Iowa Old Press
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott co. Iowa
July 2, 1922
Agassiz Association - from "A True History
of Scott County" by Aug. P. Richter
The Davenport Chapter 158 of the Agassiz Association, for the
study of and research work in natural science, had been organized
early in 1885 by E.K. Putnam, A.L. Hageboack, H.L. Koehler, E.B.
Sanders, Carl A. Hamann, Dr. P. Radenhausen and others. Davenport
was noted in the scientific circles of the country, on account of
the Academy of Sciences and its energetic members. The city was
selected host for the second general convention of the Agassiz
Association of the United States, which met here August 25, 1886.
The meeting was preceded on the previous day by the first session
of the Agassiz assembly of Iowa.
[transcribed by S.F., January 2012]
-----
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
July 4, 1922
TWO STILLS, LIQUOR AND MASH SEIZED IN RAID ON
OUTSKIRTS
Two complete stills, one in
operation, 370 gallons of grain mash and two gallons of moonshine
whiskey were seized by police and federal agent R.E. Muhs in a
raid on George Youngen's shack, 400 block East Thirty-second
street, early this morning. Youngen was arrested.
Ten five-gallon jugs, three 3-gallon
jugs and 18 gin bottles were destroyed by Muhs, Lieut. Homeyer
and Officers Dietz and Kuehl.
When the officers entered the shack,
they found a still merrily bubbling away, and booze producing
apparatus lying near, Youngen, who lives on the Dubuque road,
could not be found.
After destroying the bottles and jugs,
the raiding officers left, but Officer McDonald was detailed to
watch the shack. Shortly before 2:30 o'clock Youngen arrived, and
was promptly arrested.
Two roomers in Youngen's place were
questioned during the raid, but investigation showed that they
had nothing to do with the manufacture of the booze. Police
believe that Youngen used the shack purely as a factory.
The man is now in jail pending his
hearing before U.S. Commissioner A.G. Bush, probably tomorrow.
[transcribed by C.J.L., July 2005]
-----
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
July 6, 1922
BANDITS HOLD UP HOLLYWOOD INN AT NAHANT
Watch and $55 Cash Taken from Man in Charge this Morning.
"Hands up!"
This was the order given Joe Mellott in charge
of the Hollywood Inn, Nahant, by two bandits who accosted him
with revolvers as he was closing up the place at 1:30 o'clock
this morning. When Mellott complied with the order, the bandits
"frisked" him, obtaining a gold watch and $55 in cash.
Then they made a hasty search thru the inn and departed in an
automobile.
The two bandits entered thru a side door.
Mellott identified one of the men as "Blackie" Hilbert,
one of the bandit gang captured in a police round-up here some
time ago, and the other as a man named Jonesey.
A call to the Davenport police station started
officers on a quest for the hold up men. Four men, Tommy Hines,
Martin King, Gilbert McTurk and Robert McGrath were arrested as
suspects. and are being held for investigation. A five-passenger
automobile supposed to belong to McTurk, is also being held.
The suspects were arrested in an alley west of
Harrison street between Fifth and Sixth streets. McTurk admitted
that he, Ray Donahoe, Tommy Hines, Martin King and another man
went down to Nahant, but denied any implication in the hold-up.
He stated that he was out of his car three or four hours, and
that it might have been used in the hold-up.
Officer Gene Cueroast reported that a five
passenger car containing five men came east on Fifteenth street
shortly after the robbery and that it was being driven at a high
rate of speed. The officer's orders to stop went unheeded.
Sheriff William Brehmer paid a visit to the
Hollywood Inn this morning, but did not succeed in obtaining any
information concerning the hold-up.
[transcribed by C.J.L., July 2005]
-----
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
July 7, 1922
ANALYSIS OF BOOZE SHOWS 4 PERCENT
So Julius Goettsch Is Bound to Federal Grand Jury
Chemical analysis
of beer taken in a raid on Julius Goettsch's bar at 932 West
Sixth street showed the liquor to contain 4 per cent of alcohol,
so Goettsch was this morning bound over to the federal grand jury
on $500 bonds by United States Commissioner A.G. Bush.
Goettsch plead guilty and waived
examination.
AL LAU BOUND TO GRAND JURY, BOND IS $500.
Al Lau,
frequently suspected of being a bootlegger, will face a federal
judge on a booze charge for the first time at the October term of
court.
