New Britain herald., 1926-10-25
COUPLE ARE HELD
 FOR LIQUOR SALE
Third Conviction for Husband
 and Second for Wife

'tSA1I'OA4 OA N44C 4AihOA id " " uN . ' B. W. Alling in police court this morning after a lengthy hearing.
 Traczka has already been con- victed three times In five appear ances on the same charge.
 Mrs Traczka has been convicted twice in three appearances.
 Attorney Thomas r. McDonough representing both parties, claimed there was no evidence that their tenement has the reputation of being a place where liquor is sold. After the hearing, Prosecuting Attorney Woods charged both parties with being frequent offenders against the liquor law.
 Officer Stadler testified that he and Officer Cosgrove made the ar rests last Monday afternoon. He gave Edward McGrath of Hartford avenue a dollar bill and a bottle and sent him into the tenement to pur- chase liquor. When he come out the liquor was in the bottle in his inside pocket.
 The officer brought McGrath into the tenement and found the dollar bill in Mrs. Traczka's pocketbook. Officer Cosgrove accompanied him. Mrs. Traczka was in the tenement and refused to answer when the of ficers asked her If she had sold the liquor to McGrath. She asked Of fcer Stadler for a drink before she vas taken to the police station. He allowed her to take drink.
 She then said she is through deal ing in liquor for her husband. Well. you got me-" she said, according to Officer Stadler.
 Relative 10 the reputation of the tenement, Officer Stadler said he has received numerous complaints and has observed men of drinking habits going in and out of there. Asked by Prosecuting Attorney Woods for the names of the men, Officer Stadler named McDermctt and Tony Fox.
 Attorney McDonough questioned Officer Stadler relative to the raid. He asked if McGrath is paid to buy liquor for the police and the officer replied negatively. He volunteered to buy liquor, the officer said. In ad- dition to the bottle McGrath bought, Officer Cosgrove found a glass jar partly filled with liquor which a girl was about to spill into the sink.
 The prosecuting attorney and the defense counsel clashed several times during the examination Of Of- ficer Stadler. Keep your ears open" Mir. Woods told the defense lawyer.
 "Oh, don't be calling me down." Attorney McDonough replied.
 Let's proceed and get this case over" Judge filling interposed. Never mind arguing back and forth"
 Chief Hart testified that McGrath was perfectly sober when he left the police station to so to Traczkas tenement. A short time after the Traczkas were in court some months ago the chief was asked by people living in the neighborhood to clean out the place as the liquor law was being violated again.
 Asked by Attorney McDonough if he could bring the complainants into court, the chief said he would not care to disclose the names but he would tell the judge, the prosecut- ing attorney and the defense coun- i sel privately. Attorney McDonough 1 contended that unless compainants | come into court and submit to a test ! of the truth of their charges, the | evidence is not admissible because it ! is hearsay.
 Judge Alling assured Attorney Nc i Donough that he would require more evidence than hearsay before he would convict anyone.
 Attorney McDonough cross-exam- ined McGrath as to his part in the raid, McGrath said he was helping the police clean up this tenement and others because he always gets arrested when he gcts drunk in those places.
 "They take my money and don't get anything from them" he said Asked as to his police court record McGrath said he has not been ar rested for offenses other than drunk enness. Judge Aling reminded the attorney that McGrath was not on trial. The attorney replied that he wanted to test the credibility of the witness and that Is why he is prob ing his record Well, the court is as familiar with his record as you are" the judge said. The attorney asked Nc Grath if 1t Is true that he feigned illness and begged a drink after Mrs. Traczka told him she would not , sell anything to a bum like you" McGrath said it was not necessary to play sick. He merely handed ', Mrs, Traczka the dollar bill he had received from the police and asked |, her for a pint. She took the money and went into he pantry. When she came out the : empty bottle he had given her was filled. He left the tenement and Officer Stadler met him outside and ! ooll the bottle from him. , Officer Cosgrove testified that he | observed men of drinking habits go- | ng In and out of the alleyway lead y ng to the house, at all hours of the | light, while doing patrol duty on hat beat. He assisted Officer S 'tadler in the raid. The tenement T las the reputation of being 'li- V luor joint" he said. t Officer Thomas J. Feeney testified hat he passes the house four times q laily and there are always "bums" l. round there. He named Fremont c 3arrows and his brother: a man l .amed OBrien, employed as a car c center; men named Duffy Roper, s