Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-07-12
SP0ITERS IN COURT
Failed to Prove Case Against Hrs.
 nangini-Some Settled.

The operations of the state police 1 attracted another big crowd to the
 city court to-day to listen to the fight
 John Shannahan of Railroad Hill street was to put against them. Shan.
 nahan was charged with keeping open
 his saloon and selling liquor or Sun | day. June II, and he was defended by Attorney McGrath. The operations in
 this case were the same as in that of | Bart Sweeney of Baldwin street. A
 stranger guided the police to the sa- 1 loon and they found Shannahan sitting 1 outside. They had no trouble in get
 ting into the place and then they drank
 two rounds of whiskey and beer. Po-
 licemen Allhouse and Schwartzburg were the main witnesses. They did
 not know who the stranger was and 1 they never saw him before or since. Shannahan said he has been forty
 one years in town and about twenty
 in the liquor business. He defed any 1 one to prove he sold a glass of whis-
 key at his place in the last five years
 and his description of the interior of
 the place differed altogether from that given by the officers.
 Attorney McGrath asked that the two complaints be consolidated in one.
 Judge Burpee did not decide that
 point, but held that the saloon was not open for business under the provisions of the statute and on the other charge imposed fine of S175 and costs. An appeal was taken
 The case against Mary Mangini of Canal street was then taken up. This was far more interesting than the
 Shannahan case. and was defended by Attorney Guilfoile. Sunday. April B, was the date of the charge, and, al though it was admitted that the wo- man had no liquor license, she was charged only with selling on the Sun day stated.
 Officer Schwartzburg testified that he met a man on the street who direct ed him to the accused's house, and he bought two bottles of beer for 10 cents. It was evident that he had met this stranger before, because he de- clined to tell where. He did not know the woman's name, nor did he identify her until yesterday, when with local officer he went to her house.
 Two boarders testified that the wo- man does not sell beer or liquor and that they have boarded with her some three years. They were home every Sunday in April and did not see the officer in the house.
 Attorney Guilfoile stated that Ital- ians do not sell a bottle of beer for cents, especially on Sunday. if they sell at all Furthermore, it was not just to the accused to keep back this .. complaint for almost three months, and it was not because the officer had cer- tain statements on his book that they should be true. It was very strange way to gather evidence to not be able to get this woman's name until yester- day. or in fact be able to identify her until yesterday.
 Judge Burpee agreed with the attor- ney. He said it was practical viola the constitution to keep back a com. plaint for three months. It was not fair or just to the accused because she was not able to defend herself against such a charge. People cannot say what their movements were on a cer- tain day some months ago. and it would be unfair to expect them to do SO On that ground he discharged the woman.
 Except the cases that have been tried. all of them have been settled. | It seems that accused parties make | double tracks to the prosecutors office | the moment they are served with the | papers. for of the half dozen that were | served yesterday not one was called. l Prosecutor Pierce stated after court | that there will be about fifty cases al- together.