New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1915-03-11
HUMPHREY IN DANGER
OF "AvENUE" T0UCHS
Public Works President Advised to
Keep His Mouth Shut"

That the Hartford avenue" gang,
composed of we'll known thugs, is
growing holder and is not awed by
police authority is shown by the fact
that President Ernest n. Humphrey
of the board of public works is In
danger OF physical harm because or
his utterances against the gangsters
at Monday nights meeting Of the
board of finance and taxation. Less
than twenty-four hours after he
charged the gang with terrorizing
Hartford avenue and vicinity he was
informed by a stranger that it would
be advisable not to say any more If
he didn't want to get hurt. Mr..
Humphrey was on his way home from
Traut & Hines, where he is superin-
tendent, Tuesday night when he re-
ceived the warning.
Gangsters Menace When Drinking.
That the gang does as 1T pleases Is
vouched for by some of the store
keepers in that vicinity. The gang is
composed chiefly of young thugs who
will stop at nothing when they are
drinking. None of them has any
steady employment and they spend
their evenings In saloons. When they
have consumed enough liquor they go
out on the street and make life
miserable for all who come across
their path. Even women are not safe
from their tongues and II anyone In
terferes with their pleasures he is at
once made the target for vile epithets
and is fortunate If he is not set upon.
Storekeepers in particular are VIC
tins of the young yeggs. AS soon as
the policemen disappear the gangsters
force their way into stores and make
themselves obnoxious, driving away
trade. All of them have spent
terms behind prison bars and they
have wholesome regard for some
of the policemen while they merely
sneer at others.
Gangster Beaten BY Druggist.
One incident that demonstrates
what is said to be a frequent occur
renee happened in the drug store of
John p. Connors at 1913 Hartford
avenue on Sunday, February 20.
About A O'Clock in the afternoon one
of the gangsters named Kiely.
married man, entered the drug
store in a semi-intoxicated condition
and called for glass Of soda water.
He was served by Mr. Connors. He
returned in a short time but because
of his condition Mr.. Connors refused
to allow him to enter the store.
Kiely imm ediately became abusive.
Mr.. Connors saw officer Axel Carl
son standing outside and going out
said he wanted Kelly removed from
the corner. AS he was returning to
4
Cormick, shook his fist under his
nose and said: "Connors. I'll get
you for that" Mr.. Commons did not
make any comment but entered the
store.
Came to sect" Proprietor.
Mccormick, smarting under what
he thought was an injustice to his
pal, Kiely. visited the drug store five
minutes later and repeated his threat
to get" the proprietor. The latter
asked him to leave the store. He
refused and raised his fist to strike
Mr.. Connors was too quick for him
and knocked him to the floor Nc
Cormick still showed signs of fight
and Mr. Connors was forced to defend
himself with a club. After being thor
ougi11y trounced Mccormick cried
enough" and hurried out. He re-
turned again later but disappeared
quickly when Mr. Connors went to
the telephone and notified Sergeant IT.
M. Hearting that he was completely
disguised with the gang and wanted
Mccormick and any others kept off
the corner. The policemen on the
night shift were directed to keen an |
eye out for the gang but the latter /
evidently remained at safe distance /
as no arrests We're made.
Others on Hartford avenue have
stories 20 tell very similar 10 that
told by the druggist. They want the
gang cleaned out and they are not
particular whether they are sent u