New Britain herald., 1924-11-25
WORST DIVE OWNER
 GETS RECORD PENALTY
Joseph Babula Fined $500 and Sent to Jail for
 Six Months

The heaviest penalty to be tmpos- ed on a violator of the liquor laws in the local police court since the advent of prohibition. and even dur ng the history of the court. was met ed out to Joseph Babula this morn ing by Judge William c. Hungerford who fined him $500 and costs, and sentenced him to jail for six months Babua conducts Q store at 2S3 Broad street which was raided Saturday night. It was his second conviction for violating the liquor laws.
 The record breaking penalty was imposed after seven policemen, one after another, took the witness stand and recited stories Of alleged drink ing parties which were held In the store. to which they said men Of drinking habits from all over the city went, entering sober and coming out drunk. Prosecutor Joseph c. Woods characterized the store con- ducted by Babula as the worst dive" in the city.
 In imposing the sentence, Judge Hungerford said that the place was evidently of very bad character, and the fact that IS days sentence was imposed by the court when Babula was arraigned on his first offense seemed to indicate that an unusually bad condition prevailed. Attorney Harry Ginsberg who repre- sented the defendant, took an appeal bonds for which were set at sl,0O0.
 The defense introduced the testi- mony of Dr. Roman Lekston in an attempt to sustain its contention that the alcohol seized by the police in the raid was for legitimate purposes. The testimony of the doctor was that he had prescribed alcohol for Bab- ula's mother to rub her legs with Babula denied that he sold any liquor and disclaimed ownership of the alcohol saying that 1t belonged to his mother.
 Stanley Olescavitch of 30 Horace street. was fined $35 and costs when he was found guilty of reckless driv- Ing on East Main street last night. He was arrested by Motorcycle Po- liceman William S. Strolls after the policeman had trailed him along East Main street and past the inter- section of Elm street at an alleged speed of 55 miles an hour. Oiesca witch pleadsT not guilty but offered no defense. Strols told the court that the traffic along East Main street was heavy and that Olesca- witch had several narrow escapes from accidents.
 Andrew Chiapinni of 1S4 Oak street, arraigned on a charge of reckless driving, was found guilty and fined s25 and costs, s10 of the fine being remitted Ch1apinni was arrested by Sergeant Patrick A. Nc Away and Patrolman William O'Mara after an investigation of an accident In which a machine driven by the defendant collided at the corner of Lafayette and High streets with one operated by Joseph Gigliardi yester- day noon.
 Chiapinni claimed that he was driving about IS miles an hour at the time of the accident and that he sounded his horn on approach ing the intersection, Gigliardi giving no warning signal of his approach to the intersection. Both machines were slightly damaged.
 William Bernardo was fined SIS on charges of drunkenness ana breach of the peace. He was ar rested last night at Main and East Main streets by Traffic Policeman Edward Kiely after he is alleged to have created a disturbance on the street by offering to Tick all com- CTS" KieIy said that the man was drunk and refused to go home when ordered to do SO.