Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-11-17
Brisk In Court, Charged
With Breaking Up Meeting

JACOB BriSk was again haled into
| court Tuesday afternoon on charge
of disturbing religious service,
| which it is alleged occurred at the
Jewish synagogue on Kelsey street
| last Saturday. The complaint was
| made by Hyman Rosenthal who was
represented by Carroll y. Perkins
while Mr.. Brisk was F. =. Plum
stead's client. Mr.. Rosenthal stated
| on the witness stand that he had
charge of the services on Saturday,
which began at S. o'clock and that
Jacob Brisk came in about 9 o'clock
and told him to do it and not to
talk about it as the church was the
place to pray. On cross examination
he said that Brisk was teaching his
little boy to read and following along
with the minister in his book. At
torney Plumsteads classic English
7 was very hard for the witness to
understand and some questions had
to be given up. while others were
more fully answered through an in
terpreter. When Mr. Rosenthal
was asked if it is the custom for peo-
pie 10 come in and go out when they
pleased he said, Cant stand what
you mean. CUSTOM
Barpett Rubbins was the next wit
ness and he said that Brisk called
Rosenthal names that. Rosenthal
told Brisk not to talk. but the la tier
broke up the meeting. On cross
examination the counsel endeavored
| to find out how long the Jewish SER
vice usually is and the question was
put over and over again in several
ways Mr.. Rubbins stuck to it how
ever that sometime take it more
i time, some time not so quick"
! Lyman Greenblatt was another of
the II or - who were present at the
synagogue on Saturday He said
that he heard no talk at all between
Rosenthal and Brisk and that there
| was no disturbance of a religious
meeting. On cross examination he
SAID he was not partner of Brisk.
lie admitted also that there was
trouble, but said that it started after
the service. John Paikowsky also
said that the disturbance was after
the meeting. before they left the
church. y He stated that he paid no
attention sto it as it was not his
(Paikowsky,s) business.
Philip Levine was the best witness
on the stand. He spoke clearly and
plainly and said that there was no
disturbance during the service. He
described the manner of the service
and said there was nothing different
Saturday than there is any other daY
ana no unusual commotion.
John Williams said that he came in
10 the service at S o'clock and stayed
all through and nothing disturbed
him. He said. that he was standing
! way back and didn't hear anything.
/ AT last Jacob Brisk himself took
Inc stand 1t was only about two
months ago that Mr. Brisk was in
court on similar charge. the com
piainant at that time being Joseph
Wolman. Later he brought suit
against WoIman, which will be heard
at TINS term of the Superior court,
which is now in session., Therefore.
MT. Brisk seems to be the storm
center in the doings of the Jewish
synagogue and his testimony was in
!feresting. 1t was told with a smile
an the time as if the world was full
OF pleasant things for Mr.. Brisk and
misfortune never came his way. His
story ran something like this: That
he came in at $50 o'clock and stavad
TIL 10. His little hoy was with him
and they had book from which hn
was teaching the boy to read. After
T. ne came in there was a good deal of
noise and he said to Mr. Rosentbal
you're the head man here, why don't
you stop them" to which Mr. Rosen-
thai answered. ~.Do you think Won
can put all the church in jail?" Thew
Mr.. Brisk suggested sending out Joe
Wolman and he would give them all
good licking. Affairs went on and
Mr.. Brisk. teaching his little boy.
did not hears everything said. At
last Rosenthal threw off his robe and
put it away and started to 90 honfs
and 1T was then he said to the others.
Mr.. Brisk wants to arrest every
body in church"
On cross-examination Mr.. Brisk
told again of the conversation while
he was given the closest attention by
the people in court Among those
who he said were in the church when