New Britain herald., 1918-01-14
POLICE ARBITRATE
 GAMBLING QUESTION
Proprietor Is Fined S25 and Costs
 For His 0denSe

Peter kaminski. who conducts store on Pennington avenue, was ar Talgned before Judge James T. Mes Iux in police court this morning on '~TWo counts of operating gambling de- vices. in his store. He was found guilty on one count and fined $25 and costs which, he later told Judge Mes kill, he thought was too much The police expose of KaminskIs "punch board" gam bling device came in a peculiar way and resulted from an argument between himself and @ yoEFcAful patron who called upon the authorities to act as arbitrator. According to the testimony, by pay ing ten cents the operator of the punch board' gets a chance and if he is lucky he wins. The claim made ly the complainant was that he threw three trays and a pair of fives, which, under the rules of the board, entitled him to 50 cents in trade. He charged that Kaminslli said he threw only three of a kind, which entitled him to oBiJ 20 cents in trade. The police were called in as experts and Kamin- ski was arrested, but not before he 2 had destroyed one of the games or chance, it vas claimed.
 Fight in Coal Office.
 Douglas 4. Johnston, son of F. H. Johnston, proprietor of the City Coal and Wood Co. was found guilty on a 6@s4ge of assaulting Charles Bohnert of 1T9 Hartford avenue but in the opinion Of the court. the assaul was provoked and judgment was suspend 2 cd According to the story told by Bphnert he went to purchase 50 cents worth of coal and secured ticket for No. nut. Going into the yard he saw some stove coal and asked Manager Earl Gibney to give him this 4hstead He was advised to have his ticket changed but was refused, he ' said and given his money back. Ac- cording to Bohnert he then exclaimed: I'll he - if I'll trade here any more" with a, few other verbal em- belIishments which resulted in young Johnston punching him. Johnston claimed that Bohnert applied the vile eythets to him, provoking the as- sauit. The coal mans testimony was corroborated bv Miss Edna stanton, clerk. P F. McDonough appeared for the accused.
 Other Court Cases.
 H. $. Dickinson of Hartford was fined s5 and cost for operating a motor car with the wrong license markers.
 The case against Edward Schack, alleged perjurer and stacker. was nolled as the federal authorities are prosecuting the accused.
 John Blazek was fined $5 and costs for drunkenness and $10 and costs for breach of the peace. He got drunk Saturday night and went to an Elm street house where he kicked out slpur .panes of glass.
 Thomas Mcdonald was fined S10 and costs for assaulting Zigmund Shuinsili in the Connecticut Coffee House last night. Mcdonald claim ed that it was a soldier named Edward Johnson, who left town last night who made the assault. This was de nied by other witnesses. John Had leg, Ignatz Bonark and Charles Se- ;gn, subpoenaed as witnesses in this case. failed to appear and capiases was issued for their arrest on a pos sible charge of contempt of court
 Frank Peterson was fined $3 fol breach of the peace in the above named restaurant. It was claim et that he refused to pay for 15-cen beef stew and made a disturbance @Feterson said he had forgotten whether or not he had paid.
 Max Honeyman, a garage man, wa: fined s5 for operating his own car or Cohen. He explained that he was de used his markers.