New Britain herald., 1929-07-12
FAMILY BATTLES
 ECHOED IN COURT
Two Domestic Arguments Are
 Ended With Violence

Judge M. D. Sake in police court today heard the details of a family fight which was staged last night at 176 Steele street, and a similar dis turbance in the O'Brien home at S97 East street, neither affair being very serious in the opinion of the court.
 Ebbie Johnson, 2S, of 176 Steele street, pleaded not guilty to the charge of assault on Joseph Johnson and was represented by Attorney Monroe $. Gordon.
 Joseph Johnson testified that Eb- bic punched him and cut his upper lip last evening following an argu- ment between Ebbie and Josephs wife about the latter's children go- ing into the cellar.
 Cross examined by Attorney Cor don, Joseph denied that he called Ebbie names or raised his hand to strike him before being assaulted.
 Mrs. Joseph Johnson testified that her son was making a tent in the back yard and went into the cellar to get a shovel. Her brother, Ebbie, asked the boy if he had broken the cellar door lock to get the shovel and an argument between her and her brother ensued. T called my two brothers suckers and my husband said Yes, they are and then my brother went onto the veranda and struck my husband,' Mrs. Johnson said. T went between them and tried to keep my brother away from my husband and l fainted when l saw my husband bleeding"
 Mrs. Ebbie Johnson testified that Joseph Johnson called her and her husbands mother vile names, and her husband was provoked to the point of fury. It was not the first time such an occurrence had taken place put her husband declared it would be the last time. she said.
 Evelyn Cormier. a niece of the Johnsons, testified that Joseph used vile language towards Ebbie's wife and mother, provoking the assault
 Ebbie testified that he spoke to Joseph and his wife about their boys action in going into the eel lar but they upheld the boy. Mrs. Joseph Johnson told him there was nothing valuable in the cellar any way and it would be a different mat ter if there was booze stored theIA Her husband when spoken to about it, abused him, using vile language towards his wife and his mother. lie struck Joseph in the mouth once and was surprised when the blood began to flow There must have been a tooth protruding to cut him that way" he said.
 Attorney Gordon asked that judg- ment be suspended in view of the provocation which he said, was great. Assistant Prosecuting Attor- ney w. NJ. Greenstein replied that he would offer no objection if there actually had been provocation but from his viewpoint it was disgrace full episode of which the parties did not have the decency to adjust their differences themselves, he said, and the evidence clearly showed Eb- bic to be the aggressor throughout.
 Judge Sake said he was satisfied that language more offensive than sucker was used but Ebbie had no right to assault Joseph. He imposed a fine of $1O without costs.
 Tries to Take Fathers Auto Key
 John O'Brien, 28, of S97 East street pleaded guilty to the charge of breach of the peace and not guilty to the charge of drunkenness. Off, cer L. F. Harper testified that he and Officer Fred Wagner went to the O'Brien home about o'clock yesterday afternoon in response to neighbours complaint, and found O'Brien intoxicated and hiding under a couch in the dining room. His father, Terence O'Brien, told them he had refused John the key to his automobile and the son had tried to take it from him. The pockets of the fathers trousers were torn in the scuffle.
 The father testified that Johns wife was taken to the hospital few days ago for treatment for rheuma- tism, and John wanted the key to the automobile. which is new, and he would not allow him to have it, so John told him he would not go to work. John, the father said, has been doing well for several months but he does not want him about the house again, on account of yester- days disturbance.
 John admitted having had two drinks but he has steady employ ment and asked for another chance. His wife is ill and he has insurance money to pay soon, he said. He be- came angry at his fathers refusal to let him take the car because he wanted to drive his boy to the home of a, relative Tuesday and at that time he was not intoxicated, not having taken drink until yesterday.
 Judge Saxe reminded O'Brien that In January he imposed a suspended commitment to the state farm and he warned him that he was being given his last chance. He continued him on probation for so days and if he is convicted of any offense in the meantime, he will be sent to the farm.
 Ordered to Support Family
 Louis Neubauer, 36, of 91 Putnam street, was charged with non-sup-