The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-29
SLIPPERY SIMONI.
He offered Officer j.
H. Boyle a Bride
of 800,
BUT IT WOULDN'T WORK.
Worcester Cases Disposed
of in Fitchburg
Yesterday.
BUT IT WOULDN'T WORK.


of the superior court began at Fitch
burg yesterday morning, and the long
list of liquor cases was in order for
trial. At adjournment, last night, the
opinion prevailed that the term would
last at least week, and possibly ten
days longer, before the business in the
hands of the court is disposed of.
On the opening of court, yesterday,
the case of Herbert T. Smith of West
minister was tried on charge of illegal
liquor selling, on dates from May to
June 49, at what is known as the Boil
ton place, on the north shore of Wa
chusett lake. The evidence of the
lower court was repeated, to the effect
that Smith had given man named
Feeley permission to store beer in his
hotel, and Smith returned verdict of
not guilty.
Nicola Simoni pleaded not guilty to
an indictment charging him with the
larceny of a cape from Annie f. Brown,
teacher in the Gage street school. Net
tie A. Starkey, principal of the school,
testified to the fact that the cape was
stolen. John Mara testified that he
building, and shortly after return with
a bundle under his arm. Mary Biscoe
testified that the prisoner had tried to
sell her an expensive sealskin cloak
officer John H. Boyle of Springfield
said he made q trip to Boston to see
Simoni about the larceny of a cape in
Springfield and said that on the way to
that city there was evidence that the
prisoner had stolen capes in Hartford,
hTaNx To, ha
oner offered Boyle 500 il he would
let him gos He admitted having served
time in Joliet, and had served time for
| stabbing man. He said he was an
agent for the Banda Rosa, and claim
| ed Chicago as his home.
The prisoner appeared without coun-
sci, and conducted his own eXamina-
ton, charaeterizing the bulk of the tes-
| timony as false. He wanted to enter
into lengthy story of his life, but the
court would not listen to his rambling
story 1t took the jury three minutes
to decide that Simoni was guilty, and
| the court sentenced him to one year
in either house of correction.
Otis c. Bent of Brookfield, charged
with larceny from building, was al
lowed to go on his own recognizance.
At the afternoon session Mr.. Rugg
moved for sentence in the case of Rob
ert Kavanagh of Worcester, who plead
ed guilty to breaking and entering at
| Worcester. At this point Kavanagh
said he desired to retract his plea Of
guilty and plead not guilty. He said
he was guilty of receiving, but not
guilty of larceny, and that he pleaded
guilty as he thought he would be placed
on probation. His counsel, P. J. OCon-
nell, being away, Sullivan & O'Connell
took up the case. The case will be
tried Tuesday.
Sentence was asked for in the case
of Ernest Kellogg of Worcester, con-
| victed of the larceny Of a set of Havi-
land china valued at $3.50. Kellogg ad-
dressed the court in his own behalf
and asked for clemency. He said he
knew he ought to be punished, but as
he had always borne a GOOD reputation,
kept good company and neve~ been ar
rested before, he asked that he be given
a light sentence and that he be placed
where he could learn something while
he was serving the seAtence. The court
sentenced Kellogg to one year in either
house of correction
The case of ]. H. Keefe of Fitchburg.
for soliciting liquor orders, was then
| taken up.
The witnesses testified to ordering
whisky and beer from Keefe at various
| times.
officer Roy gave evidence as to the
EXPRESS O1fICH.
1llling out order blanks and leaving
them at the office or giving them to
express MESSENGERS on the train: that
by common reputation Keefe was a
member Of the wholesale house of M.
A: Hannigan & Co., Boston.
Inc government rested and the de-
Tense offered no evidence The court
jury.
The district attorney outlined the
case, TO the effect that Fitchburg was
a no-tieense city and that while Keefe
was running soft drink establishment
mere ne was a partner in liquor house
in Boston.
The court ruled that there was in
suInclent evidence, and ordered the
Jury 10 bring in verdict Of not guilty
without leaving their seats, and Keefe
was discharged
Justin F. MeCarty, a minor before
the court for larceny, was placed On
probation in charge of officer M w
Tarpey Of Fitchburg.
Herman F. Pregler Clinton. was
paced on trial for liquor keeping.
Michael +. Smith. police Office. ~
Clinton, told about the premises occ,,-
pied by Smith in Depot square. Went
there May I; in a room back of what
was the barroom 19 gallons of whisky
a quantity of gin and wine were found
also gallons lager, in cellar with nine
attached running to old barroon: went
upstairs and opened a faucet and drew
lresn beer; tasted of it and found il
clear and fresh.
Chief Bates of Clinton gave evidence
as to the time and manner Of makine
the RAID. Entrance to the place was
gained through a window, the door be-
ing locked as we approached.
Ofncer John Mitchell testified to And
ing nye gallons of beer in a 16-gallon
keg There were two pipes Connected
with the keg, an air pipe and a feed
pipe. 9 1eeU
Officer o'Malley testified that Prag
lers place was on his beat April an
saw 20 men coming from the place:
some had been drinking either beer or
whisky. Saw men coming from the
place at midnight before the raid. and
men coming from there in the evening
after the raid was made. The men
came out Of the door leading to the
Kitchen. The government rested.
Lizzie Pragler, mother Of the defend
ant testified for the defence to owning
O. boarding house of IS rooms on the
premises in question and to having a
number Of boarders and dodgers at the
time the raid was made. That her sons
had carried on a liquor business the
year previous, but that the liquor was
being boxed up for shipment to Wor-
cester; that there was no liquor sold
there after the license expired; witness
denied the officers statement that 20
men left the house Sunday evening
April 80; she also denied seeing men
leaving there Sunday morning, May Z.
A. j. Hannah gave evidence as to the
fact of being a boarder at the place.
saw no liquor sold after May l.
Lizzie Pragler, Annie Pragler, John
Fl. Murphy and Rudolph Pragier gave
similar evidence as previous witnesses.
Pragler testified in his own behalf
that he applied for license and was