New Britain herald., 1928-11-21
John Tesiler Champions Helen Hayes Pratt But Andrew Tesiler Gives Him Thrashing.

Whether John Tesiler of 1s6 Hart lord avenue volunteered to beat up his brother. Andrew, to prove to his Mrs. Helen Hayes Pratt, that he was at all times ready and to defend her from insult, pr assumed the role of her protector at her demand. was in dispute in police court today when John and Mira Pratt were arraigned on charges of breach of the peace and assaulttnE Andrew. Whatever the were that led up to the attack. John readily admitted that Andrew met him at his own game and thrashed him. Judge Roche fined John and Mrs. Pratt $10 and costs each and imposed 2 suspended jail sentence of 10 days on each. warning them that the next exhibition" of the sort they staged last night would be followed by a term in jail
 Known as Douglas Fairbanks"
 Sergeant T. J. Feeney testified that he arrested Tesiler and Mrx Pratt on Main street shortly before II o'clock last night. The former, who is known as Douglas Fair banks" gave his age as 26. while Mrs. Pratt said she was s2 years of age and lived at 125 Clark street. She pleaded not guilty and Tesiler pleaded guilty. and after the ser- geant testified that he was at the Tesiler .home shortly before 10 o'clock on complaint of the mother of John and Andrew, the latter took the witness stand and testified that Mrs. Pratt came to the Tesiler tene- ment looking for John. He told her to leave the premises as she was not welcome, but she refused to go and later his brother upbraided him for his actions towards her, and chal- lenged him to a fight. They lad the fight and Mrs. Pratt took John 5 part. fastening her fingers in An drew's hair until Mrs. Tesiler put a stop to the racket.
 Mrs. Pratt testified that she had an appointment with Tesiler. to whom she referred as Jack" and when she went after him. Andrew ordered her out of the building, she having stopped on the second floor landing of the stairs and called to the third floor tenement occupied by the Tesilers. She refused to leave telling Andrew she came to see hts brother. whereupon he attempted to eject her and choked her.
 Jack Threatens Reprisal
 She met Jack" later and told him what had happened. Come on back with me-" she quoted him as saying. "I'll beat him up. I'll show you what I'll do for you" He took her by the arm and compelled her to return and view the slaughter. she said and after the battle she and "Jack" went to a Main street restaurant, being arrested outside the place a little later.
 Jack" testified that he and Mrs Pratt had been in Hartford and he left her after they reached New Britain. "She has an appointment with friend" he explained. "l leave her to go home and later on she comes running up to me on the street all out of breath and tells me my brother Andrew beat her up and choked her. She wants me to give him beating. We'll. I'm going with her for five years, so naturally l have some feeling for her. so call Andrew out and ask him what's the idea. He says he did not choke her and I tell him he must have or she would not say 80. We go to it and we're having it out in the road and he has me down three or four times You know. he's an iron worker and a pretty tough kid, even though he is small, and finally Helen Prat, comes over and kicks him off me and I get up and we go down street and have a cup of coffee. and ther we have another cup of coffee and we're standing outside when we're placed under arrest"
 Questioned by Assistant Prescott. ing Attorney Greenstein. Tesiler ad mitted that he has not worked stead. fly for some time. He operated ar elevator in the Commercial Trus, Company building for week before he was told his services were no wanted any longer, and at presen he is employed by magazine agent he said.
 The mother of the Tesilers testi fled that Mrs. Pratt had come aftel John and Andrew told her to leave Andrew did not choke her, accord ing to Mrs. Tesiler.
 Left to Fate in Cell
 After court. Mrs. Pratt paid he fine. leaving Tesiler to his fate. H. tried to have some one take hi overcoat to a pawnshop and rais enough to meet the fine and costs and failing in this. he made tear full appeal to Judge Roche to b' placed on probation. Arrangement
 were made to place him i'll charg of the probation officer should he b.
 unable to make payment.