New Britain herald., 1926-11-23
FINE 0F s20O FOR
 TREATING FRIENDS
Judge filling Not Convinced by
 SCorak's Explanation


 High street, proprietor of novelty store at so Lafayette street, was pouring liquor from bottle into a glass about 10 a. m. Nov. ' when Officer T. J. Feeney entered. accord ing to the officers testimony in po- lice court today before Judge Alling.
 Arthur Sorell, who lives on Beav CT street and whom the officer was seeking, was in the store and called to Scorak. Cheese 1t, here's Feeney," whereupon Scorak ran into the toilet and spilled the contents of the glass, the officer testified. Scorak threw the bottle behind a soda box and Officer Feeney recov- cred it.
 Scorak told the officer he had been treating his friends and had not been selling liquor.
 Asked by Attorney Thomas F. Me Donough, defense counsel as to the type of store Scorak conducts. Off, cer Feeney said jewelry newspapers and other articles are on display there. Asked if 1t Is a good jewelry store, the officer said he would not buy jewelry there.
 The officer testified that he has seen many men of drinking habits in the store but he could not call them by name and he could not say when he had seen them or specify the time of day they were in there. He warned Scorall not to sell liquor. Asked by Attorney McDonough if he has ever warned anyone not 10 sell ltqhor who has not sold any, the officer replied negatively.
 Officer Stadler testified that he has seen Sorell. men named Feigen- baum. Shimansky, kukish and Mi kowski in the store. He has seen 1lukish in the front part of the store and Mikowski in the back room. He considered Mikowski and Kukish are men of drinking habits. He did not put Feigenbaum and ShimansHy in that class.
 ia Scorak denied he was selling liauor and the reason he dropped the bottle was that he was fright ened al the sight of Officer Feeney. He had just served a drink to Soreli and another friend and went into the toilet. to get water chaser. Relative 10 the testimony that drinking men frequent the store, Scorak said it was not true.
 He does s1.000 business a month and the stock is worth s7,000 he said. In reply to Mir. Greensteln, scoral, said he has no room for beer in the front of the store so he keeps if in the rear. It is near beer, he in- sisted. He denied he spilled the con- tents of the glass. He drank IL ana went to get chaser" he insisted on cross examination.
 He denied that anyone shouted q warning when Officer Feeney came in.
 Arthur Sorell of SS Beaver street testified he was on his way home from church and Scorak invited nm into the store to treat him 10 d drink. Sorell having declined to ac- cent money for small automoplie repair job he had done for Scorak.
 After he and a man named Shl- manslzy had drink and Scorak hal one. the officer entered. He did not shout a warning. Asked by MT. Greenstein if he would say the offl- cer lied when he gave testimony 'hat Sorell shouted warning. sorel' said the officer had lied. Later he said he would not say the officer lied but he would say the officer did not tell the truth. /
 Shimansky testified that he ana Sorell were being treated 10 a dfsak by scorak when Officer Feeney en- tered. Scorak's reputation on l-afaF- cite street is good, according to Shl- mansky. No buns are admlt1eo' The night gefore the arrest Scorak told Shiransky on the way home tha they would have drlnk the next day.
 farmer had given him present of bottle of liquor in apprecialioh of beluinc him 10 get customers TOT onn,cs Scorak told Shimansiy. Ac- cordingly, the next morning they were having friendly drink when Officer Foeney came in.
 Several Lafayette street business men testified that Scoraks s sIore has a good reputation.
 They said. though, that if it is nroven scorak sells liquor, ther opinion would be changed.
 Attorney McDonough said the testimony of Officer Feeney and stadler was all the state has where as several business men had come into court and offset the testimony of the police. The law gives the ac- cnsed the benefit of the doubt loi inst such cases as this, he said.
 The police naturally think Scoraf guilty, the lawyer said. The nature of their work is certain to sway 'hei' to this belief. as they testlfy' put 'il' exclamation of the drinking party offsets the belief of the police. Ih' search warrants the punt
 their possession was not used a! a! though the police have watched lhi' store time after time and did not oo tain the evidence necessary for conviction. |,
 officer Feeney. seeking SorcIl went into the store and jumped Q q conclusion, arrcsting Scorak' "h' was arrested about two years age and has since conducted a legitlmal' business. He should not be penal ized for treating his friends to drink which he has q perfect rish 10 do, the lawyer claimed. He ha the right to have the liquor ln m possession and give it away
 Attorney McDonough asked tha scorack be given the benefit Of tn doubt which exists.
 Judge filling said Scorock has par ,itioned off his store and in the req part of it he was seen pourini drinks for two men. Then he threV away the bottles when oflice rco,ov entpred II was only natura