New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1929-01-09
Called IN DEFENSE,
CONVICTS HIS BOSS
Daunis Fined S100 When Work.
er T@dhes to Drinking

-. sake III pOllce court tUudS, Tue
charges being driving while under
the influence Of liquor and evading
responsibility after an accident. A
finding OF guilty was made on both
counts and fine Of 800 and costs
imposed In addition TO suspended
Jail sentence of Is days on the first.
while judgment WAS suspended on
the second. Judge SAKE remarhing
that Daunis was a first offender. An
appeal TO superior court was taken
in $500 bonds, through Attorney
Thomas J. Cabclus.
Officer Clarence kumm testified
that Officer Hanford Dart and John
A. Erickson of Erickson & Carlson
called him about HES a. III, on
Dec. - while he was on Franklin
Square, 4 showed him damage that
had been lore 10 Erickson's automo-
bile while it was parked in front OF
the First Lutheran church. The left
front fender and wheel showed
marks OF having been struck and the
right wheels were forced over the
curb. A piece of d running board
about a foot in length and ragged at
the ends was turned over to him by
Erickson who also gave him the re-
gistration number of the truck which
was said to have struck the parked
car.
Found Behind Drivers Wheel
Going to the police station, the
officer learned that the truck was
registered in Daunis' name, and he
and Sergeant p. J. O. Mara went at
once to Daunis' bakery on East Main
street. Approx: ately Is minutes
elapsed between the time Officer
kumm reached the scene of the acct
dent and his arrival on East Main
street, and Daunis, who was sitting
behind the drivers wheel of the
truck in the rear of the bakery was
under the influence of liquor. His
speech was not normal and there was
an odor of liquor from his breath,
the officer said. At first he disclaim-
ed knowledge of having been in an
accident but later he admitted it, the
officer said.
Attorney Cabelus cross examined
Officer kumm as to Daunis' condi-
ton. The officer classified him as
being under the influence of liquor
and the attorney wanted to know
if he actually was rot very drunk"
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney w.
NJ. Greenstein asked the officer about
the piece of running board and
learned that II fit into Daunis' truck
perfectly. Attorney Cabelus insisted
on knowing whether or not it was
possible for a piece of running board
to be knocked from another truck
and yet fit into the one in question
and the officer said he was positive
that no other piece OF wood could
be knocked out Of a running board
or other board and yet fit perfectly
into Daunis' truck.
Woman Notes Number ..E
Mrs. Julia Oberg OF PA Rassctt
street testified that she witnessed
the collision and the driver of the
truck did not stop. She caught the
number and turned it over to Mr..
Erickson. The truck veered from
the right to the left and back to the
right after striking the car, she
said, and the driver peercd out but
continued on his way. There was no.
body in the parked car nor was
there anyone close to it at the time.
Sergeant O'Mara told of inter-
viewing Daunis. who was sick at the
drivers wheel. He admitted having
had "a couple of glasses Of beer"
and claimed to have stopped after
the collision and fixed everything
up" He was not intoxicated. the
sergeant said, but he was under the
influence OF liquor and unfit to drive
and asked the sergeant mot to go
hard" with him.
After Mr. Erickson testified that
nobody had notified him of the &C
cident or offered to settle for tn"
damage until later in the day. DR..
Moses kupelian was called aud ties
titled that he saw Daunis at police
headquarters about 1916 O'Clock
and found him under the influence
OF liquor. Attorney Cabelus wanted to
know how long after drinking pres
ent day liquor a person would b."
that it depended on the strength
and quantity of the liquor and the
condition of the drinkers constitu-
| ton. Asked as TO the time required
| to sober up" DR.. kupelian said
that depended on the same condi-
tons enumerated.
Doctor "Kid.icl" Lawyer
ibid you not tell me that Daunis
was drunk from head TO foot" At
torney Cabelus asked.
"Ycs, but you were kidding me
so l was kidding you back" DR..
kupclian replied.
Attorney Cabelus moved for a
discharge on the ground that the
state had not proven the charge OF
driving under the influence Of Ii
quor. and Judge SAKE denied the mo-
ton.
Daunis was called to the stand
and admitted that he knew his truck
struck the parked car. 1t Was nc
ccssary to back away from 1t. which
he did. and not seeing anyone i'll or
near it and observing that only slight
damage had been done, he noted the
number and drove on. He stopped at
the New England Auto works on
| East Main street and ordered Jacob
Gordcs to so to Franklin Square and
repair a fender. He gave Gordes the
number OF the car. and then went to
met -four salesman with whom he
had a few drinks of liquor and hot
wine. the salesman advising him that
it would cure his cold. 1t affected
his stomach. however, and he went