Iowa Old Press

Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
May 3, 1922

POLICE "ARID" SQUAD SEIZES STILL, LIQUOR
Raid Residence of Lizzie Rickets, 1318 West Second Street.
SHE PLEADS GUILTY
Take 15 Gallons of Moonshine and Keg of Aging Booze.

    Members of the police dry squad, headed by Lieutenant Walter Homeyer, last night swooped down on the residence of Lizzie Ricketts, 1318 West Second street, seized a huge still and 15 gallons of moonshine. Several gallons of the finished product were in a charred cask, getting properly aged.
    Brought before U.S. Commissioner A.G. Bush this morning, the Ricketts woman pleaded guilty to a charge of "having liquor in possession," and was bound over to the federal grand jury on $500 bonds.
    The still, one of the most complete outfits ever taken by prohibition forces, and the liquor, was turned over to federal authorities after the preliminary hearing.

Demands Warrant.
    It was shortly after midnight that Lieutenant Homeyer and Officers Gubser and Lamont forced an entrance to the residence of Miss Ricketts.
    The woman demanded a warrant but the complaint the police had received was against her for immoral life. They started on a search of the house.
    She continued to precede the officers, demanding a search warrant at every step. They finally found the still and the liquor.
    She was immediately placed under arrest for having the still, and as short time later the keg of aging whisky came to light. Other jugs and bottles distributed in various sections of the house added five more gallons to the contraband.
    George Lathrop, with the remains of a quart bottle on his hip, was arrested at 2:15 and charged with dealing from his pocket.

Scarlet Woman Swoons as Law Decrees 30 Days

    Mary Smith, a member of the "oldest profession in the world," today created consternation in the court of Police Magistrate Metcalf, when she collapsed in a faint, as the police judge sentenced her to 30 days in jail for immoral life.
    Police officers rushed to her assistance and the stiffened body of the woman was carried from the court room, while the hundred or more spectators gaped and shuffled their feet in uncertain sympathy.
    She had been arrested at her home at 1210 West Second street by Lieutenant Homeyer and Officers Gubser and Lamont.
    August DeGrave, the man who was with her in her room at the time of the raid, was fined $10 and costs, which he paid. The charges against F.A. Bogart, O. DeGrave and H. DeBarr, also found in the house, were dismissed.
    Later the police magistrate relented and assessed a fine of $50 against the woman.

Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
May 8, 1922

DRY RAIDERS CAPTURE FIVE IN 'TEMP' BAR
Police Arid Squad Seize Pitcher of "Hootch" at Seventh and Division

    Members of the Sahara squad of the police department raided the soft drink parlor of Walter Petersen, Seventh and Division streets last night, arrested five men and seized a quart pitcherfull of "hooch".
    Officers Lodge, Dietz and McDermott answered a call for a disorderly house, and when they reached the place, all of the occupants were mellowly good natured, due to the influence of moonshine.
    Officer McDermott investigating the rear of the bar, discovered a pitcher containing moonshine of marvelous potency, and four were brought to the station. Walter Petersen, the proprietor, appeared later and gave himself up.
    They will appear for trial on charge of being keeper and inmates of a disorderly house Wednesday afternoon, police said.
    In the meanwhile the police who made the raid are contemplating taking the case to the U.S. commissioner, where Petersen will be charged with keeping liquor in his possession, the officers said.
    The four arrested as inmates were Otto Gilbert, Albert Rostock, Fred Strathmann and Ray Woods.

REGRETS THAT MARSHAL DIDN'T FIND NEW STILL
But There is Sufficient Evidence Against Bettendorfer Anyway.

    "If you would have waited until next week you would have found the brand-new still I ordered," John Stanalitz, 431 West Brown street, Bettendorf, told Marshal John Kracht when the marshal raided Stanalitz's residence Sunday afternoon.
    A still coil and boiler, two barrels of whisky mash and three quarts of moonshine whisky were found in Stanalitz's home. Charged with possession and manufacture of liquor, Stanalitz will be given a hearing before U.S. Commissioner A.G. Bush this afternoon.
    According to Marshal Kracht, Stanalitz has made a clean breast of his moonshine operations. He told the marshal yesterday that he had ordered a big new still. 
    The man was bound over to the federal grand jury under $300 bond in U.S. commissioner's court late this afternoon.

Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
May 9, 1922

POLICE CAPTURE HUGE STILL AND OPERATOR MAKES "MOVIE" ESCAPE

    Leaping from a second story window to elude the "dry" raiders of the police, the operator of one of the largest and most complete whisky stills ever in Davenport, made a sensational "movie" escape last night. Police were left to seize the paraphernalia.
    The seizure netted one 25-gallon copper still and coils, complete, 15 gallons of the finished product, and nine 50-gallon barrels of rye and corn mash. 
    The raid was on the house at 2308 Western avenue, formerly that of Charles E. Alford, but two months ago purchased from him by Otto Gassmann. Police are seeking Gassmann and Ralph Lane, who is thought to be the man who made the desperate and successful escape.

Hold Lane's Car.
    Lane's Ford car was parked in front of the house and local authorities are holding it. They are also taking charge of the house and its contents and awaiting the appearance of Gassmann.
    Meanwhile action has been started in the district court by County Attorney John Weir, to obtain an injunction so that the house can be sealed by court order. The liquor manufacturing plant and the product seized is considered sufficient evidence to warrant such action.
    Armed with a search warrant, police demanded entrance to the residence about 11 o'clock last night. There was no reply to their knock and they forced a window to the cellarway.
    Lieutenant Homeyer and Officers Elmer Schlueter, Dietz and Kuehl scrambled thru the opening and started to search the house. As they mounted the stairs they heard movements in the upper part of the residence.
    When they reached the second floor, they discovered that a screen had been kicked out and the operator of the still,. which was cooking over a double gas burner, was gone. He had jumped from the window and escaped, police said.
    Several complaints have been received from neighbors who declared that the smell of the mash and cooking rye, permeated the air for several hundred feet.

Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
May 22, 1922

WOMAN 'SHINE MAKER NABBED BY DRY SQUAD
Two Stills and 25 Gallons of Hooch Taken from Mary Olson.

    Women continue to invade the fields of masculine endeavors, both legal and illegal, and yesterday the police and federal raiders arrested Mary Olson, 427 Concord street, seized two stills and 25 gallons of moonshine.
    When the local searchers for the desert oasis charged into the Olson residence, they found no one home, but in the cellar was as complete a set of moonshine outfit ever seen by the "dry" officers.
    The two stills, one seven and the other 15-gallon capacity, together with half a dozen whiskey barrels and 25 gallons of the finished product, were brought to the station, while an officer was left on vigil for the return of Mary.
    The raid was staged at 4 o'clock Sunday morning and three hours later Arthur Johnson was arrested as he attempted to enter the house with a key. A few minutes later the woman approached and was taken into custody.
    Both are charged with possession and manufacturing of liquor, altho Johnson declares that he was merely a roomer and knew nothing of the still.
    Police also invaded the residence of Arthur Seckler, 2136 West High street, shortly before midnight last night, confiscated various parts of a huge still and 15 gallons of corn liquor.
    The raid was headed by two government men and Lieutenant Homeyer of the Davenport police force. Other officers were Kuehl, Cuervorst, Schwinden and Dietz.
    

    

Submitted by C.J.L., June 2006