United States Commissioner A.G. Bush
bound Lau over to Judge Wade after a hearing at 9 o'clock this
morning. The bonds were set at $500. Lau was arrested on a
possession shortly after the celebrated raid at Linwood.
The only witness examined by
Commissioner Bush was Federal Agent R.E. Muhs who found liquor in
Lau's car.
[transcribed by C.J.L., July 2005]
-----
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
July 13, 1922
GARAGE TAKES CELLAR PLACE; BOOZE SEIZED
Beer and Whisky Taken from Building Owned by J.P. Brown.
The garage
apparently usurped the place of the cellar in the case of J.P.
Brown, 30, 1021 West Third street, who is being held on a liquor
possession charge. Brown's garage was raided by Federal
Prohibition Agent R.E. Muhs, together with Officers Shroeder and
Hanson at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Forty-three dozen bottles of home brew,
95 gallons of beer in fermentation, three 25-gallon crooks, three
ten-gallon crocks, six gallons of alleged moonshine whisky, two
bottle capping machines and a sack full of bottle caps were found
in the garage.
"He tried to keep us away from the
garage." Federal Agent Muhs said this morning, "but he
did not succeed. We found nothing in the house and all liquor
manufacturing was evidently carried on in the garage."
[transcribed by C.J.L., July 2005]
-----
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
July 16, 1922
RAID ON WAREHOUSE NETS 4,200 BOTTLES OF HOME BREW BEER
A six
weeks' investigation of what is believed to be the biggest
brewery in Davenport terminated in a raid on the
"warehouse" at 1911 West Sixteenth street shortly
before 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon.
Four thousand, two hundred bottles of
home brew were seized by Federal Prohibition Agent R.E. Muhs,
assisted by Police Offcers Clark Lamont and D. Rodenbaugh. One of
Ewart & Richter's largest trucks was required to haul the
booze away.
Proprietor Not at Home.
Thomas Clark, 1908 West Fifteenth
street, alleged proprietor of the brewery, was not at home when
the raid was made. His residence across the alley was searched
and a quantity of liquor manufacturing apparatus was found. The
raid squad "spotted" the goods, and returning last
night, removed 3 1/2 boxes of malt extract, 3 1/2 boxes of hops,
nine crocks from 30 to 8 gallon capacity, a wash boiler used to
boil mash, 2 syphon hoses, and a half bushel of bottle caps. A
bottle capper was found in the cellar of the place.
Charged with violating the Eighteenth
Amendment, Clark will probably be arraigned before U.S.
Commissioner A.G. Bush next Monday.
Watched Six Weeks.
"For six weeks I have been watching
Clark's operations," Mr. Muhs stated after the raid.
"He was a tough customer, and every one of his movements was
cautiously made."
"He employed a boy to deliver booze
to local soft drink bars and other places. When the boy delivered
the goods, Clark would walk in and collect the money. Yesterday I
walked into a soft drink bar 15 minutes after Clark had left.
"Clark delivered beer by the
thousand. He was no small fry."
Think Clark "Master Mind"
That the Clark plant was the source of
supply for most of Davenport's bootleg places is the belief of
police who claim that the man was a "higher up" in the
illicit liquor game. His arrest, it is thought, will mark the end
of much booze peddling in this city.
When the raiders entered the warehouse,
which, externally appeared to be an ordinary dwelling house with
curtains at the windows, they found cases of beer piled up to the
ceiling. It required a half hour of hard work on the part of Muhs
and the police to load the beer onto the truck.
Used Only For Booze.
There was little indication that the
warehouse was used as a dwelling house, since the cases of beer
occupied much of the space, altho an upper room of the building
contained no liquor.
A crowd of neighbors stood outside while
the raid was in progress, and many jokes concerning the work in
progress were exchanged.
JOE HALLECK PLACE RAIDED SEIZE STILL
Coil and Wash Boiler Apparatus Taken from Small Distillery
Joe Halleck, 524
Federal street, was "not at home" when Lieutenant
Homeyer and Officers Bishop and Kuehl visited his place and
removed therefrom a 50-gallon still and coil, and a washboiler
cooker Thursday night.
Halleck will be arraigned before United
States Commissioner Bush next week.
The raid followed numerous complaints
that Halleck, who was bound over to the federal grand jury on May
7, was again manufacturing liquor.
