New Britain herald., 1922-08-29
TELLS COURT LIE,
 WITNESS FINED s75
Ray Hoffman Says Only Three
 Can Play Auction PinoChle

| street, s76 this morning.for telling Judge George W. Klett Shat only three men could play auction pinochle. | Hoffman was one of n group of six | who were arrested for gambling in the Hotel Regal Sunday afternoon | and he attempted to convince the court that the game was pinochle and added that only three were play | ing, because the rules of pinochie | provided that auction pinochle could be played by only three men" He was found guilty of keeping a place where gambling was conducted and was fined 375.
 Couldn't Fool Judge.
 Judge Klett, in imposing the heavy fine. told Hoffman he was lying and said he took into consideration the untruthfulness of the witness in mak- ing the penalty so large. Nair Doesn't Know the Game.
 An amusing incident in connection Attorney David L. Nair, as counsel for Hoffman. held up two cards for the judge to see, claiming they were taken from pinochle deck. One card was the deuce of hearts, card which is never used in pinochle.
 Smith Discharged. Jack stearns. Fred Joyce. Albert Smith. Mike Doyle and Harry Lan- dry were fined s5 each for gambling. The charge of keeping a gambling place. against Smith, was discharged upon motion of Attorney Harry Mil kowitz, who represented all but Hoff- man.
 The men were arrested Sunday fol- lowing a raid on room 31, Hotel Re- gal, where the game was going on. Information had been obtained in sew eral ways by Patrolman Michael Mas. sey and Chief Detective Sergeant William c. McCue that gambling was being conducted there. Besides Me Cue and Massey, Sergeant Matthias Rival and Patrolman Patrick Meehan took part in the raid.
 Cards For Chips
 The police found cards being used instead of poker chips. Blue carus were sold for 50 cents and pink ones for five cents. The game was played within 50 cent limit. it was testi- fled.
 Kelly "Comes Through"
 The chief witness for the state was Thomas F. Kelly, formerly of New York, now employed as pastry bak- CT in the Beloin restaurant Mir Kelly who lives at 1S3 Main street, lost s9 in the room last Wednesday night and another s6, within 25 cents of his entire roll, on Sunday after noon. it was said. Although he would have liked to have gotten out of town last night when subpoenaed by the police. Kelly told a straightforward story this morning and his apparent truthfulness was commented upon from the bench. Hoffman is alleged by the detective bureau to have ad- mitted his guilt when examined upon his arrest, statements denied by him on the stand.
 Judicial Comment.
 Hoffman continued his testimony by stating that he did not know Kel- 'y, despite the fact that the latter had l sworn to losing s15 in his rooms within five days.
 "Kellys story has all the earmarks | of truth; Hoffman's certainly doesn't" said Judge Klett in summing up the | evidence. Tt would have been bet | ter for Hoffman to have told a story. The court will take into consideration the fact that he has tried 10 fool the court. in impos- Ing sentence
 Hoffman" continued the court, If you had told the truth the court would have been inclined to be more lenient with you. Seventy-1ve dol lars."
 For Reckless Driving.
 Morris Koppe, a dealer in auto supplies. and Stanley Lasher, of the Lash Motor company, were fined S35 each for reckless driving. The two were arrested on East Main street on the night of the 24th when they were racing on the street. Koppel drove a Ford truck and Lasher a Kisse car thony Walinczus.
 In this case also, the court took occasion to reprove Lasher for not adhering strictly to the truth. Lasher stated that he was driving in second gear, while koppels testimony was to the effect that Lasher had passed him out at a speed of between 35 and 40 miles an hour. The judge questioned the truthfulness of Lash- ar's testimony and remarked, "U would be we'll for motorists who come into this court to be a little nore frank"
 Lasher was represented by Attor- iey David L. Nair and koppel by At orney s. P. Waskowitz and John Griffin.
 Will Be Accommodated.
 The next time Eric Johnson, oi Hamilton street. goes looking for Policeman William S.