New Britain herald., 1915-07-16
POLICEMAN ACCUSED OF fSALOONBRAWLING
Officer Moifitt, Under Suspension,
 Said to Have Beaten Up Man
TEARS CLOTHES OFF CITIZEN

Victim Reticent But Admits under
 Close Questioning That His Assail- ant Was Biuecoat Already Under
 Ran.--oficer Will Be Arrested.
 Testimony Nof a sensational nature was brought out in police court this morning when Supernumary Officer Perry took the stand and testified that James Chute, a man he had ar rested at the corner of Broad and Washington streets at 11:30 o'clock for a breach of the peace, had open y accused Officer George Mofitt, now under suspension, of severely beat ing him in Skritulskys saloon. Or ficer Moffitt was placed under sus- pension Monday by Chief Rawlings for failing to register his signal
 Clothes Torn From Body.
 Officer Perry on the stand this morning testified that he was sending in his own ring from the corner of Broad and Washington streets last aiAA6AAb IVY AACA AlC l1SdA0 SOlilihoSAOh nearby and saw big crowd follow ing Chute, who was shouting. The ! officer testified that all of Chute's clothes had been torn from his body and that he was garbed only in his , trousers and shoes.
 4.lt., Accuses Officer Moffitt.
 Placed under arrest Chute told Ofhcer Perry that he had just been beaten up in Skritulsky's saloon. Asked who his assailant was Chute at 5 first refused to tell but begged that he be let go. The officer told him he would be forced to arrest him for breach of the peace and drunkenness Whereupon Chute said, Well, if you'll let me go you'll save me and George Mofiitt. George Moffitt beat me up"
 sOfficer Perry then called the patrol and took Chute to the police station Charles Slim, who was in Skritulsky's s saloon; at the time of the assault told how 1t took place and declared that Chute was beaten by another big man. .ss S,.
 Tells Of Assault
 On the witness stand himself Chute showed an evident desire to cover up" Offieer Moff1tt and in ytes- tifying he used the name of the other fellow in preference to de- nouncing the suspended policeman. Chute said mphatically that he was badly beaten up without any pro- vocation This fellow came up to me and said I'm a good fellow That's all right, I'm as good as you Chute said he replied, whereupon the other man struck out at his face and head savagely, punching him several times and knocking him down. When he was down he was kicked on the hips and legs and this morning he was black and blue and so lame he had to walk with limp. He said his assailant ripped his clothes off his back in the melee.
 After hearing the evidence Judge Meskiil ordered Judgement suspend ed against Chute and ordered him to keep away from saloons in the future. This was Chute's first ap- pearance in police court
 Don't Know Why He Was Hit.
 After court Chute showed a strong disinclination to talk on the matter and refused at first to make any statements directly accusing Officer Moffitt. Asked, however, by an of- ficial of the board of public safety whether it was Officer Moffitt who beat him up in the saloon Chute ad- mitted that it was. Asked why he did it the victim simply said II don't know and limped away to avoid fur ther questioning on the subject which, was so distasteful to him.
 | 13 &s54 Story CauSoS Seucafton
 Oficer Mofitt's actions of last night have made a profound sen satien in official and police circles as he was regarded as one of tho most efficient officers in the depart nent and his present suspension was regarded more as matter of form than anything else. He explained that his failure to register his ring Sunday night was because as he was about to pull the signal he was called away to investigate com plaint and he forgot to go back and ring. It was confidently predicted in ofiiciai circles that when he was given his hearing by the safety board next week he would be acquitted and restored to duty without any mark of demerit against him. It was ru- mored today that had he not become implicated In the bar-room brawl of last night his suspension might have been lifted by the authorities today in view of the conditions under which he is said to have failed to register his call
 " Is New Ohiccr.
 Oficer Moffitt since his appoint ment as a regular policeman about a year ago, has always conducted him. self in gentlemanly manner while on. duty and was regarded by his superiors as a peaceful man. who could be relied upon in an emeraan.