New Britain herald., 1924-03-29
ALLING CASTIGATES HIGH SCHOOL BOYS
16 Appear in Police Court for
 Assault on Actors
ALL PLACED ON PROBATION

Officer Until June 2S-Judge Wishes
 To Save Students From Having
 Court Record.
 You have put yourselves above the law and in doing so have brought dis. grace to yourselves, your mothers, sis. ters, fathers, brothers, to your high school and athletic teams, to the city of New Britain, your state and na- tion," was one of the statements made by Judge Benjamin W. filling in police court this morning when 16 high school boys were arraigned before him on charges of breach of the peace as . result of a disturbance in the Capi- tol theater, March 19.
 The cases were continued and the boys placed under the supervision of the probation officer until June 2S. The young men before the court were: Harold Beagle and Edward O'Brien, who were arrested immediately after the disturbance by Patrolman Michael Cosgroye and whose cases were con tinued until today for disposition, ''N,Ni AoSuiNss iltel 4Ntjpp, IltUFS Taylor, Anthony Martino, Leroy Beg Icy, Ben Rogin, Henry Zehrer, Frank Phelan, Albin Fengler, Harry Schect- man, Harry I. Koplowitz, Frederick Jeanette and Frank McGrath.
 Attorney Saul Waskowitz, who ap- peared for the young men, entered pleas of nolo contendere for all Of ihem, telling the court that they all admitted that they were in the theater on the afternoon in question and that each one of them was ready to make n clean breast Of the whole affair. He said all the defendants were young sters with boyish hearts and boyish instincts and did only what any other real live boys would have done under he same circumstances. All were leady 10 take whatever punishment the court saw 1t 10 impose.
 The Bombairinent Rcgins
 Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Will liam A, Grcenstcin opened the cases for the state by giving an outline of what happened at the theatcr. lIc said that on the afternoon Of March 10. about 100 students from the local tigh school went to tho theater with a supply of eggs, tomatoes. fruit and other grocery articles for the purpose nf throwing them at actors who were said to have made derogatory remarks about the New Britain high school ieotbail team.
 When the actors appeared on the stage they were greeted with a bom- pardment and that although forum ately no one was injured an expensive yiolin owned by Al Tucker leader or the band that was putting on the act, was demolished. Restitution has since been made for the damage incurred ny the assault.
 100 Went to See the Fun.
 Sergeant George c. Ellinger was ra,lcd 10 the witness stand to tell l.. inc investigation he had made o into the affair. Hc told the
 that he interviewed all the boys ,aI that Neipp, Taylor. Martino, Beg ley and Zehrer admitted throwing tho missiles at the actors, and that all he rest of them admitted that they knew what was going 10 happen there and went there for the purpose of witnessing it excepting McGrath. who denied that he took any part in inc affair and disclaimed all knowledge of the planning of the affair. He said that there were iS4 students absent from the high school that aft- crnoon and there were about 100 in the theater when the outbreak took place.
 Prosecutor Greenstein rested the states case saying that there could be no doubt that all the defendants went 10 the theater for a specific purpose and that was to break up tho show.
 Zehrer Tells Story of Attack.
 Judge filling then asked Attorney waskowitz to put one Of the boys who would tell all the happenings on that day on the witness Stand. Henry Zehrer was called to the stand by waskowitz and he told what he knew Of the plans
 He said that they had heard at inc high school that there was an sct at the thester in which one of the stars, who came from Hartford. was making derogatory. remarks about | the high school football team. Ii was then decided that they would go up 10 the theater that afternoon and 1 hiss end hoot the act of the stage. l It vas with that intention that they i started out, but when the crowd ar 1 rived st the theater, he said that all ! the fruit and other stuff that was l brown had been collected. Seeing hat they had all the. fruit and other | stuff, Zehrer said that they thought i hat they might just as well throw ' il st the actors and they did.
 Where did the fruit come from ," ! Judge Alling asked.
 T don't know where it came from" vas the answer. i
 Where did you get yours7'
 From another fellow who was throwing it up in the air as we were { going 10 the theater."
 "It was all talked over and planned . to throw these things al the actors : during school hours that morning. sasnt it7" asked the court.
 sIt wasn't talked over at all. IL vas circulated about the school"
 'sWhen you took the fruit long before you arrived at the theater, you took 1t for the purpose Of throw ing if when you arrived there. didn't You?"
 Zehrpr answered that he had.
 At this point Judge Alling said that he wanted the young men to un- Jerstand that he did not know what the remark was the actors were al Ieged 10 have made and he did moi sani to know as fl had absolutely no