New Britain herald., 1922-08-08
EDmger, HeDberg and Papenfoth
 Made Defendants in $l0,00O Writ;
 False Arrest and Assault Claimed
Two Policemen and Russell Street Man Are Accused by Joseph Wolf-Police Board Backs Accused BluecOats.

Making good his threat to bring suit against certain members of the police department, charging false ar rest and assault. and against Paul Papenfoth of 73 Russell street, charg- ing assault, Joseph Wolf of IT Oak street today through Judge William Malone of Bristol, brought action for s10,o0o damages against Police Ser geant George c. Ellinger, Doorman Gustave Hellberg and Papenfoth. The writ, made out by Judge Malone, re- turnable before the Hartford county superior court on the first Tuesday in September, directs that attachment be made for $15,ooo against the three defendants.
 Board Backs Policeman.
 At a recent meeting of the police commissioners this case was given an airing and the board ruled that the accused sergeant was within his rights and used good judgment. They voted to support his action and to ask the corporation counsel to defend him in the event of legal action. '
 Arrested On July 20.
 This S1o,oo0 lawsuit is the outcome of the episode of the night of July 20, when Mrs. Paul Papenfoth was as- saulted by an unidentified man near her home. Sergeant Ellinger arrest ed Wolf from Mrs Papenfoth's de- scription and at her home she identi- fled him. In police court, however, Wolf proved a perfect alibi and Pro- secutor Joseph G. Woods nolled the case without going to trial.
 Claims He Was Assaulted.
 In his complaint, Wolf sets forth that he was falsely arrested by Ser geant Ellinger who not only did not have a warrant but also refused to tell him the offense for which he was arresting him, He sets forth that with force and violence and the great humiliation and injury of the plain tiff" the officer forced him to go to the Papenfoth home. At the Papen- foth house. the writ states, Wolf tried to explain, when Mrs. Papen- foth identified him, that he was not even in New Britain at the time of
 
 mitted to make any explanation whatsoever and was thereupon, in the presence of said Sergeant of Po- lice Ellinger, Patrolman Hellberg and one other policeman of the city of New Britain, assaulted by said de- fendent Paul A. Papenfoth, and vio- lently choked, and said Papenfoth with great force and violence struck at the head of said plaintiff, who, with great difficulty, managed to par tially avoid said assault"
 Abuse By Police. Charged.
 Continuing, the complaint says that "in a manner which greatly humili- ated him" he was forced to accom- pany Ellinger, Hellberg and two oth- CT policemen to headquarters. He claims that permission to telephone for a bondsman was denied him and he was seized by the arms and with great force and violence was pushed into a cell by said Hellberg and an other officer to the plaintiff unknown, all of which force was unlawful and Furthermore, the writ says that added requests to telephone for a bondsman fell on deaf ears. He declares the police cell was unclean and overrun with vermin.
 Says He Was Injured.
 The writ explains that for some | time Wolf has suffered from a disease of the ears which impaired his hear | ing, but was responding to treatment. | His assault, 1t is claimed, aggravated | his trouble and he has suffered a seri- ous recurrence. so that his hearing | and general health is seriously af- fected.