Oasis At Brooklyn (1921)

WHEELER, RICHMAN, FRY, CAMPBELL

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 8/12/2010 at 08:41:51

The Herald (Grinnell, Iowa) Jan. 21, 1921

OASIS AT BROOKLYN

Booze Distilled for Benefit of Thirsty Bear Creek Denizens

Not a mirage but a chain of circumstances led to the discovery that an oasis existed in the heart of Brooklyn. A young man named Glenn Wheeler of Carnforth applied at the W.H. Richman house for a room for the night, saying that he wished to leave early the next morning and left a call for the early train. The call was made all right but the young man had evidently forgotten his hurry and stayed in bed till about noon when he arose and "faded" for the remainder of the day.

While cleaning the room the next day Miss Fry noticed the odor of whiskey which she traced to a couple of heavy suitcases that Wheeler had left in the room. Officers were called and the cases were found to contain six quart bottles and three pint bottles filled with what smelled like whiskey and had the appearance of the home distilled wash that is said to be in demand of late. Officer Dunn and a corps of assistants were placed on watch to apprehend Wheeler on his return.

In the early part of the night before the return of Wheeler, a party was heard in the room and proved to be J.W. Campbell who has been here for several days. Mr. Campbell as placed under arrest but protested that he was in the room with Wheeler's permission.

Later Wheeler returned but succeeded in making his escape before officers arrived on the scene. Campbell's trial was set for yesterday but was postponed to give him time to get in touch with Wheeler to prove his innocence of any unworthy purpose in being in the room. In the meantime the two suitcases are under protection of the law and carefully kept from permitting the contents to come in contact with any arid throats that may be yearning for such acquaintance.--Brooklyn Chronicle.