New Britain herald., 1919-05-03
JUDGE J. T. MESKILL
DISPENSES JUSTICE
Andrew Ziecek Admits Fir
ing Four Shots at Laurence
Truhan While Trying to
Stop Melee.

Andrew Ziecek, on charges of as
5ault with intent to kill was sentenced
t. six months in jail and fined $500
and costs in police court this morning
by Judge James T. Mcskill; Margot
Siemet was fined 5000 and costs and
Laurence Truman 500 and costs. The
penalties were imposed as a result of
the shooting affair on Park street,
April 21, which resulted in the con-
finement to the hospital of Laurence
Truhan and Margot Siemet for over
a week. They were discharged from
the hospital a few days ago and i'm
mediately placed under bonds to ap-
pear in court this morning on charges
of assault.
Were Under Heavy Bonds.
Following the arrest of the princi-
pals In the case on the evening or
April 21, they were placed in cells in
the local station and the following
dry bonds of $500 were fixed for
Nlecek and charges of assault with
intent to kill were brought against
him. Mike Kohanski, Bronslaw XII
resh and Daniel Protasen-regarded
as important witnesses in the case
were placed under bonds of $1,000
and the police were ordered to keep
watch on the patients at the New
Britain hospital. Charges of breach
Of the peace were preferred against
Kohanski, Kifesh and Protasen while
fhe injured men, Truhan and Siemet,
were charged with assault.
X-Rays and Bullets Shown.
Dr. c. NJ. Cooley, who attended the
men at the hospital following the
tfooting. produced X-ray plates in
SQUIRT this morning showing the loca-
ton of three of the four bullets which
bullets which had been extracted. The
bullets were marked to show the part
Of the body from which they had been
emo owed, one from the back and two
!:rom the mans neck The other bull
let has not been located but Truman is
In excellent health now, the doctor
',eported. Ziecek has also recovered
from his injuries and Siemet was dis
charged from the hospital in perfect
physical condition yesterday.
Observing Russian Holiday.
The stories told by the principals
" and witnesses indicated that there
was considerable beer and whiskey in
the Park Street tenement on that af-
!tternoon and this fact was directly
responsible for the shooting. The
2Ist of April was Russian holiday
and the, men were observing it, they
said.
Story of Shooting
When the men were arrested they
were questioned by Detective Ser
geant A. J. Richardson, and Ziecek
adm tilted firing the shots. According
TO his story, he was invited to Tru-
hans home, where a party was being
held and shortly after arriving there
q card game was started. Laurence
Truman was too clever with the paste
boards to play with Ziecek, in the
opinion of Siemet, and Siemet warned
Ziecek to stop before he lost all Of
his money. Truhan objected to this
interference from an outsider and
said to Siemet "Sit down and drink
your beer and keep quiet A fight
followed and when it became hot,
Ziecek attempted to put an end to it
but when he saw that it was i'm
possible he drew his gun and fired
four shots. All of the shots found
their mark and Truhan fell but i'm
nediately arose and administered a
severe beating to Ziecek. It was dur
in tha tpart of the fight that ziecek
received the injuries which made
necessary the taking of seven stitches
when he was apprehended by the
Hartford police in that city.
Had Gun for Protection.
The story told by the other princi-
pals was about the same, a card
game with too much liquor and the
resulting fight which almost ended in
a tragedy having been the story OF
the afternoon in Truhan's room. The
presence of the gun was explained by
Zjecek in the story of his work on
the railroad. He is a watchman on
the road and carries the gun for pro-
lection, he told the court. Although
Prosecutor Joseph G. Woods put the
ouestion to each of the witnesses
none of them could say to how
Ziecek received the scalp wounds
Tt was the belief of the police that a
bottle or possibly knife had been
used but they now oelleVe that Ziecek
may have bee nkickeo IN the head