New Britain herald., 1930-04-09
Charles Holcomb of 90 Commonwealth Avenue, Who Pointed Revolver at Store Keeper Who Re fused to Allow Use of Telephone, in Police Court.

Guns and liquor don't mix very we'll" Judge Stanley J. Traceski ob served in police court today as he imposed a Jail sentence of 50 days and a fine of s100 and costs in the case Of Charles Holcomb, A, of 90 Commonwealth avenue on the charge of breach of the peace, and suspended judgment on the charge of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. Notice Of appeal to superior court was given and bonds were fixed at sl,000.
 Holcomb was arrested last Satur- day night by Officers Peter C.. Cabelus and Henry zajkowski on complaint of Stanley Ostrowski, pro- prietor of a store at S66 Farming ton avenue, who accused Holcomb of having pointed a revolver at him when he refused to telephone to the fire department that there was a forest fire raging nearby. Attorney Thomas F. McDonough appeared for him and contended that the circum- stances were not those of the typical case of carrying concealed weapons and in his judgment if the superior court had the case to dispose of nothing more severe than a $25 fine would be imposed.
 After Chief Hart had testified that Holcomb had no permit to carry q pistol, and the arresting officers had told their story. Ostrowski testified that he was outside his store about 6:30 o'clock when Holcomb came along and demanded that he cal the fire department. Ostrowski could not see a fire SO he refused tc make the call, whereupon Holcomt pointed a pistol at him and de clared: If you don't make the call I'll give you a call" Ostrowski ther went into the store and called tht police, but before they arrived Hol comb had run away.
 Heard Threat to Shoot
 Henry skonlecny of s9 Lymar street and Michael kulas of I: Grove street testified that they wit messed the incident and both dem onstrated the manner in which tn, pistol was wielded. Skoniecny heart Holcomb threaten to shoot Ostrow ski and also observed that had thu pistol been fired. the bullets woult have struck Ostrowski's feet. judg ing by the position in which it wa aimed. Ostrowski. however, dem onstrated the holding of the pistol il a much higher position. QuestioneC by Attorney McDonough as t' whether or not he had looked di rectly into the muzzle, Ostrowski re replied by asking him: why shoul' I look into it? So I'd be sure to ge shot in the eye?"
 Holcomb testified that he was a home when he received a telephon report that his wood land was ol fire and he grabbed an old coat an' hat and rushed out into the yard where he found broom and hurrie' to fight the fire. He has guffere, losses by forest fires in the past, h said, and this particular blaz wiped out 40 acres and caused hin a s1,ooo loss.
 Denies Intent to Threaten
 On the way to the fire he say Ostrowski standing outside tn store and pointing his finger at him he ordered him to telephone the fir department. The flames then Ter leaping high in the air. he said. Hi coat being open, he suddenly fel something strike him in the leg an he looked down to see the pisto hanging out of a pocket. Until thel he had not been aware that he wa carrying it and without the slightes intention of pointing it at anyon he Tipped it out and put it bacl again.
 Continuing along towards the fire he decided to get rid of the pistol, a it would not be of any assistance t him in fighting the blaze, and so h left 1t at his mothers home. Hol comb explained that it was loade, with scatter shot capable of killin, a rabbit at a distance of 9 feet. II admitted that he had two drink Saturday morning, but the polio noticed that he was almost undc the influence of liquor.
 Prosecuting Attorney Woods call cd the courts attention to the pro visions of the statute on breach o the peace. under which d si months jail sentence could be i'm posed, but made no recommenda tion in the matter. while Attornc McDonough made tho point tha Holcomb had an excellent recor, and was not the type of man Nh would go about threatening other with firearms. The circumstances un der which he was armed last Satur torney said, as 1t was the mos natural thing for q person 10 ru when notified of fire, and if he hap pened to find a pistol in his pocke several minutes later he should no be convicted as q carrier of con cea1ed weapons.
 Judge Traceski remarked tha Holcomb's side Of the case had bee very well presented. but nothing ha been said in Ostrowski's interest: He recalled the circumstances sur rounding the incident and held tha It was a serious occurrence, the fac that Holcomb had been drinking ag gravating it rather than going 10 wards mitigation.