New Britain herald., 1926-03-11
JAIL SENTENCE FOR
 MAN WHO HIT COP
SoWa Given 50 Days But Files
 an Appeal

When witnesses testified that An drew sowa, aged 30, 110S East street, attempted 10 resist arrest Saturday night in q garage at North and Spring streets, by striking Offi- cer Clarence Kumm, and using pro- fane language, Sowa was sentenced to 60 days in jail by Judge William c. Hungcword, in police court this morning, on charges of drunkenness, breach of peace, and resistance. At- tornoy M. D. Hungcrford, counsel for Sowa appealed tho case, and his client was placed under $500 bond,
 John Mendryk of 200 North street who was alleged to have assisted in tho attack on Officer kumm, was discharged.
 Officer Kumm stated that he saw Sowa on North and Spring streets at about o'clock Saturday night and he stated he noticed Sowa was stag gerng across tho street The officer testified that he crossed the street, and followed Sowa into q gas sta ton, where Sowa was having his auto filled with gasoline.
 Kumm declared that he went mp to Sowa and said, "l'll warn you not to drive that car"
 "Why not?" Sowa is alleged to have responded.
 "Bocause you're not 1t to drive car" Kumm said he told the man.
 At that Sowa is said 10 have cursed the officer and called him q vile namc. I<umm said Sowa went out of the gas station to his car. Kumm followed him and demanded that he take back that statement Sowa refused Kumm said so he put him under arrest.
 'I took him in the station,' Kumm said, "and he was pushing me about. I told him he could not drive the car, and Mir. Timko, the owner of the station told mo he could get someone to drive the car. All the while Sowa was pushing me about and finally he shovod me against n pane and broke the glass Al the same time Mcndryk was tuggjng at my elbow trying to fire" Sova. Sowa knocked my hat off, pulled a button from my coat, and grabbed my thumb and pulled 1t back. He ran out of the station and told him to wait
 "I followed him and he began fighting with me. I had to uSc force, so I struck him with my stick. By that time we were back in inc gas station. He continued fighting me and struck him again Ho fnU to the floor on some 'lf'S and got m again as if 10 spring a' me so I struck him with my stock again." ,,
 Kumm denied that he was choN- ,no sown. but declared that he only was holding him hy the coIIal' he insisted that that he considered IL his duty 10 use the nightsticE when if WAS necessary and when prl@- onor attempted to get away from him, When the wagon came hu'Hhl said that he and Officer H"lIhGrG carried Sowa to the wagon and that he was struggling then and hlrcalnS' Alexander Boncufant, 10 Ef"tl street. a yardman for the New IorN' Now Haven X Hartford railroad, said that he saw a crowd at the filling station and he vent up II" SEW Sowa pushing Kumm about lie said that KUmm finally let go "t : Sowa and Sowa lmred at hlh ana knocked him against the WIhdoW' breaking the glass. "%oWa acted . like a crazy man, BonruIant de- clarcd. Sergeant McCuo stated that when Sowa was brought in to the station he was boistorous and drunk and rrot,stcl about being taken Co the ccllroom.
 Ii was brought out at this point that it was necessary 10 take three stitt hes in cut on Sowa's head' whiln Officer Kumm has badly srrainod thumb. Harold Joscphson, 1T Winter street. raid that he saw the fight and told substantially tho same story as the previous witnesses He said that he would have driven SoWa hom" but that he dl not have an opera tors license, sowa admitted that ho cursed th" officer. but said that kunm came outside and began to choke hlm. He said th2t he screamed to the officer 10 lct him 70. I!e said the officer hit htn ovcr tEo head with stick Sowa admitted having q drink or beer but nothing moro, and said thai he WAS not drunk. He also denied resisting arrest, John Timko. 39 Daly stroct, own CT of the station where the fight oc- cured. said that he volunteered to scrL &uNa home but could find no one willing 10 take him. He said he did not src all of the affruy, but oulv returned when he heard the breaking of q glass when he oN- claimed, some ones got to pay for this" Judge Hungcrford said tho case was an extreme instance and he felt that an officer had tho right to pro tect himself when being attacked, l and that the officer was justified in using his stick whom the prisoner resisted arrested, Sowa has prcvt- ] ous record.