New Britain herald., 1921-09-24
THE OBSERVER
 MAKES RANDOM OBSERVATIONS
 ON THE CITY AND ITS PEOPLE,

For the first time in it's history, New BI itain is shaken to its foundations by a public scandal of such proportions .:lat any effort to hush it up at this stage should be prevented, if possible.
 Bad news travels fast and already he country knows that the Hardware City has under suspicion a certain in dividua1 connected with its police de- partment who, according to tho tongue of gossip, has not performed his duties with the enthusiasm which one would expect from protectors of life and property. It has even been said that murder may be committed with impunity. This is a serious charge to bring against a peace-loving community and every effort must be made to clear the name of the city ard to counteract the evil that scan dal has brought to our doors, or be prepared to stand the humiliation by proving that we have paid servants " ho have listened to the voice of the tempter, and to see the guilty parties punished.
 If nothing worse can be said, it must be admitted that the New Brit am police deparment is lacking in spontaneity. It is an easy-going in- stitution. with the patrolmep going their rounds and headquarters some times forgetting that times are chang ing rapidly and New Britain is grow ing. The department seems to be af- fected by a torpid liver. As proof of this might be cited the case of De- tective Sergeant Richardson who was on his vacation when the murder of Louis Wrinkle occurred. He was with
 
 >eard the news of the murder, but it would seem that he was not sufficient ly interested to report for work inn mediately. not appearing at headquar- tcrs for many hours, if the news re- ports in the papers are to be credited. It is just such incidents as this that are noticed by the public and which are remembered while deeds of bray cry and glory are forgotten.
 Mayor Curtis, according to one newspaper, expressed lack of confi- dence in the department in connection with the Renaldino murder, even go- ing so far as to say that important evidence was destroyed. Then again, the Mayor claims that he made no such statement, and plays the part of 'he astoniShed man. Whether he act ually uttered the words or sentiments attributed to him he alone knows, but 1t is probable that either by his manner or by what he failed to say, ne conveyed an impression of dissatis- faction with the outcome of the Rep- aldino case. Sometimes Mayor Curtis is more eloquent when he remains silent. It is unfortunate that he was not more diplomatic in what he told the reporter so that it would not be possible to misinterpret the meaning of his words. if they were misinter- preted.
 Whether members of the police de- partment have knowingly tolerated Ium running in New Britain, whether co eruption has crept in or whether the rum runners have been too clever for the men in blue, the fact remains tEat 1t is common gossip that cer- tain few well-known men about town are becoming wealthy by smuggling spirituous liquor into New Britain. In connection with this story, 1t has all ways been said that a man occupying an active position with the police de- partment has been well paid to close his eyes to conditions. These rumors are not newly-born. They have been circulated for months with the result that New Britain has been gaining a rapuation as a free and easy' town whicE it does not deserve.
 The solution to the problem is a fair and impartial investigation.
 Another complication which indf- cates that the local and state police authorities are not in coordination.was the sudden appearance late yesterday afternoon of state officers who de-