New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-07-11
denies EVASION
after COLLISION
State Witness Corroborat@ EX-
PLANTATION and Saves Driver

Testimony Of a states witness,
| Edward Norkie. of 439 Stanley
street, in police court this morning.
that James Walsh. aged II, Of IS
Monroe street, had returned to the
scene of a collision in front of prop
erty known as 11S Rockwell avenue
about 4:4O Saturday morning. saved
Walsh from conviction on the
charge of evading responsibility,
Judge NJ. D. SAKE said. He sus-
pended judgment but remarked that
the case was very close and he re-
minded Walsh that the law demands
that automobile drivers stop and
make known their identity IN cases
fthis nature il they would escape
punishment In court.
Walsh represented by Judge w.
F. Mangan pleaded not guilty, and
said he was driving his automobile
on Rockwell avenue when it struck
milk delivery team owned by the
United Milk Co., but after stopping
for few seconds he drove away
only to return after leaving his car
in the rear of his home. He be-
came excited after the collision, he
said. otherwise he would have re-
manned longer on the scene.
Sergeant John c. Stadler testified
that he was detailed to investigate
the accident and went 10 ,Valsh's
home but he was not there. He re-
quested that a warrant for Walsh's
arrest be issued. Saturday after
noon Walsh telephoned to Captain
Kelly and learned that he was
wanted, whereupon he reported at
the police station with a bondsnan.
Ernest Hall Of Kensington tcsti-
fled that he had charge OF the milk
team and Walsh continued on his
way after striking the shafts and
damaging them. Norkie, however,
said he saw Walsh return between
five and ten minutes after the COL
lision. Walsh said the police must
have been at his home when he was
back at the scene Of the collision as
he learned on his return home that
he was wanted. lie had no inten-
ton of evading responsibility, he
said.
Judge Mangan pointed out to
Judge SAKE that the fact that Walsh
stopped momentarily and then drove
away, returning within 4 few min
utes, indicated that he did not in
tend to hide his identity OR evade
responsibility. Frequently, he said,
motorists backing out of parking
spaces have minor collisions but do
not stop and wait for the owners of
the other cars, as it is more con-
venient to communicate with them
later and arrange for repairing the
damage. Walsh lives short dis
lance from Rockwell avenue, and he
drove his car home after observing
that nobody was injured and only
slight damage had feen done.
Had No License, Fined 500
Leo Laskarzewski, aged 10. of
1442 Corbin avenue. pleaded guilty
to the charge of operating an auto
mobile while his license was under
suspension. Officer Dolan arrested
him on Myrtle street yesterday.
Judge w. f. Mangan, represent
ing Laskarzewski, said the young
man told him he was to have met
a friend who was to have driven the
car to the seashore.
He violated the law but actually
drove the car only short distance,
Judge Mangan said. He has plead
ed guilty, thereby saving the state
the trouble of having witnesses
brought from the state motor vehi-
Gle department.
Judge SAKE imposed the minimum
penalty of 800 and costs.
Drunken Driver Fined $l25
Christ Lach, aged Sc, of Az
Church street. was fined s125 and
costs and given a suspended Jail
sentence of 80 days on the charge
Of operating an automobile while
under the influence of lnuor. Ser
geant Michael J. FLYNN testified that
he arrested Lach about 10 o'clock
last night on Church street after a
slight collision between Lach's car
and car driven by John Hunter Of
$50 West Main street.
Sergeant Flynn and Lieutenant
Bamforth testified that Lach was un-
At to operate car. Lach said he
had one drink Of cider and a small
drink of wine but Re did not con-
slider himself under the influence Of
! liquor.
Judge SAKE told him he should
know better at his age than to
drink intoxicants while in charge of
an automobile.
Reckless Driver Taxed $50
Edwin Burkhardt, aged 90. of
West Center street. Southington, was
| fined $50 and costs on the charge of
reckless driving. Sergeant Thomas J.
Feeney testified that he followed a
car driven by Burkhardt on West
Main street from Grove Hill to
Wooster street last night about ~
O'Clock and was obliged to go As
miles an hour to overtake him. The
traffic was heavy and Burkhardts
car passed several other.
Burkhardt said he did not realize
at the time that he was driving at