New Britain herald., 1926-10-11
LAWYERS IN TILT
 OVER HOUSE RAID
Woods and McDonough Furnish Fireworks in Police Court

After a long hearing in police tourt this morning, Judge B. W. Al ling discharged May Bennett aged S1 of PIP Jefferson street, Hartford, charged with keeping a disorderly house at 1O5 Myrtle street; Mrs. Anna De Rosa, aged 25, of New York, charged with being an in mate: Joseph Savio, aged 27, of 1O5 Myrtle street: Samuel Bordonara. aged 22, Of 4S Elm street; Donald Petrilli, alias Harry Philips, aged 23, Of 130 Cedar street, New Haven; Joseph Golofiro, aged 40, of AZ Spring street: Savairo Ruggero, aged sS, of 123 Chapel street, New HaV- en, charged with frequenting the house. Attorneys Thomas F. Me Donough and Alfred Le Witt, de- fense counsel, contended that the states case was weak and conviction should not be ordered on the evl- dence at hand. At one point of Prosecuting Attorney J. G. Woods argument for a conviction, Miss Ben nett interrupted him to deny she had kept house on Park street.
 At the very outset Attorney Me Donough objected to MT. Woods at tempt to have Sergeant McCue tell about the place, the defense coun- sells contention being that 1t is i'm proper to have an officer ramble on and get in testimony that should re- suit from proper questioning by the prosecuting attorney. In the higher courts the practice is not allowed, Attorney McDonough said. MT. Woods proceeded to question Ser geant McCue and the testimony went in.
 Sergeant McCue testified that he and Sergeant McAvay went to the place shortly after 10 o'clock last night. Miss Bennett who accord ing to Sergeant McCue, is May Dexter of Hartford, formerly of New Britain. told him she paid S15O for the tenement a week ago. In the room which Miss Bennett said she occupied there was mems cloth ing in the bureau drawers, he said.
 Miss De Rosa told him she comes here from Bridgeport Saturday aft ernoons and returns in the evening,
 She became acquainted with Miss Bennett while doing shopping, she said. She referred to her by name other than Bennett and Dexter and said she did not know the name of the person who introduced them.
 Asked by Mir Woods what he knows about Miss DeRosa, the ser geant replied that he knows noth- ing about her but he knows some a thing about Miss Bennett. Attorney McDonough objected, saying it is proper to describe the house but i'm proper to mention the character or reputation of a person unless the defense attempts to show the char acter or reputation to be good.
 If Miss DeRosa, for instance, had served a term in prison, it would not be proper for the state to mention it in this trial, McDonough said. Mir Woods changed the manner of eX- animation.
 Sergeant McAvay testified to as sisting Sergeant McCue in the raid He knew nothing of the reputation of the place, he said. All those ar rested were properly clothed and there was no evidence of wrong do- ing, he said. The men were swearing and talking loud.
 Officer Gigliotti testified that he saw 15 men going in and out of the house Sunday afternoon. He saw nc women entering or leaving.
 None of the mon were among those arrested. He was sure the mcT he saw Sunday afternoon went into the tenement in question because there is only one entrance and thai is in the rear. Some of the mer stayed 10 or 15 minutes. Some went in three at a time and in one grouT there were five. He watched the place from 3:S0 to about A; o'clock.
 Attorney McDonough asked the officer why he told Attorney Levitt the men went in in groups of three and five and then changed his story in such manner as to indicate tha 21 men had been in and out Sunday afternoon.
 The officer insisted he had count. ed approximately 15 men, not 21.
 Mir. Woods recalled Pasqualt Piazza, who lives in another tene ment in the house, to the stand anC : asked permission of the court tC cross examine him. He was a hos tile witness, MT. Woods said Attor ney McDonough objected but Judgt filling granted the prosecuting at torney's request, remarking that i