New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1915-06-15

he had smelled liquor in his. breath.
He also gave lengthy account of
the method employed in making out
warrants, showing that the officer
had no com plant and was asked to
swear to nothing wrong.
Both Judge Meskill and Prosecutor
klett had been subpoenaed to appear
as witnesses before the board
Denies Liquor Charge.
In his own .behalf Off1cer Quinn. adt
mitted all. offenses except being ,l1,-
der the influence Of. intoxioatiag
liquor. He said that~on the rloffliads
of June 5 he went down. town ~be- :
fore court and bought a new straw
hat and got shaved. When he en-
tered the police station he saw the
chief take the watch that was found
on the prisoners person and he asked
him If she was to be charged with
theft. The chief did not reply, said
the officer. Later when he expostu-
lated with Prosecutor Klett the latter
said. ~ make out these warrants. not
you,' he said. Continuing he said
Il
who never pleads guilty so the pc
rant is right because they have to
swear to it. ,,@
Clerk Smells Breath TOO
He then called John Hallin, a clerk
at I. w. O'Connor's~ store and from
whom he had purchased his new hat,
as witness. Mr.. Hallin testified to
selling Officer Quinn the hat and adj
mitetd that while trying it on he had
smelled the odor of liquor, but not
strong.
Anthony Puscia, barber at Corb-
ley's barber shop, was Officer Quinn's
next witness. He told of shaving him
but did not smell any liquor or notice
anything unusual about the officer.
Mr. Corbley himself said he notified
nothing unusual about Officer Quinn
and srneHed no liquor. Special OF
fcer Thomas" Heslin testified III SIM
liar manner.
Admits Taking Drink,
Officer Quinn was then asked if
he had had a drink on this particular
IN morning. He said he might have
had. he would not deny it. Asked
sibly two but no more. He always
takes a drink or two after work, AID
as for his eyes being CLASSY he thought
Chief Rawlings eyes would get CLASSY.
too, if he had worked all night aud
then had to come to court to testify
the next morning. He also admitted
throwing his clothes about the dress
ing room and said that had not friends
interfered he would have taken them
away with him that day.
After the hearing had been de-
clared closed and the witnesses ex-
cused the commissioners discussed the
case and Mr.. Holmes said that it
should be understood :. that Officer.
Quinn was not charged with being
drunk. 1t might have been that the
two drinks, together with his temper,
caused him to act as he did. The
other commissioners agreed.
Is Found Guilty.
When a vote was taken all three
Of the commissioners voted to find
Officer Quinn guilty of being under
the influence of intoxicating liquor.
This, with his admitted guilt on no
other charges, made the officer guilty
on all counts The next business
Wants Six Months Suspension.
Commissioner Healey moved that IN
,he charge of being under the in
f1fluence of liquor Officer Quinn be
suspended for three months without
pay. On each of the other three
! charges, disorderly conduct on the
witness stand. rising and interrupt
ing the court and the hoisterous ac
ton with the prosecutor before co 'rt.
the officer be suspended for one month
each, thus making total OF six
months without pay and to report
at headquarters at a. IN. every We'd
nesday and Saturday. For the pur-
pose of bringing the matter before
the board for discussion Mr.. Holmes
seconded the motion. He. then said
he thought six I'm onths too lenient and
asked Mr.. Healey why that was all
he asked. Mr.. Healey replied that
| it was merely matter of poinion and
he felt that six months suspension
was very severe and would have as
much effect as a complete dismissal
I'm the case of one man whom con-
sidered a detriment to the service
did not hesitate to vote for his dis
| n1issal. said Mr. Healey But. he
continued, Officer quinn has good
record behind him and as this was
| his first offense he should not be dis
missed
Mr. Holmes insisted that the offense
was a grave one and the efficiency Of
the department must not be impaired
Also he did not think that officer
Quinn showed the proper spirit, and
was quite arrogant.
Alling Gives Views.
Chairman Alling said that the OBJ