[transcribed by C.J.L., July 2005]
-----
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
July 17, 1922
Fairfield, Ia., July 17 - The
September term of the district court which convenes in Fairfield
on Monday, Sept. 11, is already being arranged for. It will be
only a three weeks session and will be presided over by Judge
D.M. Anderson of Albia. There is a possibility that one of the
two remaining charges against W.D. Steckel of Bloomfield will be
tried here at this session altho local officials hope for a
continued postponement of these cases.
In the jury list which was drawn on Saturday
are the names of six women of the county who will have the
privilege of serving if they choose. Heretofore those women who
did not care to serve have been excused and it is expected the
same rule will be exercised this time. Following is the list as
drawn for this term.
R.V. Peebler, Liberty township.
O.N. Barton, Fairfield.
Louis Trabert, Lockridge.
Frank Stever, Des Moines township.
Simon Snyder, Center.
Nellie B. Hague, Fairfield township.
Mrs. C.E. Salts, Center township.
Mrs. Nellie Root, Buchanan township.
W.E. Kenyon, Fairfield township.
E.F. Schaefer, Batavia.
Rus Smithhart, Abingdon.
J.J. Graf, Lockridge.
C.L. Whitmore, Batavia.
Harry Kirkpatrick, Fairfield.
Walter F. Schafer, Penn township.
George Robertson, Fairfield.
E.M. Blough, Fairfield.
Ruth L. Heston, Fairfield.
Ray McWhirter, Cedar township.
M.O. Watts, Liberty township.
John W. Wheatley, Buchanan township.
Lawrence Allender, Lockridge.
J.W. Church, Round Prairie township.
John Berger, Lockridge.
C. Petzinger, Des Moines township.
Mrs. L.L. Fisher, Center township.
Clyde Mesner, Penn township.
Dan Bonnett, Liberty township.
Ray Schaefer, Fairfield.
C.A. Ecklund, Center township.
Carl Bradshaw, Batavia
Mrs. May Neibert, Fairfield.
Burton Linn, Penn township.
F.L. Shuppy, Walnut township.
Albert Wilson, Center township.
E.R. Dallner, Lockridge.
The above named jurors are ordered to appear
ready for duty on Wednesday, Sept. 13, the same being the first
week of the term whereas it is customary to wait until the second
Monday of the term before calling the petit jury for
services.
Radio on Farm
A.L. Coop, of near Perlee, one
of the leading progressive farmers of Jefferson county, is
thought to be the first of the rural residents of the county to
equip his country home with a radio outfit. Mr. Coop has been
interested in wireless for some time and last week concluded he
would have something of the sort himself. He purchased a complete
outfit from the Central Manufacturing company of this city and
had it installed on Friday. Now he is listening in on many
programs and is thoroly [sic] delighted that he is able to sit in
his own home and hear all the wonderful things that he has
already heard from various parts of the country.
This radio machine is better than any of the
modern talking or music machines says this wide awake farmer, for
you don't have to buy records, just catch them in the air. So
enthusiastic is Mr. Coop over the matter that he is already
interesting his neighbors in the wireless mysteries and it is
thought before very long there will be several radio machines or
outfits in the neighborhood.
Obituary.
The funeral of Mrs. Frank Sullivan, who passed
away Saturday morning at her home, 506 West Broadway, was held
Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the residence and was conducted
by Rev. H. Sears Thompson of the First Presbyterian church. The
remains were taken to Libertyville and the interment was made in
the Fell cemetery.
Mrs. Sullivan's death is sincerely regretted
by a large circle of friends in Fairfield and Jefferson county.
She was a popular woman of kindly disposition and bent on making
those around her enjoy themselves. Socially she was a beloved
member of the Order of Eastern Star of this city having served
the chapter more than once as its Worthy Matron.
Cora Pollock, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George
G. Pollock was born in Libertyville, Nov. 17, 1873, and when
still a small child came with her parents to Fairfield and it was
here that she obtained her education in the grade schools and in
the high school.
She was married to Frank A. Sullivan of this
city on May 6, 1896, and to them were born two children both of
whom with their father survive. They are Leonard who is at home
and Mrs. Margaret Rodgers of Birmingham. She also leaves a
sister, Margaret Pollock, who has been with her during her last
illness and three brothers, W.L. Pollock of Douds, Ed Pollock of
Grinnell, and A.W. Pollock of Macon, Mo.
