON proached that on Dec. 19 Merrill co u rt In R o c k v ille w here In this latest case, ironically, or in the plot until after any parole a pile of award certificates, the He had been a Star Scout In 1960 (Herald Ileporter) had just 37 days to serve before appeared on charges in connec­ intentionally as a kind of joke, was turned down. 1964 Windham Regional and an Explorer in 1964. Frederick Merrill was found being paroled. He had served 18 tion with the first escape. He peanut butter was mentioned in Family did watch however. His Technical School yearbook, Somewhere in between there Was guilty yesterday in Tolland Coun­ months of a two-to-nlne year pulled a gun on three guards, the testimony of the Informer, BA-year-old mother who served 18 “Beaver” apd an envelope of a first mistake Iii judgment with a ty Superior Court by a jury on one sentence for breaking and forcing one of them Into the Alph Nims, who said Merrill used months at the state prison in scout merit badges and cer­ car theft, and later a second count of attempted escape from a entering and violating probation trunk and handcuffing the other it once to hold his cell window Niantlc for her part In the 1968 tificates. which sent him to prison. correctional institution. for a theft of motor vehicle when two around a tree. Then he drove bars in place after they were cut. escape sat with his brother According to the yearbook The Merrills must have been A second count of criminal he was 16. to meet his mother. Merrill’s attorney, James Egan, Charles throughout the trial. Merrill was president of the aware they were being watched attempt (to escape) was dropped On that December day Merrill, Mrs. Gladys Merrill worked at tried to convince the jury that She was willing to talk about National Honor Society at his very closely by police all through! since It was really a repeat of the then 20, left a note on his bed iii ^ the Howard Johnson Restaurant Merrill was framed by inmates the time she spent at the school and an honor roll student this trial. Police remember the same charge under the updated the minimum security unit telling on Tolland Turnpike off the Nims and Louis Cofone. women's prison. She said she during his last two years. Ac­ last time when at first they were penal code which went Into effect guards he had gone home. State highway. She fled with her son 'This third attempt differed only got through it by keeping tivities were listed as rifle club, sure Mrs. Merrill had passed the last Oct. 1. This was Just a few police approached the house on until they were apprehended at from the other two in that family very much to herself and woricing basketball, yearbook staff, partol giin to her son during a visit when days before the conspiracy at the Merrow Rd. in Tolland, but as Wallingford. was not involved. Instead of at aulgned jobs. and prom committee. His wish he appeared In court on the day prison came to light with the one of them approached, Merrill It was later found that she had being the loner he had been, Her (ace lit up however and her for the future? To become a pilot of his escape. They knew she anonymous note to the warden. cut the trooper in the face with a sent Merrill the gun in a Christ­ Merrill allegedly cooperated with eyes sparked when asked about and to further his education. played the ^ r t once, in sending Under either statute the max­ parihg knife and ran. He was shot mas package, concealed in a three inmates convicted of i^ederick's having been named He had awards (or English, the gun, and they were taking no imum sentence Is 10 years, no in the stomach and seriously in­ family-size jar of peanut butter. murder and an Informer, who an alternate to the Air Force carpentry, blueprint reading chances. minimum. jured. Add 10 to 20 years for Merrill himself had attempted escape Academy by former . Rep. St. atheletics and scholarship and She had no comment on this Merrill was twice before con­ The sentence for this escapade and to his record add convictions seven times. Onge. She said she had his clip­ citizenship awards, all in his but simply turned her attention victed of escapes; his persistent added two to five years and led to (or kidnapping, theft qf a motor pings and school records in the senior year and he was named to that most common court ac­ There was a parole hearing efforts continually add to the an even more tragic effort a year vehicle, weapon in a motor vehi> car and set her son Charles to get most improved student. tivity—that of simply waiting. impending and according to Nims time he must serve. It was almost