New Britain herald., 1924-04-05
JAIL SENTENCE FOR
 STANLEY ST. CRASH
Morecroft Given 30 Days and
 Fined St50, Files Appeal
SAYS HE WAS NOT DRIVING
Defense Claims Companion of Ac- cused Man Was at Wheel-Policc Testify Principal Was Drunk When Placed Under Arrest.

Charged with operating an auto
 mobile while under the influence of liquor on Stanley street, March 27,
 Lester B. Morecroft was found guilty
 in police court this morning by Judge
 William c. Hungerford and fined
 sl50 and sentenced to 30 days in jail.
 Morecroft claimed that he was not driving the machine at all, that his brother-in-law was operating it. He appealed.
 The arrest of Morecroft followed an accident near Ibelle's corner on Stanley street in which Morecroft's machine collided with an automobile owned and driven by A. G. Scotton, causing Sections wife to receive a broken leg and his child severe cut on the head.
 Patrolman Thomas Tierney, who arrested Morecroft. told the court that when arrested the defendant was very drunk and admitted that he was driving the car. Patrolman Charles Anderson, who went to the scene with the police service car, testified that Morecroft was drunk.
 Claim Another Man Was Driving.
 At this point, Judge William r. Mangan told the court that 1t was not the intention of the defense to try to prove that the man was not drunk, but that the defense was based on the claim that Morecroft was not driving the machine at all.
 Scotton testified that he did not see who was driving the machine, bT the man who was with More croft had told him in the presence of the defendant that Morecroft was In cross examination of Scotton, defense counsel brought out that when Scotton spoke to the other man, the defendant was about 20 feet away from them. Asked if he could see the man with whom he had the conversation in the court room. Scotton said that he couldn't put did not think that he would recognize him anyway. Harold II. Marsh. the alleged driver of the was sitting in the rear of he courtroom.
 Witncs4 CnTecis Testimony.
 A man named Smith was called 10 he stand and told the court that he had a conversation with Marsh, and hat Marsh told him he was sitting 'n the left side of the front seat with his left hand put out to warn my machines behind them that they we're going to turn. Judge Mangan aid that the testimony was very 'ood, and called Smiths attention to he fact that what he had testified | vas what the defense contended, 1 hat Marsh was driving the machine nd that if he was on the left hand l ide of the front seat, he was behind | he wheel. Smith then offered to I orrect his testimony, and when sked to do so by defense counsel, he aid that probably Marsh said the fight hand side.
 Lieut.. Samuel Bamforth, who book d Morecroft at the station, testified hat he was very drunk and that he dmitted driving the car, but denied hat he had been in an accident or hat he had been drinking.
 Morecroft Denies Driving
 
 Moreeroft testified that he was not irving the car. saying that Marsh ad operated the machine from a riend's house where he had been Marsh was called 10 the fand and he corroborated Morecroft's sstimony.
 Nesta Fined SIS
 Michael Nesta of 146 Winter street as fined s10 and costs for operating n automobile without a license and for falling to obey the signal of raffic Officer Hanford Dart Dart rrested the man yesterday afternoon ] Franklin square when he failed , stop on signal and when the police Ian questioned him, Nesta said that 2 was ont practicing so that he , 1uld get a license next week. f. The csse of Laza George of Hart ,rd, charged with reckless driving, as continued until next Saturday be- use of the illness of his attorney. 1,