The funeral of Mrs. Lee Gallup
who died Friday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock at her home south of
Libertyville was held Sunday afternoon at the home and was
conducted by Rev. W.E. Buell, pastor of the Birmingham Methodist
church. The remains were brought to Fairfield and interred in
Evergreen cemetery. An infant daughter, born a few hours before
her dearth, and her young husband have the sympathies of many
friends, as does her mother, brother and sisters.
Mrs. Gallup was the daughter of Mrs. Nettie
Parsons, who resides on South Third street in this city. She was
born in Butler, Mo., July 27, 1897, and came with her parents to
Fairfield when but a small child. Here she grew to womanhood and
on Christmas day, 1918, she became the bride of Lee Gallup, of
near Libertyville. About 18 months ago a baby son was born to
them but lived only a few hours. The coming of another babe to
them had been awaited with pleasure by both young people and it
was for the tiny daughter the young mother yielded up her life.
Besides the young husband and baby daughter,
Mrs. Gallup is survived by her mother, Mrs. Nettie Parsons, one
brother, Perry, both of this city and three sisters, Wilma, also
of this city, Mrs. Grace Riddle, of Davenport, and Mrs. Aurelia
Hyde of Grand Junction, Colo. Two sisters and her father have
proceeded her in death.
The funeral of Mrs. L.J. Eckwall of Salina, who passed away Thursday afternoon at the Jefferson County hospital after four weeks of suffering from a broken hip, was held Sunday morning at 10 o'clock at the New Sweden Lutheran church. The interment took place in the cemetery near by. Mrs. Eckwall was 85 years of age and was one of the old residents of the county. She was well known among the older folks and highly esteemed.
SPONGE SQUAD NABS TWO STILLS TWO MEN
HELD
Moonshine, Mash and Utensils Seized in Sunday Raids.
The homes of R.J.
Brandt and John Petersen, 2214 and 2216 1/2 West First street,
were the objective of Davenport's sponge squad, led by
Prohibition Officer R.E. Muhs, in raids made shortly after 11
o'clock Sunday night. One complete 15 gallons still, 60 gallons
of mash, and a half gallon of moonshine whisky were taken from
Brandt's place, while Petersen's upstairs rooms furnished another
complete 15-gallon still, three, one-gallon jugs of hooch and one
12-gallon stone jar.
Brandt and Petersen were arrested.
Assisting Mr. Muhs in the raids were
Lieut. Homeyer and Officers Kuehl, Kinney and McDermott. Entering
the cellar of the Brandt home, the officers found a complete
liquor manufactory. The 60-gallons of mash were destroyed and the
moonshine and still taken to the police station.
Petersen's still was secreted in a
closet. Pushing back a sliding door, the raiders discovered it
nestling coyly in the semi-darkness.
Both Petersen and Brandt were given a
hearing before United States Commissioner A.G. Bush this morning.
Petersen plead guilty to the charge of
possession of the 15-gallon still and mash and was bound over to
the federal grand jury on $300 bonds. Brandt also plead guilty,
waived examination, and was bound to the federal jury on $400
bonds. Neither man was able to furnish the bond so they are held
at the county jail.
Steve Stopulus, arrested on July 7
charged with possession, was arraigned before Commissioner Bush
this morning and given a continuance until Aug. 3.
WILLIAM MURRAY IS BOUND OVER
Entering a plea
of not guilty but waiving preliminary examination before U.S.
Commissioner A.G. Bush this afternoon, William C. Murray of
Murray Bros. was bound over to the federal grand jury on a charge
of possessing liquor. His bond was fixed at $500.
The Murray cigar store and soft drink
parlor is located at 227 Perry street. In the warrant it was
indicated that chemical analysis of home brew seized several
weeks ago showed it had the necessary "kick" for
conviction.
[transcribed by C.J.L., July 2005]
-----
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
July 18, 1922
CHAS. PALMER PUTS UP BOND FOR JACK WALL.
Wall Bound to Federal Grand Jury by U.S. Commissioner.
Jack Wall, well
known among the citizens who would never support Mr .Volstead for
president, was bound over to the federal grand jury by U.S.
Commissioner A.G. Bush this morning and Charles Palmer, also
widely known, furnished his $1,000 bond.
Wall was charged with possession of and
sale of liquor at 416 West Second street. The place was raided
about a week ago. Wall plead not guilty but waived preliminary
examination.
