New Britain herald., 1927-11-28
One of Worst Cases in Long Time, Declares Saxe, Fining Youth SS5 After Court Hearing.

This is one of the worst cases Of disregard of the rights of others that l have had in a long time. Only for the youth of the accused and the fact that 1t is his first ot- fense l would send him 10 jail. Judge M, D. Sake said in police court today, as he disposed Of the case Of John Staskiewicz. aged IS. of 196 High street. by lining him SI5 and costs on the charge ol evading responsibility, S. and costs on the charge of failing 10 stop for a traffic signal and s and costs on the charge of driving an unreGls- tered automobile. Judgment was suspended on the charges of reck- less driving and driving a car with improper markers.
 Attorney Irving I. Rachlin, de- lending Staskiowicz, criticized Pros ecuting Attorney J. G. Woods for preferring five charges. He said much is heard about crime preven- ton and helping young men who err, yet in this case. the young man has a clear record and it would have been enough to charge him with driving a car with improper markers. but the state put every charge it could find against him. It is a wonder he is not charged with murder or manslaughter or
 Ir clared. to which Judge Saxe re- piled that it was indeed fortunate for Staskiewicz that he did not find himself facing the manslaughter charge.
 The case was the result Of an ac- cident at the corner of Main and Myrtle streets Saturday evening, when Mrs. Arvid Nelson and her nine year old son Clinton of 34 Os- good avenue were knocked down by an automobile. James Kane. catch CT for the Y, M. T. A. X E. society baseball team, saw the woman fall and at the same time the car driven by Staskiewicz continued from Myrtle into Main street. Kane testi- fed that he thought the driver was looking for a parking space but when he did not stop, Kane follow ed him on foot and took the regis tration number. He notified Officer William J. Mccarthy, who was about to chase the car because 1t had not stopped for the red signal at Main and East Main streets, but had turned to the right and con- tinued down East Main street.
 Returning to the scene of the ac- cident, the officer made an investi- gation and inquiry at the office of the state commissioner of motor ve- hicles brought the information that the markers were recorded in the name of Frank Kleszcz. aged 20, of lG2 Grove street, but they did not belong on the car which struck Mrs. Nelson. Further investigation brought the police to the home Of Joseph Wisk, aged 27. of 143 Grove street. In q garage in the rear of oS Grove street was found the car about o'clock Sunday morning, and the radiator was warm while the mud on the wheels and the marks on the dry floor indicated that 1t had been driven recently. Oftlcer MileWski testified that he had seen it being driven into the yard about 1:o5 Sunday morning.
 Wisi was arrested but denied that he was driving the car. This morn ing. Staskiewicz surrendered and told the police he had the car Sat urday night but he was not aware that he had struck the woman. Con- sequently, Prosecuting Attorney Woods nolled the charge against Wisk and put Staskiewicz to plea.
 After the testimony of the police was in, including that of Sergeant Feeney. Officers Milewski McCar- thy and Harper, Staskiewicz took the stand and admitted that he had taken Wisk's car to try it as he had made a s5 deposit on 1t. He put the markers which were issued to kleszcz on the car and drove through Myrtle street behind another car. lie turned into Main street and dld not know his car had struck anyone. In front Of the Mohican Market he heard someone shout, and fearing he was 10 be stopped and questioned about the markers. he drove on and passed the red light at Main and East Main streets. He drove through Fast Main street, to Stanley, and re- turned to Broad street. Had he known his car had struck person he would have stopped. he said.
 Kleszcz who was charged with violation of the law in permitting the use of markers by another per son, testified that in July he had negotiated with Wisk for the sale of a car 'o the latter. Nlsk said h" was going to try it before he bought f and so KleszCz allowed hn to keep It in his custody. He went to Nisk's nome twice al least and stlil Wjsk had not decided, so kl'Szcz, finding work scarce in New Britain. Y ont to New York and when he re- turned to did not learn anything ot his car. He knew nothing of the car or the markers until he was mo- tifird last night to be in police court. Judge sau fined him & and costs,
 Mrs Nelson suffered painful but cnt serious, injuries. She limped to til, witness stand to testify. She did not know who was driving the car at tho time she was struck. Kane did not know who was driving either but he was certain that th" drlN"r had looked around after the accl- dent. although Staskirwicb denied that he had any knowledge oi the accident and expressed the opinion that inc car he was following might have struck the woman and boy.
 Fined $50 for Evasion
 stanley Trzaska, aged S7, of 2f Clark street, pleaded not guilty 10 the charge of cvading responsibility after an accident at the corner ot Elm and North street on November