New Britain herald., 1921-07-26
State Claims His Vehicles
 Are Really Jitneys-
 Defense Insists They Are Bona Eide Taxis
Waterbury Court Accepts Nolles in A Cases, But Warns Jitneurs to Stop.

Prosecuting Attorney Albert A, Green.
 berg for the state and Attorney Jo.
 siah H. Peck of Hartford, for the de-
 fense, Judge George w. Klett this
 morning reserved decision In the case
 or Joseph G. Landino, driver for the
 City Livery company, who Is charged
 with violation of the recently enacted jitney statute. In his argument, Prosecutor Greenberg alleged that Landino was conducting service
 which was in truth jitney service in spite of the fact that he termed it taxi service. that term being mere ly subterfuge, the state claimed. Att torney Peck pointed out that the car
 is licensed as taxi, is subject to calls from any part of the city and
 IS not operating between fixed termini. and is therefore not a jitney service. A decision will be handed down Sat-
 urday morning at the police court session. 1s~s.
 Traffc Supervisor Testiaes- Traffic Supervisor Clarence Lam. phere was the first witness called. his acquaintance with Landino In an OAA~4dA SopdSity duQ III ISply IO 4 question as to the latter's business
 the policeman stated: He runs a
 taxi service" At 7:50 o'clock Satur-
 day morning the policeman hailed the driver of the car in question at
 the corner of Lincoln and West Main streets ani proceeded, toward the center of the city. At the former |, jitney station, opposite the entrance to the Lyceum theater, one of the
 men left the car. He hung up" the driver, explaining that he would pay later on. The policeman paid no
 fare at ithis point but tequested that he be driven to the police station. At this point a ten cent fare was paid. The passenger then inquired if Landino had license to run under the F. U. c. act and when he re- piled, in the negative, he was placed
 under arrest.
 Covered, Old Route.
 Previous to boarding the car. the witness testified. he saw Landino make two and one-ha1f round trips over the West Main street route, for merly covered by his employers jit- ney service. - 4 -ls Shortly after he had been released in bonds of $500 and had again taken up his service, Policeman Will liam s. Snolls again placed LAndino under arrest on a similar charge. The policeman was picked up at the cor ner. of Lincoln street and driven to the station at his request He asked what the fare was and was told that ten cents was the charge. After paying he brought the driver before Captain Thomas w Grace who re- | leased him for a second time in $500 bonds. Policeman. Axel Carlson who does ! tra fife duty in front of City Hall has seen the car. making continuous trips over the West Main street route ] throughout the day, he told the court He was not sure. however. that it was Landino who drove the car. French Takes Stand.
 Edward P. French, manager Of the City Livery company, was the only witness produced. by the defense. The witness lives at 666 West Main street and has been a resident of New Brit ain for more than 30 years Last week, either Thursday or Friday. the exact day he could not remember, he placed "O' markers on two Ford cars and his Dodge sedan The vehicles were then out on the road as taxis. Offices were established at the Quality Smoke Shop on West Main street and at MT. French's home.
 Ninety per cent of the business ts done in response to phone calls to either office, MT. French testined. the remaining 10 per cent being picked up on the streets on account of the taxi signs which are carried. At 
 picked up, Landino was answering call from a MT. Cormier of Steele street. To prove that the cars are bona f1de taxis answering calls to any part of the city. French produced his days orders showing the, vehicles to have travelled over Pleasant and (Continued on Thirteenth Page.)