New Britain herald., 1921-07-18
BLACkMAIL LETTER
KEPT MORENO QUIET
Mrs. Voizard Demanded $500
From Local Constable
TOWN AUTHORITIES MAY ACT

Plalnvillc Teams Stay-SWimmjno
Has Been Stopped in Farmington-
River-90 Years Old-Brief Items
The justice served by the officials in
Plainvil1e was the subject of a Sum
day newspaper yesterday which deals
in arraignment of many persons. The
same article made an attempt to shat
ter tho reputation of Constable Philip
Moreno and made it appear that he
was a home wrecker and a general
man of disorder. According to the
paper Madame Justice never has a
chance in Plainville with tho present
| officials of the town who are claimed
to be lax in their duties. Instances
| are claimed where an italian would
be-murderer got of with a light fine
whereas a reckless driver waa fined
| $35 and costs and another bound over
| to the superior court for proba ble
manslaughter.
While many Plainville people read
the news article there were few who
believed that Constable Moreno is
| guilty OF attacks on two women as
has been alleged. The story was to
the effect that Mrs. Voizard and Mrs.
De Carl were two victims of the con-
| stables attacks. In justice to the
| town officer his side Of the story and
that OF the authorities Of the town is
| given.
The trouble with Mrs. Voizard oc-
Cured over matter Of the payment
Of rent. James Minello recently pur-
chased the old Dewey house on Whit
inc Str md
| due, asked the people for payment.
He was unable to get the money so
| he asked the constable to collect it
| for him. Moreno went to the house
| and asked the woman for the rent.
| She threw q broom at him and told
| him to get out He then returned
| and told Mine1lo that he wanted
| nothing to do in the affair but was
| told that it was his place to get the
! money. He then returned to VOiZard'S
| where the woman started to tell him
about paperins the ceiling and fixing
the house. ending up with the state
| ment that she would not pay the
rent. The constable impressed upon
| her the fact that he knew nothing
/ Of conditions but was there simply
| for the purpose of getting payment.
She threw a $50 bill at him and again
used the broom. Moreno made the
payment to Minello and forgot tho in
| cident.
Several days later with two detec-
| tivea from New Britain, he was inves-
tigating matter and upon returning
to his home he found a let
ter. It was from Mrs. Voizard and
demanded the payment Of $500 i'm
mediately. The letter seemed SUSPECT
| =;
know how to take IT. She became
somewhat nervous over it.
In stating his case 10 the reporter,
Constable Moreno said: II can tell
you my conscience is clear. I have
lived here for years and most of
the people know me. 1t is because
of this fact that I wish to have my
reputation intact and not blasted by
a bunch of lies" He took the letter
to S. S. Gwillim, prosecutor, asking
for advice as to what to do. He
also conferred with Selectman john
son. Both men advised him to wait
a while and see how it would turn
out. He kept the matter quiet. A
meeting of the board Of selectmen
was called to act on the matter and
Judge M. 0. Ryder was present with
Selectmen William J. Johnson, G. Fl.
Calor, and Edward P. Prior. At this
? conference it was learned that the
Voizard family had been evicted from
the tenement and had left town TT
, was decided to let the matter drop
temporarily,' Constable Moreno stat
ed
The assault on the officer by Mrs
Voizard then followed. He was chas-
l thing some small boys in front OF
III, e.to xx,Ion Il a,,11y n
hand struck out and hit him in the
; face His hat was snatched from
his head and a pointed toe was aimed
fo- his stomach. MORENO ran to rid
I himself of the woman, knowing that
. he had been bIackmailed by her, and
thinking that if he laid hands or
her or used force that he would be
in greater trouble. "And l tell you
h said, II acted like fool, letting
her hit me and grab my hat and me
( doing nothing" She continued hel
assault and followed up with bar
rage of muskmelons, peaches, plums
etc, thrown from the trenches OF
tho Neri fruit stand. Mr.. Gwillim
| was sought by Moreno, accompanied
q by Constable William Furrey. Mo-
u reno made q complaint and asked for
q tho arrest of the woman The writ
. was not issued Immediately anu Sc
d lectman Prior asked that a halt be
called until the examination of the
woman by physicians. Moreno said
last night that one of the doctors re-
= ported that he thought Mrs. Voizard
! the waiting went on, with the Off
I Gals not acting because they did not
1 care to place n financial burden on
the town. The matter still stands the
same way The complaint is lodged
against tn, woman, n writ is report
!. cd as having been made out, but no
action has followed.
Judge Ryder and Prosecutor CIVIL
linn admitted this morning that they
1 knew of the alleged blackmall letter
hut could make no official statement
as to what action would follow
Selectman johnson is in the West nj
the present time where he will be for
civ wccl5S action is