New Britain herald., 1920-06-05
Cabelus, Souney and Wal enczius Charged With Taking Story to Aid Ac- cused Officer.
GRABECK SUSPENDED
 FOR FALLING ASLEEP

PatroIman Frank Hahn, suspended three weeks ago by Chief William J. Rawlings for conduct unbecoming an officer, following his capture in the cellar of Frank Slapski's house at 13 Florence street. was dismissed from the police department last night. The board of police commissioners. con- tinuing their investigation of the af- fair, arrived at the decision at a late hour, after going into the matter very thoroughly Mayor orson F.. Curtis was in attendance during the entire proceedings last night. As result Of the muddle into which the ex-officer finds himself. the fate of three otl,er members of the police department who were witnesses in the affair, is now in the hands of Chief Rawlings. The board. through Chairman P. F. King, today issued a statement saying that action will be taken on the re- port of the chief These officers are Peter Cabelus, driver of the night patrol; William Souney and Anthony Walinczius
 Caught in Mans Cellar.
 On the morning of Sunday, May Is, Sergeant George J. Kelly received a telephone call shortly after o'clock that burglars" were in the cellar of
  ficer George Ellinger was detailed to the placS and on arrival found Of ficer Hah and two other men. On bringing ehn to the station, Officer sEllin ger Ie his usual report. and HannesS1UEe hT Tk-ersion of the af- fair He saidAkha yh,;e doing duty he had received inf6hna.for that an illicit still was being maintained in the cellar of the house. AGtAr com pleting his nights work, he sad ile went there to make m investigator and while entering the house was stopped by two men residing there. On the following day. he was sus- pended by Chief Rawlings.
 The police board took up the case at once. and at the first meeting there were matters that necessitated Q post ponement of the case until last Fri day. In the meantime, Officers Souney, Cabelus and Walinczius were called as witnesses. Officer Herbert c. Lyon, driver of the day patrol, was also summoned as a witness.
 During the investigation last week, the testimony of the three officers Cabelus, Souney and Walinczius was to the effect that they left the station house or May 1s with Hahn and, after taking ride in an auto. Hahn left them in the eastern part of the city. All three denied knowing where Hahn went after leaving the car. Of- ficer Lyon, at last weeks session, told of seeing the four officers pass him near the corner of East street and Newington road. as he was removing the lantern from the traffic post. The officer said that no recognition was passed between himself or the four officers in the car.
 Agree to Tell Same Story.
 At the outset of last nights session, all officers connected with the affair were questioned as to whether or not an agreement had been reached whereby one story would be told It the hearing. This was found to be so by the commissioners, it is said. It also developed that Hahn had prac- tically agreed to assume the blame alone in the affair, so that none of the others would be implicated. Con- f1icting testimony was given when the officers testified that they had not been on East street other than to reach the corner of Newington road enroute from the south part of the city. Officer Lyon stuck to his story that he saw the automobile come down East street in a soufherly direc-
 
 ington road. The officers statements were that after leaving the police headquarters they went out toward Plainvi,le. and drove around the city toward Towers brickyard and thence up to East street
 Evidence was presented last nic mt which showed that Hahn, after being caught in the house, had asked the men there to say that a drunken man had been at the house. and it Was search for him that brought the oiscer there. In view of the facts. as clearIv proven in the case, the commissioners deemed Hahn as unfit for police duty. and voted 10 dismiss him from the de- partment.
 Asleep on Duty-Suspended.
 The board heard the case against Supernumerary Officer William Ora beck, who was asleep while on duty, and voted to suspend him for throu months. Grabek made clean breast of the affair. He said that prior to the night he was on duty he had been fishing, and was tired out He went into his own home for a few
 (Continued on Third Page.)