New Britain herald., 1925-02-06
 LIQUOR OFFENDERS FINED BY JUSTICE Surprise Expressed When Tor.
 rer0 Is Taken to Jail SPEAKS ON HIGH SCHOOLS
Interest in Special Town Meeting American Legion Notes--Charles Norton Able to Be Out-Plain- vile Briefs.

Four Plainville residents arrested by a squad of county deputy sherlffs in charge of County Detective Ed ward J. Hickey on Tuesday evening on charges of violVing the liquor laws, were arraigned before Justics Merritt o. Ryder in the local police court yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock and all were found guilty by the court and fined. In two of the cases jail sentences were imposed but the sentences were apparently understood to be suspended.
 Nicholas Bellini, charged with sale and reputation pleaded guilty to sale and the state accepted the plea, dropping the second charge. County Detective Hickey acted as prosecu- tor and he recomme tended that len- iency be shown in view of the fact that the accused man told straight forward story. He stated that on the night of the raid at Bellinis store at 129 West Main street, he ard other incvstigators entered the place and found four gallons of hard cider there. Bellini, when asked about the stuff, stated that he knew he was violating the law. He said he was selling the stuff for 10 cents glass. He produced the cider for tho officers and expressed the willingness that three of the jugs should be smashed and their con- tents destroyed. One of the jugs was produced in court as evidence yesterday. Detective Hickey stated that in view of the fact that Bellni was so truthful about the matter anl because of the fact that he has had considerable domestic. trouble, he would recommend a fine and no jail sentence Justice Ryder i'm posed q fine of $50 and costs in the case.
 Judges Former SchoOimate
 The case of Miss Mary Prior of 5S court by Detective Hickey. When she was put to plea, Attorney Charles r. Conon of Plainville, rep rescnting the accused, pleaded guilty to the charge of keeping with in tent to sell. Other charges against the woman were dropped on this rlea because Detective Hickey sai1 enough evidence could not be se- cured to prove reputation. Detec- five Hickey called on an agent of | E,t. t1 tpCtifNE He told the court that he visited the home on one occasion and pur- chased liquor there. The deputy shcriffs in the raid testified to fnd- ing several pints of alleged liquor in the house, empty gin bottles and two five gallon metal containers. These were produced in court.
 County Detective Hickey recom- mondcd to the court that the mexi- mum fine of s20O De assessed. but Attorney ConIon stated that the jus tico knew the reputation of the ac- cused woman as well as he did.
 He said that it was the biggSst surprise in the town when the house was visited and liquor was secured there and said that the facts of the case were as follows. The liquor sc- cured did not belong to Miss Prior but was the property of one of the borders at the house. He claimed that Miss Prior kept rooming house with six or seven men staying there and that Detective Hickey knew that one of them has been en-. gagged in transporting liquor and the stuff belonged to him. He said that the act of selling one drink 10 the agent was only technical violation of tlTc law and that the woman was better known to the justice than 10 himself,
 Justice Ryder asked Detective Hickey if he meant to have the court impose the maximum penalty and Hickey answered that he did. He said he didn't think it was any too much because no jail sentence was asked. Justice Ryder in answer 10