New Britain herald., 1928-10-25
House Surrounded By
Strange Men, Prose.
outor Tells Judge
When Continuance is
Asked IN Case Of Mrs.
Concetta Maietta.
Harry Sheremeta Threat.
ened and Intimidated,
Chief Hart and Sergeant
O'Mara Inform Green
stein When Further De-
lay in Hearing Seems
Imminent.

Trial Of the case OF Mrs. Concetta
Aatetta, aged 2s. Of 112 Lafayette
street. on the charge Of violation Of
the liquor law In a store at 107 La
fayette street. was precluded In a
sensational manner in police court
today. when Assistant Prosecuting
Attorney William NJ. Greenstein told
Judge H. p. Roche that the police
agent" who obtained the evidence
In the case has been threatened q
number Of times OF late and was at
tackled yesterday. Since Mrs. Maiet-
ta's arrest. continuances have been
ordered In court and Mr.. Greenstein
took the attitude that the case
should be disposed Of to protect the
agent" against further intimida-
tion.
Attorney Thomas F. McDonough.
defense counsel. had asked q con-
tinuance becaus9of a case in Hart
ford 1T 10 o'clock, when Mr.. Green
stein startled the court room by his
statement. Chief W. c. Hart and
Sergeant p. J. O'Mara had whis-
pered to Mr.. Greenstein. giving him
the information. ut 10 your duty"
Attorney McDonough declared. dt-
recting himself to Mr.. Greenstein.
ITO charge someone with assault, In
fairness to the accused. In view OF
this Information" II cannot reach
out and bring someone in." Mr..
Greenstein replied. II have just re-
ceived this information from the po-
lice"
Judge Suggests Investigation
Meanwhile Judge Roche was con-
sidering the new angle to the case.
He said he did not wish to postpone
the trial unreasonably but he could
not sec his way clear to compel At
torney McDonough to choose be-
tween this case and q case before
the higher court in Hartford. He
felt, also, that an immediate invests
CATION should be made into the re-
ported intimidation and assault, and
Mr.. Greenstein replied that it would
he done.
Attorney McDonough said the as
sault case should be tried before the
liquor case. in the event that an ar
rest was made. because OF the dan
ger Of prejudicing Mrs. Maiettas
case by the reported assault and In
timidation. ALREADY. / can picture
the story of my people out attack
ing this man and trying to beat MN
up" he said, but Mr.. Greenste'n
disagreed, saying he did not believe
the information would prejudice
anyone.
Judge Roche ordered the case
continued until tomorrow. 1t will be
the first case heard. he said. IN
order to guard against further de-
lay. The cases of Frank Malornne
and Paul Simieono Of 2S5 Myrtle
street, charged with violation Of the
LIQUOR law, were also scheduled for
trial today but Attorney McDonough
could not proceed because Of his
business in Hartford, and q con-
tinuance until tomorrow was order
ed.
Police Protecting Agent
The agent" who was identified
In recent liquor cases as Harry
Sheremeta of Union street, was
under police protection today. Ac-
cording to the authorities, his home
was surrounded yesterday by men
who were suspected Of planning to
carry him off or assault him. but
no trace Of anyone was found by
Ofiicer Kiely. who investigated the
report. SO far AZ could be learned.
he was not assaulted, but he is in
constant fear of being set upon be-
cause Of his activity in liquor cases.
The gallery in court will be
cleared of spectators tomorrow on
orders Of Chief Hart. This is the
practice in cases In which agents"
are used. the purpose being to hide
their identity to as great an extent
Al possible, because their useful
ness ends when they become gener-
ally known n aides Of the police.