New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-07-12
DRUNKEN DRIVERS
JAILED BY SAKE
Judge Adopts New Policy, Sup
planting Suspended Sentences

Departing from mis- custom of i'm
posing suspended jail sentences OF
- days in cases OF automobile dri-
vsrs convicted OF being under the in
dusnce Of liquor. Judge Morris D.
SAKE in police court today imposed
one jail sentence Of Ave days and an
other OF three days. Since going on
the bench July /. Judge SAKE had
sent only one drunken driver to Jail,
and in that case the man had been
convicted on the charge on a pre-
vious occasion. making him second
offender.
Gabriel Bellous. aged IS. OF 276
South Main street, intoxicated on
wine according to his own admission,
drove an automobile through South
Main street In southerly direction
about 9:45 o'clock last night and
by Antonio Tomasi OF Kensington.
Caroming to the left side Of the
street, Bellous' car snapped off an
iron electric light standard at the
base and drove it distance Of rs
feet into the front lawn at 1S6 South
Gently installed to replace wood
en- pole. the street having been wi
dened and paved.
Tomasi. who was sitting in his
car, escaped injury but was severely
shaken up by the impact, which
oS &c Nd
practically wrecked the body. The
force of the collision drove his ma
chine onto the sidewalk, and the
iron pole across the street was as so
much brittle substance when the
Bellous car struck it, according to
the police.
Officer Walter Malona was at
home and heard the crash, Tomasi's
car having been parked directly in
front of the officers house at IT'S
South Main street. The officer testi-
fed that he was attracted by the
noise and herd screams. Running
out, he found conditions as described
and placed Bellous under arrest. He
rotified police headquarters and De-
tective Sergeant McCue md Sergeant
Flynn responded. There We're two
gallons of wine in the car and Bel
lous admitted having imbibed. He
came to this city a short time ago
and has Michigan operators Ii
cense. He suffered a slight cut on the
hand which was dressed by DR.. NJ.
A. Kinsella.
Judge SAKE imposed fine Of 500
and costs and Jail sentence OF five
days.
Three Days and 500 Fine.
Eddie Fortier, aged IS, of 70
Cherry street. was fined 500 and
cost and sentenced to Jail for three
days on the charge OF operating an
automobile while under influence
of liquor. Through Attorney Harry
NJ. Ginsburg he pleaded nolo con-
tendere.
Sergeant Thomas ]. Feeney testi-
fled that he arrested Fortier about
9 a. m. last Saturday on Ellis street
between Cherry and Stanley streets.
He was unsteady and admitted that
he and two companions had been
drinking wine.
There was a small quantity of
wine in the car.
Attorney Ginsburg asked for a
fine and suspended jail sentence but
Judge SAKE said the only difference
between this case and the Bellour
case was that there was less wine
in ForCer's car and no damage had
been caused by his driving. 1t is
impossible to lay down q hard and
fast rule in their cases, Judge SAKE
observed. because each case must
necessarily be governed by the cir
surrounding it.
Fined $25 For Recklessness.
Louis E. Pierce, aged 40, of &c
Eaton avenue, Meriden. pleaded |
guilty 20 the charge of reckless driv-
ing and was given the minimum
fine Of $25 and costs. He was ar
rested lats evening about CHS |
o'clock by Officer Michael Massey
following a slight accident on |
Franklin Square. A car owned by |
George was damaged.
Prosecuting Attorney Woods said
Pierce has clean record and is en-
ployed In a responsible capacity by a
Meriden construction firm.