The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-07-07
State Policeman Virelli Explains That Ills Unusual Action
 Was Orders Prosecutor Delaney Knew of Number of Cases in Which Motion Picture Men
 Were Simply
 Warned Evidence Fails to Show Why Manager of Steeplechase Was Selected as Ob-
 ject of Special
 Displeasure

Judge Robert l.. Munger of the An sonia city court, acting in the steat of the local judges in the Bridgepor city court, would not penalize Cap tain Boyton or the operator of hi found them guilty of violation of tn, law regulating motion picture booths in the city court today
 Captain Boyton, the veteran show man. appeared the coolest person 1T the crowded city tribunal He wa. clad in white duck suit, and while lawyers arguing his case were mop ping their brows, he sat back com fortably taking in all the cool breeze that was to be found in the court room, and no doubt wishing himself back on his elegantly appointed house boat moored near Steeplechase Is- land
 Judge Foster did not act in his case being counsel for the Steeplechase Amusement Go. Attorney John C. Chamberlain was counsel for the ac- cused.
 Judge Munger found them guilty ot a technical violation of the law which requires that the booths in which these machines are located must be con- structed in conformity to regulations made by the State police department After testimony had been heard that indicated the arrests of Captain Boy ton and his operator were made un- der most unusual conditions, he sus- pended penalty.
 State Policeman Frank Vireln o1 Bridgeport said he acted strictly un- der the order of his chief in making the arrests as he did. He added however, that he would have acted just as he did, even without instruc- tions of his superior, if he had chanc- ed upon the conditions he found al the island
 Captain Boyton was charged with conducting a moving picture theatre that was not in keeping with the State police regulations, and the oper- ator. Jesse Levin, was accused o1 operating moving picture machine without being licensed. Prosecutor Delaney found to his surprise today that Levin was regularly licensed motion picture operator, and after the prosecution had been instituted he was obliged to alter the warrant charging Levin with operating ma- chine in a booth that was not i'm keep ing with the specifications.
 That the complaint leading to the arrests came from another motion picture operator was the explanation given he State Policeman Virelli, the went to the island motion picture theatre at 8:10 p. m.. found the oper- ator just finishing a. reel of motion pictures, and placed both him and Captain Boyton under arrest.
 Early in the day, he said. an opera tor had phoned Chief Egan at Hart ford of the condition at the island, and Egan detailed him to go there and make arrests.
 In oss-examination Virelli said the booth was lined with asbestos paper, and that he couldn't say whether there was real danger from fire, but that the danger. would be from the puff of smoke should the combustible reel of pictures become ignited. The smoke, he said, would pour out of the open top of the booth, and filling the theatre, would frighten the people.
 Asked if it was not customary to call attention of people in Captain Boy'ton's position to any dereliction of the sort, Virelh admitted it was so. He also admitted that he had stop ped a show at Savin Rock of July Fourth. He did not arrest the Savin Rock management, however. Press ed for hds reason for his summary action in the case of Captain Boyton, Virelli could only say he acted under orders.
 Judge Munger asked Virelli to point out just where the law was being vio- lated, if it was true the booth in which the machine was encased was fireproof. Virelh claimed that the regulations of the State police depart ment, which are made under the stat ute, had not been complied with in the manner of constructing the booth and in the failure Of the mana cement to first have the premises inspected.
 In asking that the court suspend sentence, Attorney Chamberlain took occasion to remark that Prosecutor Delaney did not look very fierce in conducting the case against the cap tain. Delaney then said that he could not say that the methods adopt ed in this case met with his approval, and said that to his personal knowl- edge other moving picture people have been given several months leeway in conforming to the regulations of the