New Britain herald., 1929-01-22
NO Discrimination
IN LIQUOR CASES
Greenstein to Press Charge
Against All Principals

RgdluSl All rlluClM
Striking out against the practice
of fixing" cases of liquor law vio-
lation by permitting the principal
to plead guilty while the others 60
free Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
w. NJ. Greenstein declared in police
court today that it is time its dis
continuance was ordered and If he
can bring it about. there will be an
immediate cessation of this method
of handling such cases. He quoted
the statute which fixes the guilt OF
accessories as being equal to that
of principals and said 1t should be
followed out in order that justice
might be meted out by preventing
the successful use of subterfuge
under which one or more guilty per-
sons escape punishment while one
takes the responsibility and stands
for the penalty.
The declaration by the assistant
prosecuting attorney came with std
denness during the trial Of Joseph
Chanda, 81, of 1872 Allen street;
Frank Leganza, %. of 1872 Farming
ton avenue and stephen Marinesak.
%, OF 100 McClintock street, who
pleaded not guilty to the charge Of
violation Of the liquor law in .
smoke shop at 1Ss Washington
street. Judge F. B. Hungerford. who
was on the bench because Of Judge
NJ. D. SAKE having a pressing engage
ment elsewhere. found the trio guilty
and imposed fine Of 5000 and costs
on Marinesak and $3.50 and costs
each on Chanda and Leganza. They
appealed to superior court and bonds
of $500 each were fixed in the cases
of Chanda and Leganza, and $500 In
the case of Marinesak.
Judge Hungerford remarked that
Marinesak was the owner Of the
business according to the evidence
and for that reason he made the fine
more severe than in the cases Of
Chanda and Leganza. who were ac-
cessories to the offense. His attention
was called by Mr.. Greenstein to the
fact that Chanda was a second Of
fender against the liquor law. but he
replied that he would let the $l1,
fine stand nevertheless.
Policeman Held
Sergeant O'Mara testified that the
raid was made on January 5 shortly
after p. m. Marinesak WAS in the
front of the store and held Officer
Kelly but Sergeant O'Mara rushed
past and made for the rear part Of
the store. Leganza got there first
and smashed bottle while Chaida
braced himself in the doorway lead
ing to the toilet room and prevent
Picking up the pieces of the bot
tie, Sergeant O'Mara saved them and
recovered a glass which had traces
OF liquor in IT. He handed Officer
Kelly the glass to have him smell
Of it and Marinesak knocked 1t out
of the officers hand and broke IT.
Going into the cellar. the sergeant
found four pint bottles filled with
liquor secreted between the joists
and the ceiling and covered with
plaster board.
Cries Dump IT.
Tn the store were dozen or Is
men, some Of whom are known AZ
drinkers, the sergeant said. The cry
Dump it, dump it," went up from
Marinesak and Chanda as the police
rushed in and Leganza. who had a
bottle of liquor on his person. barely
had time to smash it. But for Chan.
da's successful blocking of the en-.
trance to the toilet room, Sergeant
O'Mara would have had chance Il
prevent the smashing Of the bottle
according to the testimony.
Cross examined by Attorney 3. J
Monkiewicz, the sergeant said tht
cellar where the four pints were
found appeared to be accessible Il
anyone who cared to enter. He un,
| derstood that man named Coccomt
owns the building In which the store
| is situated. Attorney Monkiewici
asked if it was true that Coccomt
/ has a police record and Mr.. Green
stein objected. saying it made no diff
| ference if Coccomo was a murder
! cr.
| Attorney Monkiewicz asked Ser
geant D'Mara if the Burritt A. c
was next door and if it was not ,
| fact that number of men go il
and out of the ciubroom. Yes" tn
sergeant replied. But they're n
good boys l know most of then
personally"
Questioned as to the ownership .
the smoke shop. Sergeant OMAR
said Marinesak told him a shor
! time ago that the place was his. H.
has seen Leganya Chando and Mar
inesak looking through the froa
window several times.
Watched Place several Weeks
Officer Kiely testified to his par
in the raid and his observations o
the place for the past several weeks
Chanda and Leganya we're formerl
connected with store at 122 La
fayctte street, the officer said. TIL
| present store is the rendezvous 70
a crowd of drinking men and it ha
the reputation in the neighborhoo'
for the sale of liquor.
| Officer Liebier testified that h
and Officer Kelly have been in tn
store a number of times. A ma
known as Joe" threw a bolt bacl