New Britain herald., 1914-07-27
BERLIN COLLECTOR
 PUT UNDER ARREST
fx-prosecutoT Austin Charged With
 Assault on Local Man.
RELEASED ON BONDS OF SlO0


 Being in Charge of His Friend. William H. Gibney.
 AS sequel to his assault Satur- day afternoon upon Nathan Gordon of 2S Willow street, this city. Tax Collector and ex-Prosecuting Attor- ney Elmer E. Austin of Berlin was placed under arrest this morning by Constable John Hackett on a warrant for breach of the peace and assault, which was sworn out last night. He was released on bonds of $100 and will be tried before Judge Griswold in the Berlin police court tomorrow morrow morning.
 Austin, it is said, will engage an at- torney and fight the case to a finish, on the grounds that he struck Gordon only in self defense. He will be prose- cuted by one of his best friends, Prosecuting Attorney William H. Gibney, who spent the greater part of today getting evidence. While there were many people on the scene of the assault immediately after it occurred, the authorities are experiencing diff
 
 affair. It is expected, however, that much evidence will be brought out in the trial
 Quarreled Over Bill.
 As was reported in Saturdays Herald, Austin and Gordon waxed hot over the payment of a bill, when they met each other Saturday afternoon on New Britain road, Kensington, near f ic tax collector. who was peddling ice at the time. gave Gordon, who is a fruit vendor, a severe beating, leaving him in the road to be picked up and car ried to the New Britain General hos pital in P. S. McMahon's truck
 He was unconscious upon his arr rival at the hospital and, according to the nurses, remained in that state for Q period of about three hours. He was attended by Doctors Mendel Volkenheim and Erastus P. Swasey, who found that he had a slight con- cUssion of the brain. There were no marks or bruises on his body, how ever, to show that he had been punched, it is said. Gordon left the hospital this morning.
 Didn't Punch Him"-Austin.
 Many conflicting stories of very brutal assault in which Austin not only kicked Gordon but hit him when he was down, are told, but have been Ciscredited by the tax collector, who told a reporter this morning that he did not even punch the New Britain ite, having merely showed him over on his back when he made as if to throw rock at him.
 According to a statement made by friend of the Berlin aspirant for pugilistic honors,. Gordon and a son purchased some apples and few discarded automobile tires from him early in the spring, both having agreed to a price of $S.S5. Gordon had only $3 with him at the time of the purchase and he turned over that amount to Austin with the under standing that he would meet him in front of store in New Britain that same afternoon and pay the re- mainder of the bill. Gordon, it i5 said, did not show up and upon going to his house on Willow street Austin was laughed at when he asked for the $5.85 due him.
 A short time later Austin took Sheriff James Clark of Berlin with him to the Gordon place to collect the money, with the result that one of the Gordon boys wanted to get into a fight with the officer. Then the tax collector is said to have asked for a | warrant for the younger Gordons ar rest, but could not secure it because | of the fact that he is minor.
 Slapped Gortion's Face Recently.
 On various occasions Austin says he has approached the elder Gordon l in the matter and asked him in a de- | cent way to pay the remainder of his | bill, each time meeting with flat re- fusal One day few months ago the | tax collector slapped Gordon's face upon meeting him at the Berlin | passenger station.
 On Saturday, Austin says, he met | Gordon on the road and, walking over | to his delivery wagon, made request | for the $5.85 due him. He ayers that 1 inc fruit dealer ordered him away inn mediately and picked up a quart measure with which to strike him. The tax collector says that he grabbed the measure from his hand just in time to avoid being struck by another wooden measure. Then, Aus tin alleges the New Britainite picked up a large rock and, in self defense, he was obliged to push him back wards so that he could not throw the heavy object. The Berlin official is of the opinion that, in falling, Gordon sustained injuries to his head.
 Collector Austin told a reporter that he left the scene then and that Cor don got up and walked across the road to his wagon, but when he saw a crowd beginning to assemble he at once dropped down on the ground and cried aloud. The alleged assailant called Doctors R. M. and M. H. Gris- wold to the scene and they, in a