Putnam patriot., 1924-10-17
POLICE ON TRIAL
in LOCAL COURT
Judge Maltbie Hears Testimony
In Alleged False Arrest
Case
No Decision Yet-Attorneys 10 Pre-
cent Arguments In Briefs

80 decision was reached in the
50. 900 damage suit brought by Mrs.
Lea Smith against the Putnam police.
for alleged false imprisonment, when
the case was heard Tuesday before
Judge Maltbie in the local chambers
of the Superior court. With the
courts consent, the attorneys for
each side agreed 70 argue the case in
the form Of briefs and to present
these 20 court within a week.
Mrs. Smith. wife Of the proprietor
Of the City Hotel. was the first wit
ness called 70 the stand BY the plain
tiff. She related how her husbands
automobile. in which she was a pas
senger. was stopped out on the Pro
violence road on the afternoon OF
April ; that her daughter Miss Celia,
who was driving, was told by Sergt
Of Police Lizard, that she was under
arrest for aiiegeu reckless driving .
that afterward, the Sergeant produc-
ed a warrant 20 search the car for
liquor; that he and Patrolman Ryan
did search the car; that after this
fthey found nothing Of eontraband
natureD they were ordered 10 follow
the ponce III LHttf car W tHt pttiNt
station. which she said was done.
Denied Use of Telephone
Arriving at the station. the witness
said she was denied the use of the
telephone and was not allowed to
leave the premises. She was held a
prisoner, though not under arrest,
was the plaintiffs contention.
Their story Of what happened that
afternoon was told, in turn, by Mrs.
Aframe, Mrs. Bravo and Miss Smith.
all of whom were passengers in the
car. What they told TO court was in
confederation Of that testified to by
Mrs Smith.
Sergt. Liard recited the story of
holding up the Smith car telling Miss
Celia that she was under arrest for
speeding; Of searching the machine !;
Of telling the driver TO follow his
ear to the station. He admitted that
use of the telephone had been denied
members of the party and denied
that such a request had been made to
him by Mrs. Smith. The Sergeant
admitted that he had in his pocket,
when he stopped the Smith car, a
warrant TO search the City Hotel and
he said that the warrant was used
shortly after the search Of the Smith
car. Sergt. Lizard said that the police
did not want any Of the passengers Of
the car to leave the vicinity Of the
police station while the raid was in
progress but with the exception of
Miss Celia Smith. no one was directly
ordered to stay there until told she
could 20. IL was to prevent any one
in the party from Tipping OFF, the
hotel about the searching of the auto
mobile, that use Of the telephone was
denied, the sergeant admitted.
Pstrolmen Testify
patrolman Ryan and Patrolman
Spaneey told of the respective parts
they played in the happenings of the
afternoon.
Captain of Police Jarvis testified
that it was under orders from him
that use of the telephone was denied
and that Miss Smith was told that
she must remain at the station until
he arrived. which he said, was after
the raid on the hotel, when liquor
was e0nfiseated and two arrests sub
sequently made, those of Samuel
Smith and Thomas Culley. He also
admitted that the police did not want
any of the party TO go away, but
that no one prevented any of them
leaving. except Miss Celia, who was
under arrest
Attorneys Torrey and Miron rep
resented the plaintiff while Attorney
King of Willimantie was associated
with Attorney Carpenter in defend
ing the police.