New Britain herald., 1916-06-17
YOUNG MEN ACCUSED OF FLEECING DRUNK
William Wise and George Nelson
 Are Held for Superior Court

William Wise, a New Yorker who has been employed in various local restaurants of late and George Nelson of High street, we'll known New Britain young man, were bound over to the September term of the superior court by Judge James T. Meskill in po- lice court this morning under bonds of $500 each on two charges accusing them of taking s21 from a drunken man named Michael Slarzinsl1i of 147 Chestnut street. Both young men pleaded not guilty. They were not represented by counsel.
 The alleged offense took place at midnight last night in Longley's res taurant on Church street and Wise is accused of bringing the drunken man into the eating place and engaging him in conversation while Nelson rif1ed his pockets. While several of the en- ployes of the restaurant testified to the suspicious actions of Wise and Nelson none of them actually saw any money taken and the evidence was all cir cumstantial. The arrests were made by Sergeant George Kelly and Officers Charles Mccarthy.
 Sergeant Kelly testified this morning that at 12:15 o'clock he received a complaint that two men were f1eecing a drunken man in Longley's restaur- ant and acting on information re- ceived he arrested Wise in his room at 319 Main street. Wise had $1.16 in his pocket and told the police that it was all he had. On searching his room the police found $6 hidden be- meath hat box on a shelf in a clothes closet. Wise expressed total ignor- ance of where the money came from. Nelson was arrested at his home Ut o'clock this morning and denied any knowledge of the charge against him.
 Complaint Made to Police
 Slarzinski told the court that he is employed at the New Britain Machine company and received his pay, s21, yesterday. He admitted being drunk and going to Longley's restaurant hut said he was so drunk he did not know who took his roll. Officer Mccarthy testified to receiving a complaint at midnight that two men were taking money from a drunk. Shortly after another complaint was made and in
 
 street, followed shortly after by Nelson.
 Joseph Buick, a cook, told the court that Wise brought Slarzinski into the restaurant and back to the kitchen. It is against orders to bring anyone there, so he expostulated Slarzinsl<i asked Buick to change a $1O bill and | hen Wise took him back into the l lining room where he was seated be- Ween Nelson and Wise.
 Walters Tell of Suspicious.
 Frank Norton, a waiter testified to seeing Wise take the drunken man nto the kitchen, saying he wanted to ake him to the toilet After Slarzi- ski had been seated in the dining 'oom between Wise and Nelson, Nor on said, he saw Wise suddenly grab Jim by the shoulders and shake him while Nelson dropped his hands, While Norton could not positively state that Nelson picked the mans pocket, he ;ai it looked very suspicious. Norton also testified to hearing a tall man with a straw hat" give Nelson a call flown and say 'I saw it all," where lpon Nelson replied Flush up, do you want to queer the gamer" Roy Smith, another employe, gave similar testimony and said the drunken man invited both Wise and Nelson to eat with him, but they declined and sim ply conversed with him. After jostling Slarzinski Wise left the restaurant, he witness said. He also heard the mysterious man with the straw hat ,all Nelson down and say ''the old
 l,;- Previously Smith had seen Slarzin- ski open his purse and expose roll of bills but after Nelson and Wise had eft and he started to pay his bill ne ound that the roll was gone and he lad but a few pieces of silver left.
 Accused Deny Charges.
 Wise made a general denial of 1 He said the old man had l lsked him to show him the toilet, 1 which he did. Later he sat down in l he restaurant, beside the old man as | t happened, ordered a couple of | and left He denied being | with Nelson at all and said he did not ,ven notice that Nelson sat on the 'ther side of the old man. He admit ed that he shook the old man up, as other witnesses had said, but explained hat he did it to rouse him from drunken slumber. He said he could l lot account for the $6 found hidden in lis room
 Nelson likewise denied all. He said 1e dropped into the restaurant to get something to eat but as no one waited 'n him he got up and went out, going 70 the Hudson lunch He said he sat beside Slarzinski but paid no at ,entlon to him and did not notice that W lse was on the other side. He denied 1 L0at anyone hi