Henry Jaeger, Jr., plead guilty to the
possession of beer but not guilty on a charge of possession of
gin in connection with the recent raid on his place at 1029 West
Second street.
He waived preliminary examination and
was bound over to the federal grand jury on $500 bonds.
STOPOLOUS IS FINED $100 IN POLICE COURT
"Slippery Steve" Free to Face Music of U.S. Government.
Steve Stopolous,
519 Perry street, was assessed a $100 fine in police court this
morning on a charge of keeping a disorderly house, and may now
devote his entire time to answering a charge of possessing
illicit liquor on which charge he has been arrested by federal
prohibition officers.
Stopolous has been dubbed "Slippery
Steven" by the police and federal officers, who have been
keeping a close watch over him for the last few weeks. It was
understood that he was getting ready to move to Moline and for
this reason the man was shadowed.
Stopolous, a Greek, has been the cause
of many complaints from neighbors, who asserted that he was
running a saloon in his residence.
[transcribed by C.J.L., July 2005]
-----
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
July 23, 1922
BARBER HELD AS 'LEGGER AFTER RAID
Ed Rodler Arrested Friday Night-Bound Over to Federal Jury.
Ed Rodler,
formerly lessee of the Davenport Hotel barber shop, recently
managing the Blackhawk hotel shop is facing a charge of having
liquor in his possession, following his arrest Friday night at
his home, 222 Gaines street, after a raid by federal officers and
police.
Government men and Lieut. Homeyer and
Officer Kuehl last night searched the Rodler house and
confiscated 16 bottles of beer and about five gallons of
moonshine whiskey, in half a dozen containers.
Rodler was given a preliminary hearing before
U.S. Commissioner A.G. Bush yesterday morning, waived the hearing
of the evidence, pleaded not guilty, and was held to the Federal
Grand jury on $500 bond, which he furnished.
[transcribed by C.J.L., July 2005]
-----
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
July 26, 1922
PRO AGENTS SWOOP DOWN ON MAYSVILLE; BIG RESORT RAIDED
As the result of
a raid on his two soft drink bars, dance hall and picnic grounds
in the little town of Maysville, 12 miles northwest of Davenport,
yesterday afternoon, Albert Roehlk, characterized by prohibition
men as a "big duck in a little puddle," will face
liquor charges in U.S. commissioner's court here.
The raid was conducted by Federal Agent
R.E. Muhs and Deputy U.S. Marshal Terrence Kenney. Leaving
Davenport shortly after 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, the
raiders made a clean sweep of the town, returning to Davenport
with eight sacks of beer and a small quantity of moonshine
liquor.
While practically the whole population
of Maysville looked on, Muhs and Kenney ransacked Roehlk's
holdings. Liquor was found in the icebox, behind the bar, in
drawers, and in cubby-holes. Thirty sacks full of empty beer
bottles were found on the picnic grounds, a circumstance which
leads Mr. Muhs to believe that the place did a rushing business
Sunday. "Had we gone there Sunday, we would have found
booze-selling activities in full swing," he said today.
Roehlk was not at home at the time of the
raid, but his arrest is assured, officers state. He may be
brought up before Commissioner A.G. Bush tomorrow morning.
[transcribed by C.J.L., July 2005]
-----
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
July 30, 1922
WIFE'S EFFORTS FAIL TO SAVE 'LEGGER HUBBY
Simmons Taken After Woman Pours Out Liquor Supply
The loyal, tho
illegal, attempt by Mrs. Harry E. Simmons to save her husband
from facing a bootlegging charge, by the destruction of the
liquor supply in Simmons' place in Bettendorf yesterday afternoon
failed because prohibition forces had obtained a sale
"on" Simmons. He has been released on $500 bond pending
his hearing before Commissioner Bush next Friday.
The raid was made on Simmons' shack on
Fourth street, Bettendorf, near the river, by Federal Agent Muhs
and Marshall John Kracht, late yesterday afternoon.
Muhs purchased a pint of moonshine from
Simmons, it is charged and then returned with the town marshall.
Simmons realized that the arrest was imminent and stalled for
time outside the shack.
Meanwhile Simmons' wife was pouring the
liquor onto the floor in a vain effort to remove the evidence.
Officers found it seeping into the boards when they entered the
place.
Simmons was brought to Davenport and his
bonds set at $500 by the commissioner.
[transcribed by C.J.L., July 2005]