New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1929-03-12

with relation to the lottery law and
the chief answered affirmative!y
Asked whether or not Gardiner ever
complained to him about the sale q
lottery tickets in New Britain. the
chief replied negatively.
Attorney Casale asked the chief
if he knew A. J. Muller of Elm Hill
and the chief replied affirmatively.
How long," the attorney asked.
Twenty years l should say" the
chief answered.
Did you visit at his home occa-
sionally?" the attorney asked and
Mr.. Gaffney objected but Judge
Wolfe allowed the question. The
chief answered that he had visited
at Muller's home.
Asked if he or amy member of
his family owned seashore property
the chief replied negatively. He said
he and Muller had occupied cot
tage jointly at the shore one sum-
mer. Asked il he and Muller were
associated in the automobile BUSH
ness in New Britain the chief re-
piled negatively. Attorney Casale
said he had Mr.. Vance OF the New
Britain Herald under subpoena and
expected him momentarily. He want
ed certain newspaper articles identi-
fed and asked permission to recall
Chief Hart later. With this under
standing, the chief was excused.
| Mrs. Anna Hart. wife of the chief,
testified that the publication of the
newspaper article made the chief
angry and upset him. He worried
and did not sleep well. she said. In
reply to Mr.. Gaffney. she said she
was not in the bootlegging business
At this point recess was taken until
| , p. m.
Herald Men Called
After recess. Attorney CaSale
called to the witness stand J. W
Roche, New Britain Herald re-
porter and had him identify clip
ping from the New Britain Herald
under the date of February ~, 1928.
The clipping per lined to an inter-
view with Chief Hart after a con-
ference between Gardiner and the
board OF police commissioners and
in the interview Chief Hart made
the statement that Gardiner was
crazy. Mr.. Roche testified that he
wrote The story and it was to tho
best of his knowledge, an accurate
account of what happened.
tombstone Vance, publisher Of the
New Britain Herald, was next called
by Attorney Casalc and identified
the newspaper story.
Gardner Tcstifics
Gardiner took the stand next and
said he was 81 years old and lived at
4 Connecticut avenue, New Britain.
Now you arc charged with uttering
a malicious libel against Chief Hart.
First Of all are you acquainted with
former Chairman Pajewski?" asked
Attorney Casale. Gardiner replied
th&t he was acquainted with Pa
jewski Mr.. Gaffney objected to sew
era. questions asked by Attorney
Casale and finally Judge Wolfe told
Attorney Casale that the defense he
had made up to this time was not
admissible. Attorney Casale re-
piled that he was attempting to
show that Gardiner acted in good
faith and therefore in order to show
that such was the case, it was nee
cssary for him 10 80 into the source
the the Information which came to
Gardiner. At press I lie Gardiner
was still on the witness stand.
says Grabeck Gave Information
Gardiner caused a sensation in
court when he testified that Officer
William Grabeck told him in June.
1927, that Andrew Muller Of Elm
Hill was bootlegger and Chief
Hart and Sergeants McCue. McAvay,
E'eeney and Officer Dolan were in
league with him. Officer Grabeck
also told him. he said, that Officer
James Sullivan was the collector of
protection money for the police and
that il he ever got in trouble and
had to go before the board of police
commissioners on any charge he
would squeal on the chief and all
the others.
Gardiner said further that Ora
beck told him that he had informa :
ton about liquor law violations in
house on Lasalle street and when
he turned it in to Chief Hart the
chief told him to mind his own
damn business" Officer Grabcck
!, also told him, he said, that a gang
, of hi-jackers were tipped off by po-
lice in time to make a successful
getaway with valuable cargo OF
liquor stolen out of the cellar OF
Joseph Maloszkas home at % Lin
coin street.
Brings in Stadler's Name
Gardiner further testified that
Sergeant John &. Stadler met him
on North street in New Britain April
80, 1927 and told him that Andrew
Muller of Elm Hill was = bootleggeI
and solicited orders for liquor from
, fraternal organizations in New Brit
ain collecting the money and having
deliveries made by a Hartford man.
Gardiner said that Stadler told
him he had watched Muller's home
for "A nights without being assign
q cd.
He said he Id the registration
g number of the Hartford car in which
the liquor deliveries were made and
he promised 20 turn it over to
Gardiner.