New Britain herald., 1916-12-23
LAWYER FINED FOR
 HEALTH LAW BREAK
Clark Promises to Remedy Con-
 ditiOnS But He's Too Late

,Attorney Joseph H. Clark, charged
 with violation of the state tenement house statute at 8 East Lawlor street and of the city ordinance relative to
 plumbin conditions at 5 Lawlor
 street was fined $20 and costs on each
 count by Judge James T. Meskill in
 police court today. Prosecution was
 \pn 1complaint of the health board,
 representatives of which said that
 they had made repeated attempts to
 have conditions remedled but that
 kheir communications had apparently
 been ignored. Attorney Daniel E..
 O'Keefe for the defense, said that the
 accused had been unable to get
 plumbers speedily Just now because
 of the weather and promised that the
 trouble would be remedied at once, if
 eniency was shown. Judge Meskill
 faid that the fines would be imposed
 as ''an accelator''
 It was represented that sanitary
 conditions were found to be deplorable 5 at both addresses. At the East Law
 IlsWlor street address, three-tene-
 ment house, it was represented that
 the toilet has been stopped up and it
 has been necessary to wade through ] foot of sewage to reach it.
 At the LaWlOr street address, it was represented, there has been trouble with the sewage drainage and cellar vas covered with several inches of
 sewage. According to the representa-
 lions of the health board, conditions were rotten"
 Prosecuting Attorney George w. l Klett said that the second count had
 to be brought under the city ordi- 1 nance as the statute applies only to buildings occupied by three or more Genements He said that he believes the same statute should apply to a tWo-tenement house and plans to see Af the statute cannot be so amended 'at the next legislative session. Attorney O,Keefe said that the de- | lay of his client in complying with
 the health boards mandate was be- cause the had been in New York at
 tending funeral and did not get it
 until his return. According to him. 5acton was at once taken, upon his
 CtuIn, 10 QO as was ordered
 Court Supports Policemen.
 aDespIte the testimony of Sergeant
 p. C. Hart and Policemen Patrick
 euirk, Frederick Wagner and Will
 lam Murphy to the contrary, Bernard | IMiller insisted thSt the sidewalk at kl9 Lafayette street had been suffi- {clSntly cleared of snow to comply with the city ordinance as well as &covered with sufficient ashes to make 1t safe. The sidewalk was originally yreported by Policeman Quirk after ] 1t had been viewed by Sergeant Hart. 1 Policeman Wagner and Murphy were sent to the scene later by Chief of Police William J. Rawlings to sub- tstantiate the opinion of the others 1 Miller was fined $2 and costs and took am appeal with bonds fixed at $1OO. He said that he had plenty of wit
 nesses that he had done his duty but they could not come to court today because of heavy Christmas trade. ' Judge Meskill informed Miller that he did not believe tho policemen were going out of their way to fal- sify relative to conditions and to make trouble for the accused. The po5icemen testified that while the storm was a week ago last night, 1t was not until Thursday that the.' walk was properly shoveled. It was continued hearing for Miller. It was reported that he was willing to pay the $2 assessment to the police be- fore court but, as he had contested the original payment and wanted hearing, he got it.
 Another Clark in Court. John Clark was fined $2 and costs at a continued hearing for failure to sufficiently clear the sidewalk on his property at Willow and Putnam ! streets. He contended that the walk had been cleared but that the snow had drifted back over a certain part of, it. Testimony was given by Pc l liceman George c. Ellinger, City Clerk A. l.. Thompson ard Edwin w. Schultz of Schultz & Costello, the latter as administrator of the Bridget Clark estate which adjoins the prop erty of the accused. He testified re- lative to the agreement about clear ing the walks.
 John kunz. president and treasurer ! of The John Kunz Co.,, was fined S2 1 without costs for failure to have a sidewalk properly cleared at Fairview and Willow streets. Testimony was ! given by Policeman Thomas Dolan. The accused said that he supposed the walk had been properly shoveled by man sent there for that purpose did not intend to have such a viola ton of the ordinance and was per fect1y willing to take his "medicine." if guilty, and would not take the
 courts time by opposing any charges John McGrath was fined $7 and costs with probation for theft of a l part of the contents of outside Showcase belonging to N. E. Mag of &44 Main street. The accused said l that he had been drinking, did not 1 remember anything about breaking