Republican farmer., 1920-04-30
Five Cases From Recent Raids Including That of Officer Fitzroy Are Dropped Villa Held Under Bonds of S4,- 500.

Four convictions and fines, and five findings of mot guil- ty" was the outcome today in the City court of the first of the cases resulting from the raids which were conducted in this city on April IT, by .detec- lives of the Burns agency. Those who were fined were John Piana, alleged keeper of gambling house at 1523 Main street, $25 and costs; and Thomas Jackson, William Nor risey and Frank Lewis. all charged with being frequenters of a gambling house, $1O and costs.
 Five cases, including that of Officer Daniel J. Fitzroy, were dropped by the court on a finding of mot guilty" The cases of Frank BalIista, charged with keeping a disorderly house at 311 State street; Fiota Demetri, George Norm, Salvador -AieIo and Arista Apicella, charged with keping a dis orderly house at the corner of South avenue and Lafayette street, and Mary Wilson, charged with being a frequenter of a disorderly house, will be heard this afternoon at 2:3O o'clock
 InSanh Villa af disorderly2house at 372 State street waived examination in the City Court this morning and was bound over to the Superior Court under bonds of $4,5O0. This man, who was arrested by the local police and is believed to be an important figure in the under world of Bridgeport. is charged with violating Section 6379. of the state statutes. The penalty for the viola tion of this section is a sentence Of not more than 15 years in prison. Villa is said to have been implicated by the story told by Mary Wilson, and it is understood that he has con- fessed to charges made by the girl. In fixing the bond this morning Judge Frank L. Wilder declared that the crime charged against Villa is but a little less serious than murder.
 The case of John Piana, of 1523 Main street was the only raid case put on in the City Court this morn- ing. John D. Dayette, of Hoboken, one of the chiefs of the Burns men. and the leader of the squad which raided Piana's cigar store on thA night of April IT, was the first wit ness to take the stand
 He stated that he lived in Hoboken, N. J., and at the present time was engaged as special policeman of the city of Bridgeport. He is also in the employment of the Burns Detective Agency. According to his story this morning, Dayette in company with two other men descended on the Piana store at $50 o'clock on the evening of April IT. They found three men in the front portion of the store and a half dozen in the rear room The detective was positive that gambling was going on in the rear room because of the fact that he saw cards and money before four men who were seated at a table in the room. He identified Officer Fftz- roy as one of the men at the table, and claimed that the cash was picke d up by the men as the officers entered. He pocketed the cards as evidence, but neglected to take the money Dayette said that he arrested another man, Henry Newman, who entered the place after the raid had taken place but before the officers had left with their prisoners.
 Attorney Samuel Reich, counsel for the accused opened the cross-exami- nation by asking Dayette as to where he got the authority to represent him. self as a Special Officer.
 
 sioners, and I have my credentials, '' answered the detective.
 The lawyer asked to see the pas pers, and the witness produced a copy of his authority, and shield. There followed a lively discussion | over the shield, and Reich finally asked:
 What is your real business?'' Dayette replied that he was em- | pioyed by the Burns agency at the present time. He declared that he has been in the detective business fot only a few weeks, and was formerly an insurance agent in Burlington, Vt Did you ever have any experience in the detective or police business be- fore?" asked the lawyer.
 Mo-
 ''Why did you go to this place at ], ,523 Main street?'' inquired Reich. Lay cute uGSlldIeu a0u LAen 1ep11SL | that he went on orders from superior officers. He denied that he intended to raid the place whether or not any evidence was found there which would 1 lead him to believe that the place was used as a gambling house. *tDidn't you. say to the men in the front of the store you are under ar- rest when you entered the door?'' i ''I did,
 Well, then your first answer rela- tive to not intending to raid the place was incorrect" declared the attorney
 The detective then told how h' | took the three men he found in the front of the store, to the rear room
 where he found six men. He elaine et | that there were four men playing
 cards at a table, that they held card: i in their hands and money and chang l was piled on the table in front O.
 each player. The Burns man wa
 able to identity two of the four mer 1 he saw at the table.
 Attorney Reich asked Dayette i 1 he did not brandish a gun when ht
 entered the cigar store
 t'I did, replied the detective, 'tfol 1 iy4 4oi