New Britain herald., 1927-03-02
CONTRACTOR HELD
 IN CITY HALL ROW Conviction for Breach Of Peace
 With Judgment Suspended JUDGE RAPS WRATSCHK0
Disturbance in Building Department Onicc Laid to Defendants Bclli- Co>c Attitudc--Suit Against City and CoNlcS May Result.


 co>c Attitudc-Suit Against City
 and CoNlcs May Result.
 Joseph Wratschko, aged S6, of SD Nordcn street. who engaged in an altercation with Acting Electrical Inspector C. W. Cowles in the Of fee ot the building department in City Hall Monday afternoon. was found guilty ot breach of the peace by Judge W. (. Hungerford in po- lice court this morning. but because the oftense was not serious, judg- ment was suspended. Judge Hunger ford reprimunded Wratschko, how ever q ndtold him he was not within his rights in acting in the manner described by witnesses,
 Sergeant Patrick l. OMara was the first witness called by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney w. Nj. Green stein. who issued the warrant for Wratschlo's arrest. The sergeant testified to Interviewing Wratschko, who told him lie remoustrated with Mr. Cowles because the latter told the owner of building wired by Wratschko, that the floor plugs were improperly placed, lie did not strike the inspector but he told him to remove his glasses. and when Cowles did so, Wratscnko put his fist up 10 Cowles' face but did not strike him, the sergeant said Wratschko told him,
 Co"lcs Tells of Bciligcrcut Manner
 Cowles testified that he found Wratschko waiting for him when he reached the office about l.5J o'clock. If you have any complain, me and not 10 the owner" Wratsch ko began, in loud tone, gesticulat ing in a threatening manner. accord ing 10 Cowles. "Iou're q bankrupt electrical contractor. q failure. and I'm a success and you cant go around hurting my reputation,' the contractor continued. according to Conles. After an exchange of words Wratschko put his fist so ciose 10 Cowlcs' face that t just tip ped his nose and Cowles, fearing his glasses would be broken. remoV- ed them. He was not certain whether or not Wratschko challeng- ed him to remove the glasses.
 Plumbing Inspector Olaf A.. Peterson testified that Wratschko took Cowes to task for reporting to the owner of a building something about the wiring installed by the contractor. Cowles replied that the owner of the building had called his attention 10 the work. Wratsch ko challenged CoWics to remove his glasses which inc inspector did. and Wratschko tlped his nose with q swins Mrs. Annie l.. Schrey. clerk in the department effice, gave corrohorative testimony.
 Do you want to say anything, Wratschllo?" Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Grecnstein asked. 'Ahso- lutcly,' was the reply. and the ac- cuscd contractor took the stand and began his story by accusing Mir. Greenstein of deliberately neglect ing to call Joseph NJ. Iuh as wit ness, "bccause Mr. Zuk was there and knows all about it." This brought warning from Mir. Green stein in the following languag ge: Now just q minute. Don't tell me what l did not do. You tell the court what you did"
 Wratschko denied that he had struck Cowles. "I gave him a straight look in the face io show him I meant what l said when l said it." he testified. He then went on to accuse Cowles of having a grudge against him because he had the police after the Cow'cs boys for raising the Gickens.' Cowles is failure in business, Wratschko said. and he has been going about iniuriug Wratschko's reputation. 'Im not in politics. I mnot looking for public fly, but he's giving il to me" he declared.
 Judge Hungerford remarked at this point that Wratschko's attitude is an indication that hc is making more trouble for himself than Mir. Cowles is making for him, T can see very well how this incident arose. from your attitude today Judge HunGerford said. T will find you guilty, but as the ofense is not serious, I will suspend judgment, but you ought 10 be warned not to go around shaking your fist fin mcn's faces, and you ought to con- trol your temper"
 Immediately on adjournment of court. Wratschko launched yer bal attack against Building lnspec- tor \. N. Rutherford. who was in court as d spectator. What are you over here for. you don't know anything about i,?' Wratschko said. Well, l do not have 10 ask you whether I can come to court the inspector retortcd and l want you to understand that. too.'
 Wratschko today declared his in tention Of consulting an attorney with view to bringing civil action against the building department and Cowles. He. claims statements made by the acting inspector are injurious to his business reputation and declares he will seek monetary q n h |. n q inn fnr tha d III n "a