New Britain herald., 1917-02-19
CALLS POOL ROOMS
BREEDERS OF Crime
Judge Meskill Fines Proprietor
and Police Close Place


it's kind that has come before him
during his career a trial Justice,
Judge James T. Meskill, in police court
today, sentenced John Tsimoin of
81 Main street to three months in
Jail and imposed fine of 500 and
costs for gambling in the Hotel
Bropson pool room at AIT Main street
John Pethis, proprietor of the pool
room since Tsimoines' license was
revoked several months ago following
conviction on gambling charge, was
fined 500 and costs for allowing
gam bling on the premises. Through
Attorney w. F. Mangan, counsel for
the defense, appeals were taken with
bands fixed at $500 and $500 respec-
lively. Peter Perokos of 412 Main
street, proprietor of the Stenic NOV
ing picture theater went surety. I'm,
mediately following judgment in the
case, Chief of Police William J. Raw
lngs revoked the pool room license
held by Pethis, said action to go into
force at once and policemen on Main
street beats are instructed to see that
no games are allowed at the Main
street address.
In passing judgment, Judge Meskill
said that it might be true that some of
the boys( summoned as witnesses, may
have records and gone wrong but it
was not unlikely that this type of pool
rooms was largely responsible. ct
consider most of the public pool rooms
breeding place for crime" he con-
cluded.
False Courage in Alcohol.
Chara cterized by Prosecuting Attor-
ney George w. Klett, as. one of the
"rottenest' pool rooms that has come
to his attention during his office as
prosecutor, the testimony was highly
sensational at times. Backed by the
testimony of witnesses, Prosecutor
klett contended that workingmen
under the influence of liquor were
"milked'' of their wages by the belief
that they could play pool, went into
the pool room with full pay envelopes
and came out nearly broke" He
charged that liquor was brought into
the pool rooms from the barroom of
the Hotel Bronson, next door, by pa
irons, or Others on the pretext that it
was needed to stimulate the nerve
of patrons of the game. Alleging tina
the liquor was drunk about the pool
couraged so that the patron would be
falsely stimulated in the belief that he
was real pool player and that it
would be his turn to win. One of the
witnesses testified that he had gone
into the pool room with considerable
money in his pocket, had lost it
in playing mine BALI and many
other games of chance and had
then played as long as he could
do so undiscovered on his nerve in
the hope that luck would turn his
way. When his financial condition
was discovered, it WAS testified, there
would be much caustic criticism and
the nerve" player Informed that his
absence was more desired than his
company.
Calling attention to the past record
of Tsimoines with other convictions
for gambling, Prosecutor Klett pleaded
for a jail sentence, He called atten-
ton to the fact that, at the last con-
viction, the heaviest penalty possible,
fine of 500 and costs. was imposed.
In protection of the public and in JUS
tice to those liable to be persuaded to
play, he believed that the jail SEN
! tence should be imposed.
That pool was played for high
stakes at two of the tables much of
| the time was the contention of wit
! hesses and it was testified that the
sums waged had frequently amounted
| to as much as 500, once in while
more than that sum. Testimony was
given relative to players from other
cities and towns coming to New
| Britain to compete with local patrons.
| About two weeks ago, it was testified.
two men came from Hartford and a
game was played with stakes Of $50.
Dentist a Patron. .
DR.. Robert r. Beardsley. a dem
fist, was cited as steady patron of
the pool rooms, for hours at a time,
witnesses alleged, with considera BILE
money changing hands. 1t was
charged that he played often with
Tsimoines and, when luck seemed
, against him at one game he would
change his opponent Oh the type Of
game. The steady patronage of Dr..
Beardsley was admitted by both Of
the accused but they contended that
he simply played as a pastime and
I not for money. Witnesses and the
4 accused testified that he would come
in often with the exclamation that
he had growing thirst and have
beer brought in from the bar next
door. 1t was also testified that DR..
! Beardsley'S office attendant would
come after him at the pool room fire.
quently to tell him that there were
patients at the Office. DR.. Bcardsley
did not attend the court session al
though one Of the policemen said that
he had. informed him he would be
present.
The Witnesses.
Testimony for the state was given
by Joseph Felt of 1T Hartford ave
! nue.. Patrick Mazzo of 139 Corbil1
Place William r. Schmidt of Sey-