New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1921-12-05
Sente =, Months In Jail Suspended Con-
victed r. ~ 1,,s Report To New Brit
ain Probation o,. Judge Wolfe's Decision
Is Accused May Be Brought Before Court At
Any Time For Execution of Sentence-Hints
AT Additional Disclosures.
Months In Jail Suspende'

tSPs .al to The Hcraid). ..
Hartford, Dec. 5.-Albert A. Green
berg, prosecutor in the New Britain
police court since February, 1891, was
found not guilty of a charge OF ac-
ceptlne bribery, but guilty of a
charge Of eXtortion COR blackmaiD by
Judge Isaac Wolfe in superior court
this morning.
The ease was heard before Judge
Wolfe last week, terminating last
Wednesday, when the court withheld
decision until this morning.
Fined and Sentenced.
The accused was fined $500 and
sentenced to six months in Jail The
execution OF the Jail sentence was or
dered nj 81 by the judge and the de-
fendant was ordered to report to Pro-
baton Officer Edward c. Connolly in
New Britain.
Lawyers Interpreting nj ST say that
1t provides that the prisoner may at
any time face the order of the court
for the execution of the Jail penalty.
Charges Against Him.
The offenses alleged against the ac-
cused were that on June IS. 1920, he
committed bribery in accepting sl25
from Salvatore Nariola, an alleged
rum runner. while pursuing the duties
as liquor prosecutor in this city. 1t
was alleged in the complaint that the
money was taken to influence Green
berg's behavior in office. ard on the
second count he was charged with ex-
tOrting from Edward &. Denson,
through threats at prosecution, $3.50,
which Nariola claimed he had paid
Denison in an Illegal liquor trans
action.
Is Ended as Lawyer.
! In passing sentence, ge Isaac
/ Wolfe said that the court had taken
into consideration that the usefulness
| OF Greenberg as a lawyer was at an
| end. as was also his chance of ever
holding a public office of honesty and
I fidelity.
The court room was taxed to ca
| pacity. Greenberg, with his Lawyers.
were in the court room a few minutes
| before opening time. Greenberg took
| his accustomed seat at the end of the
| table. and smiled to a number of his
| friends. He also spoke cheerful
good morning to the New Britain
! newspapermen covering the trial.
| When the decision was announced by
| Judge Wolfe a short recess was de-
| clared. Greenberg and his counsel.
! Lawyers Joseph f. Berry and Her
mann Weissman, conferred. and
! Greenberg's brother was at his side
until the court re-opened.
| More Disclosures Likely.
Before the decision was announced.
| Lawyer Berry for the defend ant, said
| he had nothing to offer. Mr.. Alcorn
| lnttmated at the close of the session
I that new sensational Developments
were likely to arise as the outcome Of
| the Greenherg case. When asked by
| a Herald man whether or not Rich
ardson would be brought before the
coming term of the superior court for
sentence, Mr.. Alcorn declined TO make
any comment
Judges Ruling.
Judge Wolfe's finding in the Green
berg case follows:
The Court has given deep and
| earnest consideration to the issues in
! thlS case, fully recognizing the I'M
! portance that a proper disposition of
It means not only to the accused but
! TO the state as well, with a full ap-
| probation of the sincere motives
actuating the attorney for the state
in presenting this case in the interests
Of public justice, to the Court. and to
the zeal and earnestness With which
+ he has sought to bring Offenders
against the criminal laws of the state
to the bar Of Justice. And rerogniz-
ing the great public interest mani
Tested in this case, I have set out at
greater length than is ordinar rfly re-
quired, the result of my conclusions
serious Situation Etcrywhere.
That a grave condition of things,
growing out of the existence and en-
forcement of both the Federal and
state prohibition laws, exists. not
only in this state but elsewhere, is
evident on every hand. This con-
dition of things is due in part TO the
attitude of a portion of the general
public toward the law. and 70 the
fact, and this is particularly depor-
able, that certain public Officials
charged with the prosecution and en-
torCcmcut Of the law, seem 10 have
utterly forgotten their duty md the
oath OF fidelity taken by them 10 up
hold and enforce the laws OF the
state and Of the United States.
"nue to Il too often criminal
neglect to honestly attempt to enforce
the law and an often corrupt col
lustou between Ntolators Of the law
land dishonest public officials, there
! has come a trail OF crime appalling
In its nature ami most serious In its