Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1921-01-07
ORDERS CIDER RETURNED


Final hearing against the liquors
seized in the recent raids and cearehes
for Intoxicating liquor, was held On
Thursday morning. All Of the wis
Key, alcohol, blueberry and mulberry
wine, Jakey. et cetera, were declare
TO be a nuisance and were ordered de-
stroyed.
The only claimant for any Of the
goods seized was Henry Wright, Far
rows street, who asked that FIVE AM
one-half barrels Of cider taken fron
him be returned.
Wright was represented b. counsel.
At the first hearing in the matter
Captain Bulger testified to going T
Wright's home and taking the CHE
away. The wit ess said that he saE
several people sitting at a table an
saw two ennpty glasses. On cross ex-
animation Re said that ne saw no sllf
made nor any money in evidence. He
also told the court that ralslns ha1
been put into several Of the barrels.
The prosecuting attorney then
sought to introduce the court recore
where Wright pleaded gully TO repu-
tation. After argument the rec3r
was admitted with the understanding
that the plea was in the nature Of {
compromise, several other counts nav.
ing been nolled.
There was no evidence as TO wheth-
or the cider was fermented except
that of Captain Bulger, who said he
tasted II and thought it was hard
cider.
Wright was put on the stand and
said he had sold cider while it was
sweet and had given some to callers
who came in. He denied having solo
any hard cider. He stated that he pui
a pound Of raisins in each Of fou4
barrels and "set it" for vinegar, claim
ing that raisins made it ferment faster
and gave it a better color.
Judge Geissler suggested that th'
cider be tested and also that Wright
attorney furnish further evidence i
possible that raisins were used Il
making vinegar Adjournments were
taken until the cider could be sam
pied and the samples sent to the stat
chemist at Hartford.
Thursday morning the report of tn
chemist was read and put IN as eVl
dence without objection. 1t wa
found by analysis that one barrel o.
cider contained a fraction over five
per cent alcohol and the other five
fraction under FIVE per cent. The
chemist stated that there was M
known method whereby it could bt
definitely ascertained whether the CT
der was fermented on Dec. 18th, the
day seized, although giving it as HI;
opinion that it was almost certain that
this was so. With this the state rest
ed.
Wright's attorney called two wit
nesses who testified that it was often
fact that raisins were used to make
vinegar more quickly.
The prosecutor argued that as
Wright had such quantity of cider
it must be for sale contrary to law
and that trying to hurry ferment2ti IN
was evidence of this. He also pointed
to the report of the state chemist as
evidence that the cider was fermented
and of Captain Bulger as to what he
saw at Wright's home.
For the defence it was claimed that
there was no sworn testimony that the
cider was fermented at the time OF
seizure, some two weeks before the
analysis was made, and that there was
not particle of evidence that VII yht
nd specific intent to sell the cider
contrry to law.
The Judge found that the state had
failed to prove these material facts,
and therefore found that the cider
was not a nuisance and ordered that it
be returned to Wright.