New Britain herald., 1921-11-29
Willis Comstock And James Daily Relate About Alleged Bribe Check, Then State Closes Its States
Former Liquor Prosecutor Tells of His Conduct in That Office and of Confer ence With Richardson.

On the second day of the trial of Prosecuting Attorney Albert A. Greenberg on charges of receiving bribe and eXtortion, the accused law yer took the stand in his own de- fense this morning and at the close of the morning session he was still being subjected to a severe cross-ex- animation by the states attorney, Hugh Alcorn.
 First Witness.
 The first witness summoned to the stand today was Willis Comstock, a clerk at the Commercial Trust bank for the past two years. He identified the check which has been offered in evidence yesterday as the one which had been certified by him on June 22, 1920.
 Second Witness.
 James Daily also a bank clerk, was called as the second witness. His stamp was on the check as having paid out the money in cash upon pres- entation of the order. He was not sure that he personally had paid it. but identified a stamp on it as one used by him only. The payment was made during the noon hour.
 The witness said he knew Green- berg. Variola he could not remember having ever seen before.
 In answer to question of the le- fense counsel, Daly said the money would not have been paid by him to anyone other than the person who GrA1 hn NrAn a At have paid the money in question to Greenberg since the name of the ac- cused lawyer did not appear on the paper as the endorsee.
 With the presentation of Daly's tes- timony, the state closed it's case.
 After short consultation with his attorney Greenberk took the witness stand.
 The lawyer gave his age as 27. He has lived in New Britain since 1905. He graduated at the local grammar and High schools and attended the Ia 'ool of New York university, 2 1g in 1915. He was admitted r in January, 1916, after talk il examinations, in the Decem- be- or to his admission. He went into the office of Klett ,S filling for a brief period and then opened offices in the Commercial Trust building In July, 1917, he was inducted into the service. Questions of his counsel out that he had tried on two occasions, once after consulting with the late Lieut.. J. A. Glover, to enlist He was turned down on account of bad eyes and flat feet. He was dis charged December 5, 1918, and re- 3umed the practice of law Tn New Britain.
 From that time up to January 14, ne was practicing lawyer and had 10 other occupation. On the date mentioned he was named as prosecut- ng agent and his appointment was certified by Superior Court Judge w. H Malthie.
 Lawyer Alcorn asked the witness at his luncture what Judge Maltbie had old him at the time of the appoint nent. Lawyer Berry objected.
 Judge Wolfe Speaks.
 Judge Wolfe cut in to remark that omc of the younger lawyers do not eel that an older lawyer can tell hem anything.
 Conduct in Office.
 As prosecuting agent, the witness aid, he had caused many violators to e brought into court. question of oW many was ruled out after the tate's attorney objected. His duties S prosecuting attorney gave him the fight 10 bring in offenders only with l the limits of the city of New Brit in he said, At one time or anoth- r he issued writs for the search of very one of the several hundred sa- ,ons in New Britain. In cases where O evidence was secured other writs ere issued, he said.
 Knows Richardson
 The witness said he knew Richard )n we'll The deposed sergeant, he lid, frequently came 10 his office on office matters and for warrants to earch saloons He admitted that he ad business dealings with Denison i that he had his car at the garage uring one winter For Nariola, he ad at one time issued a writ for q CIV Haven firm which he turned yer to Constable Fred Wrinkle to be 'rved He went with the constable , Nariola's place on East Main street nd saw the star witness for the first me.
 Nariola at office
 On June 20, according to Green- 'rgs story, Nariola came 10 his of 70 and told him that a quantity of luor had been stolen from him He i'd the lawyer that he had a permit bring if here and store it in Deni- ms garage. When he went to look r it the following day. he explained, was gone He explained that he ok the matter up with the garage an who demanded $500 for it's re- rn. The money was paid and the luor returned next day
 Calls on DeniSon called up Denison who clined to come to the office until