New Britain herald., 1925-01-22
Prosecutor Tells of Ef-
 forts by Detective to
 Run Down Stories of Alleged Irregularities.
Says Collection of Money Attempted in Farming ton Avenue Case Was for Lawyers Fee.

Rumors Of alleged Srattlng In the building department are grouudless, according 10 a report filed this afternoon with Mayor A. NJ. Pa onessa by Prosecuting Attorney Jo- seph G. Woods.
 The report reviews the incidents leading up to the probe, news ot which was printed exclusively in the Herald Tuesday afternoon, and ex- plains that rumors of irregularities were investigated by Detective O'Mara who could not find them to be substantiated by facts.
 Woods Report
 Prosecutor Woods report follows;
 "January 22nd, 1925, Hon. A. NJ. Paonessa.
 Mayor of the City of New Britain, West Main Street
 New Britain, Conn.
 My Dear Mayor:
 At your request, investigation has been made concerning certain build ing activities, alleged to have been made in the early part of the spring of 1924. in the neighborhood of Miller street and Pennington avenue.
 T detailed Detective Patrick O'Mara, to inquire of certain in diyiduals who live in the vicinity concerning buildings. which hal been proposed by residents of that vicinity at that time, but subsequent ly had been abandoned.
 During the early part of spring 1924, some of the property owner. on Pennington avenue, had received information that soda water fac tory, was to be erected, that 1 Charles Godazs, of 121 Farmington avenue, was to erect the said soda water factory. The property owh CTS were very much incensed, an, after consulting with one anotllel proposed to state the facts to an al torney.
 "A permit had been granted MT. Godaza by the building in spector, and by reason thereof som. of the residents consulted an attor ney with regard to an injunction, t0 stop the building of the soda watei factory stating that it would de- preciate the value of the property | in the neighborhood.
 Tn the meantime the attorne. stated to those who were aggreived. and who had consulted him that he could not bring the injunction to the city court of New Britain, without a reasonable fee being charged to the property owners who were sponsors to the movement.
 Several of the members so az grieved solicited the property own CTS in the vicinity, and met with no | response as to the small donations, which they were honorably bound to contribute for the prosecution Of the injunction.
 1 "The man in charge of the same met with no response relative to ob- i taining any contributions for prose Cution of the injunction, and there ! fore reported the same to the attor ney. that he had met with failure.
 He requested the attorney to name his fee for the amount of time 1 which he had spent in the matter, and the attorney stated a modest fec which was paid, and thereby tha matter ended.
 Shortly afterwards the permit for the erection of the soda water fac tory was revoked by the building in spector, on the proposed site. Sometime during the month of ! September, 1924. Mr. Wexler called the undersigned on the phone, and stated to him that some men hal been trying 10 collect money, con- corning building activities in Farm ington avenue. that he had received Information 10 the same but cou).I not with any authenticity name the person, or definitely state what the eacts were, but would let the under signed know later.
 'T met Mir WeXler number O times after the conversation but any further information was never given 70 me by him, concerning this mat .CT.
 "Reccntty the matter has been
 drought to the attention of yout honor. and to the members of tho
 common council I suggested In youI
 office at the meeting that detective
 from the New Britain police depart
 ment should be detailed 10 give z thorough investigation conccrnIH-
 the rumors os grs't, and natter concerning tho building commission
 ITS with regard to this part,cu'a phase of the building activities con corning the vicinity Of Farmingtol . avenue.
 Tn complying with your request called Chief Hart's attention and h' detailed Detective Patrick O'Mard to my office. At my requ, st Detec- tive Sergeant Patrick O'Mara mad. . an earnest endeavor to locate diff | tcrent parties in connection with this matter and to search for the trutl { regarding these rumors. 'T am enclosing herewith Detec . tive Patrick O'Mara's report, col , corning the investigation. You VII , find after a pcrusal of it that tht [ rumors are groundless. { If anything should develop fur. . ther in regard to it. and you fec. ' should bear investigation. l will b. , ,-t-l ~, ,,orc,ste with you further fl