Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-05-01
ACCUSED COP!
GIVEN HEARING
Long Discussion on Antigua
ted City Charter Features
Trial of Louis Hansen

l1atbStH NdG SlN
en- a hearing before the aldermanic
committee of the whole in the city
hall council chamber last night after
a long discussion as TO whether or
not the notice of the hearing had
been properly drawn up, the anti
quated charter under which the city
is laboring together with the absence
of regular adopted ordinances speci-
flying certain police rules and regu-
lations, playing important parts in
this controversy.
Former State Senator Thomas
Brown appeared for the officer and
City Attorney David r. Wilentz con-
Quoted the city's case. Hansen was
charged with violating the police
rules and regulations on the early
morning of March IL. He was met by
Sergeant Frank kasprzak as he was
leaving the establishment, formerly
known as a saloon, a. i91 Washing
ton street. The officer pleaded not
guilty to the charges, maintaining
he had entered the establishment of
necessity and remained there only
eight or ten minutes. He denied see
ing three men gambling at table,
denied seeing any money changing
hands or any cards pejng played.
Sergeant kasprzak's testimony
/ was to the effect that while walking
along Washington street on Sunday
morning, March II, at 2:25 O'Clock
his attention was drawn to the es-
tablishment in question by the jing-
ling of coins. Looking through the
window. he said, he saw Hansen
speaking to the proprietor and three
men playing cards, and shifting
q aha11f n N
ing the men deal two hands and
change piles of money twice, he said,
he entered, placed the three men and
the proprietor under arrest, seized
$43.25 and the cards which were on
the table and ordered Hansen to call
the patrol. officer Hansen said
nothing to him, the sergeant testified.
No Gambling, He Says
Martin szalay. proprietor of the
establishment in which the officer
was found by the sergeant, declared
no gambling was going on. He ex-
planned the presence of the money
on the table by saying that one of
the men wanted a $40 bill changed
and he was being given the change
when Sergeant Kasprzak entered.
4 AiS NANACSSs III EHEllSllK Qe-
MED the men were gambling, but
also said he told them to stop gamb-
ling.
John Salacky, one of the men ar
rested by the sergeant in the raid.
said he was waiting for taxi in the
place and admitted having some
drinks while there. He said the men
sat down to a table and were going
to have a game but Szaly told them
there was new cop" and they had
/ better not play. Salacky said they
were going to play but did not. He
said he had $3.50 on the table in
front of him.
Nick Wargo, another of the men
present at the time of the raid, said
he had about S31 in change in front
or him. Alderman John j. Clark
! pointed out that that was a lot to
nave for the purpose of changing a
Slo Dill. Wargo said the men were
not playing cards for money as the
cards were ''just laying there" and
ne was changing the $40 bill.
stephen 10th, the third man who
sat at the table, said he wanted some
small change for a $40 bill and was
getting 1t when the police sergeant
came in. He said the men were not
playing for money while Hansen
was there" The sergeant. he said.
took all Of his $40 and $1.s5 besides.
why did. you let him take il IL
you were not gambling and it all be-
longed to you?" Alderman Clark
asked.
We'll, he was a policeman" the
witness replied, explaining he
thought it in the power of the officer
to take the money.
The, testimony of Patrolnlan Han
sen differed from that of Sergeant
Kasprzak in several details. The
officer declared he met the sergeant
outside of the Washington street es-
tablishment.
DO you allow gambling on your
beat?" Kasprzak asked Hansen, ac-
cording to the latter's testimony,
NO, sir" Hansen replied.
There's game inside, you call
the wagon" Kasprzak said, accord
ing to the defendants testimony.
Hansen denied that any cards were
dealt While he was inside the place
and said he saw no money on the
table or being distributed between
the men. The first time he saw the
money, according to Hansen, was
WASH tiic SSA 6Saiil Sdtnereu II up as
evidence together with the cards
after placing the four men under
arrest.
In summing up Mr. Brown was
short, but seemed considerably peev-
ed about something. This affair is
all sham and farce" he said.
If you are going to break up gam
bling in this city why don't you start
at the top
I'VE probably have various forms
Of gambling in many OF our best
Continued on page %