New Britain herald., 1921-11-30
Berry, Lawyer For The Accused, Contends It Is Question Of Taking Word Of Richardson, Variola And Denison Against That Of Young Attorney
States Attorney Alcorn Gets After Local Man While He is On Witness Stand-Accuses Malfeas- ance While in Office.
(Special to The Herald.)


 Hartford, Nov. 30.-Judge Isaac Wolfe, presiding at the September term of superior court today, reserv- ed decision in the case against Albert A. Greenberg, the accused prosecutor whose case has been in court for the past three days. This mornings ses- sion was confined to the arguments of Lawyer Joseph A. Berry for the ac-- cused and States Attorney Hugh M. Alcorn. The counsel ftr the accused occupied l hour and 35 minutes In pleading his case, which throughout was the discrediting of the testimony of A. J. Richardson, Salvatore Var iola and E. c. Denison. The lawyer for the defense characterized the case was one played up by the newspa- pers, and the result of the turmoil growing out of the sensational dis closures and arrest in this city last September" Lawyer Berry contend ed it was simply case Of accepting the word of Richardson, Variola and Denison, against the word of a young lawyer.
 Alcorn Accuses.
 States Attorney Alcorn occupied about half the time that the defense council did in presenting the states case. In his remarks to the court, MT. Alcorn accused Greenberg of not only malfeasance in office, but brand ed his as a deliberate liar while on the witness stand, despite the fact that he was under oath, and he as lawyer knew the meaning of this oath in testimony.
 Berry's Plea
 When court opened at 10 o'clock, 1t was noticed that neither Richardson, nor Variola were in their seats, or that Denison was in the court room Law yer Berry said at the outset that the accused had taken privilege of the new statute which gave him the right to be tried before a judge rather than having the case heard before a jury He said that evidence presented by the states witnesses had utterly failed to make a case against his client. He spoke of the few short years the ac- cused had been a practicing lawyer, and that the first office he held, that of liquor prosecutor, was diligently conducted, as the reports would show by the warrants issued and served and the convictions under his prose- cutorship in the New Britain court.
 Berry Continues
 Lawyer Berry said that he had opened the door wide in order that the facts in the case might be brought out. It was at this juncture that the counsel for the accused said that the case, as 1t seemed to him, was one Df i,, h iob was made after the arrest of Richard son and his sons. It was supposed to be a follow up of information re- ceived by the state while seeking evil dence in the case of a New Brtainite who was murdered, or who is sup posed to have been murdered. This case, the lawyer said, has caused a great hue and cry, and from it came the arrest of a we'll known young law yer.
 No Mention of Variola.
 Lawyer Berry said that no mention has been made of Nariola being ar rested for any specific crime to his knowledge, although he is being held in the county jail at Hartford under heavy bond. In speaking of Richard son, Lawyer Berry said it was only reasonable that Greenberg would have an acquaintance with him. due to the fact that he was an accredited officer. and it was to him that search war rants were given.
 The state has brought out the fact that Mir. Greenberg failed to issue a warrant for his fathers place, It would have been very improper for him t2 have done so," the lawyer ex- claimed, and adding further. he characterized heading in a morning newspaper relative to the case, as not contained in the evidence presented.
 Judge Wolfe Speaks
 Lawyer Berry said he felt that Judge Wolfe would take judicial mo- tice Of the chaotic conditions existing over the Nolstead act at the time Mir. Greenberg was liquor prosecutor. He said that the law was so worded that 1t was 10 the benefit of the liquor prosecuting attorney that allowed him SIC for every warrant issued and s10 for every condemnation proceedings brought, that would encourage prose eution against violators. MT. Berry said that in view of the fact that as the testimony showed, the liquor in the involved deal was found in Farm ington, Mir. Greenberg acted within his rights when he took no action.
 About Bookkeeping.
 Mir. Berry said that Judge Wolfe may have spoken a little severely to