New Britain herald., 1925-01-08
STORIES CONFLICT
 AT DOTY HEARING
Policemen and Seven Men Ar- rested Tell Their Own Versions
INQUIRY LASTS 8 1.2 HOURS
Commissioners Said to be Dlspleascd With Action Of Patrolman In View of Fact Whole City Was Celebrat- ing New Year.


 ing New Year.
 Stories that are reported to have varied considerably were told the discipline committee of the board Of police commissioners last night when they gave a hearing to Pa trolman David Doty and the seven men he arrested on Main street near Franklin Square early New Years morning, After the committee had listened to the testimony. 1t was agreed to adjourn and hold another meeting to consider the stories and draw Up report to present to the full board at the next regular meet ing Tuesday night.
 The committee opened the hear ing at o'clock. and 1t was after 11:3o o'clock when the last of the witnesses was heard and adjourn ment taken. Commissioner Thomas r. Jackson. a member of the disci- pline committee, was not present, being confined to his home with iH- ness. Chairman David L. Dunn and Commissioner William F. Lange met with Edwin Parker of the discipline committee.
 It is understood that the commits sioners are of the opinion that Doty did not show good judgment in handling the affair. but that after going about it in the manner he did, the only course left open for him was the one he took in arresting the men. The fact that 1t was New Years eve when gatherings are found In every section and a spirit of merriment prevails tended to en- phasize the poor judgment of the po- licenan in the eyes of the commits sioners, 1t is reported.
 Many Witnesses Heard
 The witnesses heard by the con- mittee were Patrolman Doty, Walter Wagner and Thomas Rouski, both of whom were with Doty when the ar- rests were made, & number of other policemen who have done duty on the part of Main street where the affair occurred during the last year. leatif the seven men who were Rr- rested. t'aey were Paul r. Robin son, Joseph Paonessa, Edward Lind gren. William Smith, William Dun lay, II. B. Barry and A. Burns Be sides these, man who passed along Main street at the time Doty and the seven men appeared before the committee and told of hearing one of the men make remark to the police. This remark is believed to have been the challenge reported to have been made to Doty to call the police patrol and which Doty said he accepted. The men who were ar rested are underst ood to have denied making such a remark.
 Tell of Alleged Threat
 Several of the complaints against the policemen told of an alleged threat that Doty made early in No yember to the effect that he would break up the gang before he left that beat. The threat is alleged to have been made after words passed between the policeman and several of the men about frequenting the front of the block. The night the arrests were made by Doty was the last night he was to do duty on that beat as the regular quarterly change of beats was scheduled to be made the next night. Doty is reported to have denied making such a threat.
 A paper was submitted to, the board signed by all tenants of the block in front of which the men were arrested which said that at no time on New Years eve or any other night had the men arrested caused any disturbance or annoyed people living in the block by noise of bois terous conduct. The paper was sub mitted to prove untrue a rumor to the effect that tenant Of the block had made a complaint to Patrolman Doty, on which he acted and made the arrests.
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