later. This was when Merrill was cle, binding, robbery with them. So for a little while happier Merrill will be sentenced Oct. 3 testimony Merrill refused to join five years ago as Christmas ap­ returning to the prison from violence and escape. Out of a large envelope spilled times crept into the courtroom. by Judge Anthony J. Armentano. The Weather Coventry Bars Clear and cool tonight, lows In More School Funds the upper 40s. Partly sunny Satur­ Page 13 lHanrljpatpr lEu? nmg lUralh day, the highs in the mid 70s MANCHESTER — A City of Village Charm MANCHESTER, CONN., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1972 VOL. XCI. No. 295 TWENTY PAGES PRICE FIFTEEN CENTS \ Democrats Balk Bus Plan Allies Special Session Retake m Called Tuesday HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — State Democrats reacted Citadel cooiy Thursday following a call for a special legislative session by Gov. Thomas J. Mestull who hopes to head off a SAIGON (AP) - South possible statewide bus strike with a $3 million state subsidy. Vietnamese forces today "We all want to help," said regained control of Quang Tri House Speaker William which governs state grants for local street construction and Qty, ending North Vietnam’s Ratchford after meeting with the maintenance. 3Vz-month occupation of governor, "but there's no agree­ ment on the form of help." The $3 million could be used South Vietnam’s northern­ for mass transit or could be spent most provincial capital, U.S. Senate President Pro Tern Charles Alfano said mayors of on roads and streets. officials in the field informed cities involved should be con­ "1 emphasize that this would the American Embassy. sulted and Senate Majority be voluntary,” Meskill said. Lt. Col. Do Viet, a spokesman Leader J. Edward Caldwell said He explained that legislature for the South Vietnamese Com­ he didn't know whether 83 had intended to boost the grants mand, said that at 5 p.m. (5 j.m . million was enough. “We don’t to municipalities by $3 million EDT) South Vietnamese marines know how far it will go," and actually appropriated the “completely controlled” the (Caldwell said. funds but they could not be dis­ Citadel, the 19th Century fortress Meskill said the special session, tributed because the l^ill was in the heart of the city. to begin next Tuesday, hopefully "inadvertantly” sidetracl^. The North Vietnamese forces would provide $3 million to the According to a fact sheet dis­ withdrew to the west outside the state's town and cities to sub­ tributed by the governor, the 83 Citadel, and fighting is continuing sidize financially ailing bus com­ million would mean $156,336 for near the province headquarters panies. Hartford, $154,878 for along the river that marks the The governor said he wasn’t Bridgeport, $136,242 for New western boundary of the city, going to sit by and watch the Haven, $107,640 for Stamford and Viet said. state’s two largest bus lines, the $106,884 for Waterbury. “The fighting is still going on, Connecticut Co. and the Connec­ but the main target is already The Connecticut Co. deficit in I ticut Railway and Lighting Co., its New Haven division, $212,484, taken," he reported. shut down by strikes Oct. 1 exceeds the amount of money to because the firms didn’t have Quang Tri fell to the North be paid to the city but the New enough money to improve their Vietnamese on May 1, the first Haven suburbs would receive provincial capital to be captured union employes’ contracts. more than enough to make up the in South Vietnam. President The contracts expire Sept. 30. difference, Meskill said. Nguyen Van Thieu in a speech "I recognize the political risks last June 19 gave his troops three of calling a special session in an It will take time to get the months to recover all territory Inauguration preparations election period," said Meskill, money into the hands of the taken by the North Vietnamese in reacting to a comment by municipalities, he explained, but the first two and a half months of Superstructure for inauguration day, Jan. 20 takes shape on the east steps of (iipitol building in Washington well in advance of vote (AP photo) Ratchford that once the General the process shouldn’t require the their offensive. 'The three months Assembly is recalled it would also formation of transit districts. The are up next Tuesday, and the consider cutting taxes to head off subsidies could be provided recapture of Quang Tri would a possi()le surplus in the state’s directly by the municipalities un­ help to obscure the fact that General Fund.

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