New Britain herald., 1927-02-21
DESCRIBE CHASE
OF BOOTLEG AUTO
Police Identity Occupants Who
Offer Alibi Witnesses

That Joseph Smulski, aged %, of
264 Burritt street, and Stanley Bud
nick, aged 81, of 20 Curtis street,
we're in the automobile which was
fired at by Officer John c. Stadler
during a mad chase through several
streets Saturday evening, February
II, was streuuously denied by Judge
w. L. Mangan, representing the
young men in police court this
morning, and despite identifications
sworn to by Officers Stadler and
Harper, several witnesses testified
that both young men were not in the
vicinity of the scene of the chase.
After a lengthy hearing, Judge w.
C. Hungerford reserved decision I'M
til Wednesday morning. At the out
set, Prosecuting Attorney Woods
made a correction In the warrants
and charged Smulski with reckless
driving and Transporting alcohol
and Burnck with transporting alco-
hol. Judge Mangan called Judge
Hungerford's attention to the
changes, and said the question OF
Identification would be an important
one as the trial progressed.
Officer Stadler testified that he
and Officers Cosgrove and Harper
were on Hartford avenue about 6;2C
.. M, Feb. IL when a car passed
| The police followed in the service
car, Officer Harper driving. Smul'
ski was driving, Officer Stadler said
and knew the police were pursuing
him. as he looked around twice ant
increased the speed of his car.
After mad race through the
northwestern section Of the city, tbs
pursued car came to q stop a
Beaver and Lasalle streets, its speed
being such that it was impossible tt
negotiate the turn. The occupants
Jumped out and ran away with th'
police in pursuit. Officer Stadle1
| fell down in a yard when he trippec
! over a wire, and lost track of th'
men. In the car were six 5-gallo1
cans of alcohol.
Positive Smulski Was Driving
Officer Stadler was positive thai
Smulski was at the wheel and hi
made the round OF pool rooms ant
one dance hall that night but coulC
not find him. The following da!
Smulski and Budnick surrendered
themselves and denied they were i'm
plicated In the transporting Of the
alcohol.
They said the car, which Budnicl
owns, was stolen out of Smulski':
garage. Taking Smulski with them
Officers Stadler and Harper went tc
! Smulski's home and had him show
them a lumber jacket and cap or
| the rear veranda for the purpose OF
Identification.
Officer Stadler said, in reply tc
Judge Mangan. that he was positive
Smulski was at the wheel of the car
during the chase. Asked why he
was looking for man named Sabas-
tiano Coccomo, Officer Stadler said
he wanted Officer Harper to see Coo
como as the latter resembles Smul-
ski. lie was positive he had not
looked for Coccomo prior to l a. m.
the day after the chase. He said
Chief Hart ordered him to charge
Smulski and Budnick with reckless
driving but Captain Kelly said both
could not be so charged.
Smulski was then charged with
reckless driving and transporting H.
quor. Budnick was charged with
transporting liquor.
Officer Harper testified to driving
the police car in the chase. He saw
| Smulski turn his head and look bacf
| once during the chase. He positively
identified Smulski but he could moi
identify Budnick,
He said that he obtained a very
good look at Smulski's face wher
| Officer Stadler said: There goes
a couple of bootleggers,' on Hart.
ford avenue. He had never seer
Smulski prior to that time, to hi:
knowledge. He did not see whethe,
or not Smulski was wearing a coat
but he was certain he was wearing
a light gray cap. There is an cleo
trio light near the place he saw thu
car pass on Hartford avenue, h
said.
Mangan and Woods Tilt
! IF Coccomo closely resemhlet
| Smulski, he would have been In here
! on charges, would he not?" Judge
Mangan asked Officer Harper.
II object to that He is not the
prosecuting attorney" Prosecuting
Attorney Woods said
Il claim it. I submit. Your Honor
that ! have the right to question
this officer" Judge Mangan in
sisted.
You cannot question him along
that line" Judge Hungerford de-
cided.
We'll, would you have charged
him If he looked like Smulski,
Judge Mangan asked Officer Harper,
knowing Coccomo's record"
Il don't know anything about Coo
como's record" the officer said. Il
was sure it was Smulski who was
driving. I picked him out the next
day in the police station"
Officer Feeney testified that Off
Ger Harper pointed out Smulski at
police headquarters the day after the
chase, as the driver of the car.
~