New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-07-18
POLICE BREAK UP
STRIP POKER GAME
Find Men and Women in TeDe.
ment Partly Clothed


men had listened in an alleyway
outside to conversation around
table at which strip poker was
being played. the language that
came to their ears being the most
indecent l have heard in a long
time" according to Sergeant John
c. Stadler, and filthy" according to
Officer Cornelius keough, When
the sergeant and Officers keough,
James NJ. McCue, Maurice Flynn
and Louis F, Harper raided the
tenement. they found two women
intoxicated and almost nude. while
the three men were in various states
of his dishahille Two empty bottles
which smelled of alcohol and some
empty ginger ale bottles were found
with a pack of cards used in the
game.
All Fined in Court
Judge NJ. D. SAKE in police court
TODAY heard the details of the case
while the court room Uttered. John
Kiley, aged 43, of $50 Main street,
Warren E. Philips, aged IS, of $50
Blue Hills avenue. Hartford and Jo-
seph j. Mclaughlin, alias George
Kelly. aged 50. of "a Flower street.
Hartford. were found guilty of the
charge of frequently a dlsorderly
house and each was fined $50 ana
costs Mrs. Minnie Smith, aged a.
charge of frequenting dlsorderlN
house. was fined SIS and costs. while
Mrs. Louise Miller. aged 80. OF IL
Charter Oak Place. Hartford and
Mrs. Nellie Damforth. aged A.. OF
lSa Noble avenue, Bridgeport, We're
each fined $40 and costs on charges
OF drunkenness AMI frequentlng,
Prosecuting Attorney J. G. Woods
asked that Mrs. Smith be sent to
iall. This is probabl one OF the
most dissraceful cases TO come INTO
this court in some years, he de-
clared. These people Haunted their
degeneracy, their filth, their llcen-
t.ousness right in the heart OF the
city. Their morals are so low they
are not fit to associate with decent
neople. This Smith woman sur
rounded herself by these other lloer-
tines, making her home a rendez-
yous. A fine state of affairs for New
Britain"
Judge SAKE, however, said he
viewed it as an isolated case, a1ter
Sergeant Stadler on being recalled 10
the witness stand. said in reply to
questions, that he knew nothing OF
the reputation of the tenement prior
TO this morning. Judg SAKE remark
ed that none of those arrested could
and anything about their actions to
be proud of.
One Bets Shirt, Other Bets Pants
The police learned of the poker
game about 1870 o'clock when Of-
ficer McCue saw few men on the
street near the building, listening
He Joined them and heard woman
saw: "I'll bet my shirt to which
man answered: III bet my pants
The officer called Officer Keough
who listened for few minutes ane
then Sergeant Stadler was summon
ed. There were several men listen
ing when the sergeant arrived snort
~ after 1885 o'clock. and occupants
of the adjoining tenement bloch
were leaning out of the windows
listening to the revelry. Sergeant
Stadler waited until he heard
woman declare that she held foul
aces and would not remove her last
article OF wearing apparel. while
man insisted that he held roya
flush, beating four aces and insisting
that the woman pay according t.
the rules of the game.
Found Partly Clad
Entering the tenement which II
on the floor above the stores on thu
ground floor. Sergeant Stadler ant
Officers Flynn. Harper. keough ane
McCue found Mrs. Miller sitting
away from the card table with
single article of underclothlng on
and one of the men, partially cloth
ed, beside her. while Mrs. Dam
forth. also scantily attired. was sit
ting nearby, with her feet hangln'
over the arm OF a chair. and one o
the men near her. Both women. &C
cording to the police, were lntoxl
Gated. Mrs. Smith. wearing XII
mono, was walking from one room
into another.
Asked by Prosecuting Attorne,
Woods to explain the meaning of thu
term strip poker Sergeant stad
Ter said it was a game played b!
men and women who used thel
clothing for chips or money, tn
loser after each hand removing Their
wearing apparel piece by piece un
III someone is nude. In this case, thu
women had difficulty rounding VI
their clothing. the sergeant SAID
about the room.
Mrs Miller testified that sh
reached the Smith tenement at a:3
last night, for a visit. She playe'
cards, she admitted. but added tina
she did not know anything abou
cards" She saw nothing OF dis
orderly nature in the actions of any
one in the party. Mrs. Damtort'
denied emphatically the testinon
of the police concerning the attire o
the card players. 81 had all M
clothes on and ! was not drunk,
she declared. Il don't know one car
from another. and anyone "h
knows me knows | don't drink t
which Mr. Woods rejoined; "No
mean YOU don't drink water
All "Rr>mctablc People"
Mrs. Smith wanted 1t understood
that she keep an orderly house an
entortains only Respectable people.
Questioned by Mr.. Woods as to tn