New Britain herald., 1916-05-23
WANTED TEN YEARS
 IF FOUND GUILTY
But Gambling Joint Keeper Had to
 Be Content With S76 Fine

Armenian coffee house and pool room at 13 Lafayette street, is certainly lucky that Judge James T. Meskill did not take him at his word this morning when he was arraigned on a charge of conducting a gambling joint. "If there is any gambling going on I want to go to jail for ten years,' vehemently declared. the pro- prietor as he denied the charge. AL though the court was convinced of the truth of the charge, the proprie- tors desire for ten year sentence was not needed and he was probably quite disappointed when the judge fined him only $75 and costs.
 KakOr Artian, Harry Asslaonian, Morris Koolian, Aaron Simon, Sam uel Eshoo, Hagop Garbarbed, K. Ka- pavian, Daniel Derderian and George Euworth were charged with fre- quenting gambling resort, but all were discharged except Garbarbed who was fined S15 and costs The place was raided by Officers A. J. Richardson and William Grace last Friday night. Lawyer P. F. McDon- Ough represented the accused.
 Officer Richardson testified that he has received numerous complaints that gambling joint is being run in Lafayette hall and he has been told that all night gambling parties have been held there. Other complainants told him that friends of theirs have lost their weeks pay at this resort. The officer also said he has been in- formed that beer is sold here on Sundays at ten cents a bottle. On
 
 Officer Richardson raided the place and found seven men around a card table. Although their was a scramble for the money on the table, Officer Richardson said he got thirty cents Although the place is called an Ar menian pool room and coffee house, both policemen said it is known to them as a gambling house from the complaints they have received.
 Leslie Lee, New York, artist and son of the owner of the building, tes- tined that No. 13 Lafayette street is "reputable and quiet place. Pros ecutOr Klett cross examined the wit ness closely and brought out that after the raid. MT. Lee had asked Officer Richardson if he had arrested the men flor selling beer too and had also told him he had seen card playing until 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning. MT. Lee also said he had told the Arm menians not to gamble, but in explanation. said this was but a precautionary step as he wanted his tenants to conduct an orderly place.
 All of the men arrested in the raid denied gambling, although two admitted they were having friend ly game of Casino. The proprietor denied running gambling joint and said he was just giving a man change from fifty cents for coffee when the police rushed in and the thirty cents found was the change. he said. and not gambling money. 1T there is any gambling going on I want to go to jail for ten years," said the proprie- tor.
 Recalled to the stand. Officer Richardson said Mr. Lee had told him he had repeatedly warned the Ar menlans they must stop their gamb- Ing or they would get arrested. The poncemah also said MT. Lee had re- marked that his family has often been disturbed by the noise and late card playing at the coffee house in the rear of Lees block
 Arguing, Lawyer McDononeb ask ed Prosecutor Klett why. if s,ch
 
 pernacious complaints have been made as alleged, he did not brine In one of these witnesses. The prosecu- tor replied that it is a duty of tho police and prosecutor. founded on public policy, not to divulge the iden- tity of these giving valuable evidence when not necessary.
 Six Hobos Sent to Jail.
 Officer Fred Wagner and Game Warden Smyrk raided a hobo camp about a half mile south of the Cremo Brewery at 5:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon and arrested six knights of the road. John Cone, Tom Garrity, Andy Mccormick. Hugh Keegan, James Barrett and Charles Smith. The seNtette were charged with vagrancy and each was sent to jail for thirty days. Witnesses testified that the hobos have maintained their camp for the past five or six weeks and have been imposing on the gener- osity of the good housewives for their