Republican farmer., 1920-02-13
Are Held In Bonds
 Of $5,OOO
Accused Attorneys Ask For Immediate Trial In City
 Court.
CASE CONTINUED
 TO FEBRUARY 19

Arrested last night by Detectives Secrecy and Washburn, four Bridge port attorneys, Francis J. Breen, off ces at 1183 Main street; Henry Green stein, offices at SS6 Main street; Solo, mon Badesch, offices at 1188 Main street, and Harry Mesard, formerly of New York. but now practicing in this city, were arraigned in the city court this morning, charged with conspiracy. The motion of Prosecut- ing Attorney Alexander L. Delaney for a postponement until Feb. 19 was granted by Judge Frederic A. Bartlett despite eloquent pleas on the part of Attorneys Jacob B. Klein and Henry shannon, representing the defend- ants, and Attorney Greenstein him. self, that the case go on imm ediately. The cases were continued under the same bonds of s5.000 which the attor- neys posted last night immediately after tn cir arrest.
 The complaint entered against the lawyers charges them with conspiracy to defraud to the amount of $1O,000 in the sale of the patent rights to an electric water heater invented by An drew P. Nichols of this city. The complaint adds further that the sum
 
 turned over to Nichols as part pay ment of his royalties in the heater, was split up between Nichols own lawyer, GreenStein, and the three other attorneys who are alleged to have been mixed up in the case as representatives of the Bridgeport Ma chine Tool company, manufacture of the electric heater. Attorney Mes ard also acted as representative of l Ool.I agent for the electric heaters.
 l It is alleged that S10,0OO, half of which was furnished by Louis M. | Lund, of the Tool company and the other half by Henry Bobken was turned over to Greenstein, Nichols 1 attorney, for payment to the inventor. Breen is said to have paid over the money, after which it is said to have | passed through the hands of Badesch and Mesard. The upshot of the whole matter seems to be that Nichols never received nickle of the money. Green 1 stein is accused of having received 1 $2,500 of the sum, while $7,100 is said to have been locked up in a safe deposit vault in New York city. The remaining $400 has not been account l ed for.
 1 After this transaction, which he | thought to be of a rather shady char.
 acter, Nichols consulted another at- l torney and proceedings were started l against the four lawyers who are now
 under arrest. Warrants were issued
 last night by Prosecutor Delaney.
 The criminal actions follow a
 friendly suit which was broug4t in the
 civil courts few days ago by Nichols | who sought to recover from the man.
 ufacturing company, royalties on the l heaters which were turned out dur 1 ing 1919 and 1920. A contract was
 entered into whereby Nichols was to
 pay to the company the sum of $6,500
 for the cost of perfecting this inven- ton. It is claimed that this contract
 was not lived up to by Nichols, and for this reason the case will fail.
 When the case was opened in the City court this morning, the prosecut- ling attorney immediately asked for an adjournment until February 19 in
 order that further investigation might lbe made.
 Attorney Jacob B. Klein, represent
 ing the accused lawyers, made an el-
 oquent appeal in which he demanded that the case be tried at once.
 These men are ready at any time to state their story,' said MT. Klein I've are ready to present our case
 now and the State also should be
 ready. All of these men are reputable 1 members of the bar and each one
 stands for something in the commu-
 nity. All that a lawyer has is in his
 reputation, and this is now at stake
 in the cases of these men. hope, your honor. that you will fix the earliest possible date for this hearing if we cannot go on today
 . Attorney Henry Shannon, who is
 associated with Klein in the matter
 Of the defense, substantiated MT Klein's request for an early hearing ! declaring that the accused will stand
 under a cloud until the matter is cleared up.
 l Henry Greenstein, one of Bridge
 ports most prominent young lawyers who is one of the accused attorneys
 then made sincere appeal to Judge
 Frederic A. Bartlett for an early hearing.
 'I have lived in Bridgeport all my
 life,'' declared the young man, "an6
 never before has my honor been be.
 smirched. "As I look at my name
 On this charge sheet I know that il 1 will go down in the records of this | city, that I was once brought before
 this court, charged with being a crim- , inal This affair weighs heavily or }, my heart and also on the hearts c1 1 the men who are likewise accused o1 , being criminals.
 q am not talking for the newspapers or the public when say this, but I dc , want a hearing and if the court finds I me guilty of any crime I want to be ? punished. If I am not guilty I wish that my name be cleared without , further delay If the court can find f probable cause against us, send us up.'' t T will be on record as a criminal,' ' 3 continued the attorney. Imagine ma I consulting my clients in an advisory
 capacity while standing before this court as a criminal Therefore ask
 your honor to be fair with us in most serious way. Delays were never more 8 serious than at this time.'
 . MT. Greenstein then took a shot a . Prosecuting Attorney De Laney, say . ing, Never was there more shor n sightedness shown on the part of { e public official than in this matter t MT. De Laney has had the case ii l hand for two weeks. and surely wher