The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-04-29

A1t8E 20 WNEOALtuu3p AMBITIOUS hearing on city court today. made serious by charges and counter charges of ''racketeering," Joseph Lasalle, SC, oe the Strand hotel, was found guilty of having as- saulted Guido Petrozzio of Oak vile, otherwise known as the "Wal- loping Wop." . former prize fight CT, with a blackjack last Sunday morning. Judge John F. McGrath imposed Q fine of $50 and costs. with Isasalle announcing immedi- ately his intention of taking an ap- peal to the court of common pleas.
 The "racketeeFing" charges were exchanged by the "Walloping Wop," the accused Lasalle and the latter's brother, Thomas Lasalle, who advanced from the spectators portion of the courtroom to the witness stand in protest after the prize fighter had brought his name into the case.
 Blackjack Used
 Appearing in court with plaster covering an eEg-sixe bump on his head. Petroxzio, who was well known in state fighting circles a few years ago, declared that La- salle had attacked him with the blackjack at the East Main street hotel on Easter Sunday morning. Petrozzio suffered a brain concus- sion, he claimed today.
 The hearing was enlivened by frequent interruptions on the part of the lighter, by his fervent claims of being Q perfect gentleman at all times and by exchanges of such mild but sincere epithets as House" snake" and "rat" by almost all concerned in the case.
 Petroxzio took the stand first to describe vividly, with gestures, the trouble last Sunday which led to the alleged assault. He and Q girl companion, he began in em0tion- dripping tones, were leaving the hotel when Lasalle struck the girl and then kicked her.
 "I," said the "Walloping Wop" with great fervor. "could not stand for that so I told him to leave her alone and pushed him away. Then he went to his room where he keeps a blackjack, which everybody knows Is there on account of they having seen 1t and they can tell you that he kept 1t there, and then he comes down two flights of stairs and gets me with the blackjack which everybody knows he always keep in his room."
 Page Mir Friend
 nnI~Avvio na,,ood for hraafh Qf- ter that recital, and went on: "He flew at me, judge, your honor. He just flew at me. And one of his own friends can tell you he met him right after and he told him he was afraid he'd killed me. And that friend is sitting right here in this courthouse"
 Judge McGrath suggested that the friend" be called and he came to the stand, turning out to be one Frank DiBiase. DiBiase con- fessed complete ignorance of what Petrozzio was talking about.
 The "Walloping Wop" who was on the edgeof his chair, rose up in indignation to cry dramatically: "Why don't you tell the truth That's all we want Is the truth. With a wave of his arms that would have been a credit to one of the wronged screen heroes of the Francis x. Bushman era. Petrozzio gathered in his coat and sat down, only to pop up again immediately.
 Four Out of Five
 ''I've got witnesses, judge, who saw this blackjack in his room. I've got witnesses, five of them."
 "Just get four of them." com mented Judge McGrath. "That'll be enough"
 Lasalle gave a sweeping denial of the prize fighters charges, claim ing that the "Walloping Wop" had chased him all over the hotel, and that finally in self-defense he had to hit him. The weapon, he said, was a hairbrush, at which Petroz- zio fingered tenderly the bump on his head. "Huh," stage whispered Petrozzio, "how about 8 powder puff?"
 Attorney Joseph Guilfoile, coun- sel for Lasalle, related that La- salle and the "Walloping Wop" were friends of long standing, and