New Britain herald., 1928-02-06
POLICE CORRAL TW0| ALCOHOLIC DRIVERS
Fines of Stoo Imposed .
 Shrimp Foley n Accident

 third who admitted that he had been drinking. figured in smash-ups over the weekend. Joseph Miezliskis. aged 32. of Berlin turnpike, and Fred B. Wallace, aged 49. of Robbins Place. Kensington, were each fined $10O and costs and given suspended jail sentences of 80 days by Judge M. D. Sake in police court today, aft CT pleading nolo contendere. while James E. Foley. aged 32, of g Sum mer street, Hartford. was unable to appear in court because of injuries sustained in crash, and his case was continued for one week. Foley is known as Shrimp" and is prom inent in football circles. The charge against him is reckless driving, al- though the police report of the ac- cident includes the entry that half a dozen bottles of beer were in the car and Foley admitted to Sergeant Feeney and Officer Doty that he had been drinking beer.
 At 8 o'clock Saturday evening, an automobile driven by Wallace in a northerly direction on South Main street, struck a telephone pole near Towers gasoline station opposite Willow Brook park, knocking off the left front wheel. The car continued about 30 feet after striking the pole, and then turned over on its side. De- tective Sergeant George c. Ellinger testified that Wallace admitted hav- ing had little wine to drink in Meriden and. in the opinion Of the sergeant, he was unfit to drive car.
 Attorney Albert A. Greenberg, representing Wallace, told Judge Sake he had advised the plea of nolo contendere in the face of Wal lace's insistence that he was not un- der the influence of liquor at the tiEae of the accident. The attorney said he realized that the court would not question the integrity of Sergeants Ellinger and Feeney. who were at the scene of the accident and noted Wallace's condition. but Wallace insisted that although ne had few drinks of wine he had driven through traffic in Meriden and along the turnpike through Berlin and would have reached home safely in all probability but for the fact that the wheels of his car caught in track or rut and in a few seconds the crash had occurred Albert Joseph Yapp. aged 50, of 113 North street. relative of Wal lace. was cut behind the left ear and was taken home, while Wallace , suffered cuts about the face and hands. Attorney Greenberg stressed the poor financial condition of Wal lace. who. he said. has no money | and is married. Judge Sake said that by pleading nolo~y contendere. Wallace practically admitted his guilt and automobile drivers who have dependents and little money should be more careful than others for those reasons He added that it is his policy in cases of drunken driving resulting in damage or in- jury not to remit any part of the fine or allow probation for payment of the fine unless there are extreme ly unusual circumstances.
 Saw Too Many Wheels" As Miezlieskas was driving a sedan south on Stanley street about 2 o'clock last evening. after having been drinking at the home of a friend, he 'saw too many wheels" according to testimony of Sergeant Feeney. and the sedan crashed into car owned by Bertha A. Guenther of Columbia street, which was park ed in front of 53s Stanley street un- der an electric light. The parked car was on the west side of the street facing south and the impact moved it ahead about 30 feet and damaged 1t considerably. Miezlies- kas' car was also damaged and Jea- tin Gaidimanskas of IF Dwight street, who was with Miezlieskas, suffered cuts about the head and face. He was treated in a nearby drug store. after which he went home.
 Frank A. Johnson of 30 Columbia street. who was in charge of the parked car, heard the crash and ran out of house in time to see Miez- lteskas at the wheel. according to the police report. Sergeant Feeney , reported that Miezlieskas was under the influence of liquor and unfit to operate a car.
 Judge W. F. Mangan. who ap- peared for Miezlieskas. pointed out that 1t was not case of joy riding and deliberate intoxication but one in which the driver had indulged in too much wine at the home of a friend. A point in Miezlieskas' fav- or was his honesty Judge Mangan said. as he admitted that he had been at the wheel when the crash occurred and he made no attempt to escape punishment.