Waterbury Democrat., 1901-08-29
BRADFORD WEBSTER FAILED
Could Make Out no Case Against
 Liquor Dealers.

Judge Peasley Discharged Them In
 the City Court To-day The Witness
 For the Prosecution Couldn't or
 Wouldn't Give Evidence to Suit the
 Prosecutor-He Intimated That
 They Had Been Seen"
 This mornings session of the city court. at which Deputy Judge Peasley presided. was full of laughter. Mich ael AIoynihan, a saloon keeper at the corner of River and Baldwin streets, was charged with keeping his saloon open on Sundays August Il and IS. Bradford Webster prosecuted and At torney Carmody defended. The wit nesses were Alfred and Prospere St Peter, Henry Dugay and Frederick Massicotte. Alfred St Peter was the first witness called. He could not re- member anything. He said that lie once tried to get into the saloon Sun day, but found it locked. At length Mir Webster, in q tone of desperation. said: Were you ever in that saloon Of a Sunday?" This was objected to and the objection was sustained. The question was modified to include only Sundays-during the past year. but this was also ruled out, as the accused has been in business there only three months. MT Webster was now in a terrible state of mind, and when the witness replied that he was never there on Sunday MT Webster asked him if he was aware of the conse- quences of perjury. 'I am," said the witness. ''and you can send me to spfiSon, l suppose, if you like; l am poor man!'' At this point Mir Carmody |s.'butted in,'' so to speak. to rescue St Peter. He claimed that MT Webster could not prove perjury against the witness; that he, Webster. knew noth- ing whatsoever about the case. having brought it only on SuppOSltlOn, and that in examining the witness he was merely on a fishing excursion. "Has Moynihan,'' asked Mir Webster of the witness, lever tempered with you?" All that could be got out of the wit ness was that he was never in the sa- loon in question on Sunday and that he waS aware he was under oath. However, when the court informed him that he would be sent to jail un- less he answered the question, he re- piled that he had not spoken with Moynihan Then MT Webster implied that witness had been drinking in MT Moynihan's place before he came to court this forenoon, but to this witness said he had taken drink of whiSkey at his own home.
 Prospere St Peter threw no more light upon the situation. At first he left the impression that it is his GUS tom to get intoxicated every Sunday, and next that he seldom enters a sa- loon Like Alfred. he could not tell if he had been in accused's saloon lately.
 The same questions were put to him as to Alfred regarding perjury and the same answers were given. Fred Mas sicotte was the last witness called and he was as liberal with negative infor- nation as the others were. Mir Web ster then stated that he would nolle the case. but MT Carmody demanded
 q discharge. and the court so ordered.
 The case against John O'Brien. 34S Baldwin street for keeping open his saloon and selling on July 2S, was then called MT Carnody wanted the two charges consolidated in one com Dlaint. to save his client a. second bill of costs ill case of conviction. MT Webster stated that if the charges
 were consolidated as required by the defense it would not pay any one to hold the office of prosecuting agent.
 Tn AIr Webster's view it was a ques- | tion of reasonable compensation, and S4OO q year for such work as this would not pay any lawyer to take up. The court upheld Mir Webster and the case was opened The same evidence
 was given as i'll the other case, hut when the court was over and the wit | nesses went up to get their. fees, Mir l Webster was there before them with an order from the court prohibiting them being paid the regular fee.
 While these cases were being tried the court was in roars of laughter at the apparent density of the witnesses and the desperation of the acting
 prosecuting agent to procure convic- tion.
 Morris Blackman was charged with cruelty to animals. The evidence was
 to the effect that he was making or trying to make three-legged horse walk on four legs. He was fined $10 and costs
 Mrs Mary Mahoney was charged by
 Edward Mcdonald with intoxication l and breaking down a gate in his gar den Mrs Mahoney is his tenant. Me
 Donald stated that when he remon- strated about breaking down the gate | the accused struck him on the head with a hammer. Maurice Harrington
 corroborated this testimony and as he
 was stepping down from the stand the
 accused shouted out: You're a liar :" l The woman was told to shut up" or l she would be locked up. A colloquy l took place between her and Harring- l tdn. which caused considerable laugh
 ter. Mrs Mahoney was fined $5 and costs on each complaint.