Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-06-21
ZESKIND GUILTY.
Jury Finds License Sold Whiskey by
the Bottle.

After being out less than quarters
of an hour. the jury in the case of State
vs. Holman Zeskind, charged with the
illegal sale of Intoxicating liquor. returned
verdict of guilty late Friday
afternoon. The case took up the atten-
ton of court all day Friday, being
tried in the county court room. 1t was
prosecuted by States Attorney Allen
Martin, who issued the warrant for
Zeskind. and NJ. G. Leary was attorney
for the defendant.
There were several witnesses intro
duced by each SIDE. The principal wit
ness for the State was Nick Paskor
Paskor testified to having purchased a
quart OF whiskey at Zeskind's first class
liquor place on Battery street. Officer
Oliver Valyou. patrolman on Church
street. testified to having seen the quart
bottle protruding from Paskor's hip
pocket and testified that Paskor claimed
to have purchased 1t at Zeskind's place
of business. Chief of Police Russell testi-
fed AS to an interview with Paskor when
he was brought to the station by the Of
ficer. in which he told the same story
Deputy Chief T. j. Cosgrove brought the
liquor, which had been turned over to
him by the chief. into court. Officer Barry
testified to having accompanied Officer
Valyou to Zeskinds place. where an
empty bottle identical with the one found
on Paskor was found beneath the
counter. c. P. Moat, chemist at the State
laboratory, testified to having tested the
whiskey finding it to be 3S per cent
alcohol.
The defense was that Paskor did not
buy the liquor at Zeskind's. but. on ac-
count Of previous trouble was trying to
get even.'
Hyman Gladstone. who has a license of
the seventh class to sell intoxicating
liquors. testified to having heard Paskor
state that he would get even" with
Zeskind, and Harris London and Louis
Samuelson substantiated this testimony.
Joseph Mitchell was also called by the
defense. He testified that when he went
out Of the liquor business on May he
sold a large number Of the empty bottles
similar to the ones In question and that
it would have been simple matter for
Paskor to have obtained one Of these bot
ties and had it filled somewhere else.
James Mitchell, John Lanvegine and
Frank Medor testified that they were in
ZeslSind's place when Paskor was there.
They testified that Paskor and Zeskind
had a conversation in Jewish language
which they did not understand. at the
opposite end OF the counter at which
they stood. They did not think that Zes-
kind could have handed Paskor a bottle
without their seeing him do 1t and none
of them saw the bottle change hands.
Much stress was laid upon Medor's testi-
mony. 1t being brought out that he was
employed by the National Clearing House
of Boston and that he was disinterested
as he had Just sauntered in for drink
Harry Press, who Is employed by zes-
kind testified to having heard Paskor
while he was in rumpus with Zeskind.
Hyman Goldberg was also a witness for
the defense.
Zeskind's conviction automatically
takes away his license granted by the
county board of liquor commissioners, He
is liable to a minimum fne of $500 and a
maximum fne of $1,000 or a years i'm
prisonment. His case may be appealed
on points of law