Iowa Old Press

Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
February 9, 1923

LAURA'S HOPE OF WEDDING IN JAIL VANISHES 
Object of Adoration Hustled Off to Prison Without a Last Good-Bye.
    Ambitions of a 17-year-old-girl to marry her 19-year-old dance hall lover, even tho the ceremony had to be performed in the county jail where the would be bridegroom is detained under a 10 year prison sentence for theft were shattered late today when the sheriff's office smuggled William Carnall out of the county jail and on board a train for Anamosa without giving him an opportunity to bid his fair admirer, Laura Kyle, living at Cook's Point, a last fond farewell.
    The girl who first became acquainted with Carnall at a public dance in Owl's hall, Rock Island, five months ago, startled county officials early in the week with a request that she be permitted to marry her shiek, pleading undying devotion and affection. She had visited the county attorney's office daily to renew her request.
    Her mother has consented to the marriage, according to County Attorney John Weir. Carnall's mother, who lives in Boston, has been notified by her son of the girl's request and asked to give her consent.
    Should Carnall's mother consent the county attorney's office will interpose legal objections to the marriage in the event the girl carries her plea to the state board of parole, Mr. Weir announced today.
    Miss Kyle did not learn of Carnall's departure until late this afternoon.

Four Transferred.
    In addition to Carnall, deputy sheriffs late today transferred F.Beck, under a 25 year sentence for the crime of incest, Henry Stewart, under a 20 year sentence for the crime of assault with intent to commit rape, and E.C. Fischer, under a five year sentence on a charge of embezzlement, from the county jail to the state penitentiary at Fort Madison.

Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Feb 26, 1923

FIRE HALTED BY CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHER
Crane Furniture Store at Mount Pleasant is Threatened.

Special to the Democrat

Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Feb. 26 - Fire broke out on the third floor of the Crane furniture store Wednesday and only the arrival of a neighbor merchant with a hand chemical extinguisher saved the building, as the fire was burning fiercely and the fire company probably could not have saved the building at least with as slight a loss. As it is there are at least two dozen chairs ruined. They were in the original packing and the entire floor is covered with goods not unpacked. All in the paper and excelsior packing. Asa Davidson who works at the store noticed the blaze and gave the alarm. He happened to be at work on the same floor, another lucky thing.

    J.W. Palm, formerly editor of the Mt. Pleasant Journal and former postmaster at Mt. Pleasant, is lying at death's door. He has been ill for over a month now and has failed steadily from the first.

    The Mt. Pleasant Canning company corn won first place at the contest held at Ames last week on Evergreen variety of sweet corn. The second place was won by Story City and the third by Harlan, Iowa. Iowa and Nebraska canning companies competed. The secret in canning corn is in harvesting the corn just at exactly the proper time, as a few days after the proper period finds much of the sugar lost which is preserved if the corn is taken at the proper moment. V.F. Farmer, the owner of the local plant, attended the short course for canners held at Ames last week so was present when the contest was held. Iowa and Nebraska competed.

    Jack Baker who has been ticket agent at our local depot for probably 30 years, has broken down physically and is at the county hospital for treatment. It is feared he will be a long time in recovering.

    Dr. George P. McKibben, dentist, has bought the Tom Stiles home on South Main street for $9,000. Mr. and Mrs. Stiles will move to Burlington.

    Will Jericho has returned from Kankakee, Illinois, where he attended the funeral services of Warren Jericho, as son of Mr. and Mrs. Gus Jericho of this city. Warren died of cancer of the stomach. His wife was a Fraker, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Fraker, of Mt. Pleasant and they had one child.

    R.?. Hobbs went to Albany, Indiana Wednesday to attend the funeral of an aunt who had died there, aged 94 years.

    The roof of the house where Mrs. Fannie Gilmore and her two daughters, Dorothy and Katherine Gilmore live caught fire this morning and only the prompt work of the fire company saved the house. It is the house where Prof. A.L. Eaton used to live and is now owned by J.B. Reed.
   

-----Submitted by C.J.L., July 2005

Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott co. Iowa
February 27, 1923

P.M. SUSEMIEHL DIES, THIRD IN FAMILY IN 10 DAYS
Was for Many Years Superintendent of Various Canning Factories

Peter M. Susemiehl, 57, 628 East Dover Court, for many years superintendent
of canning factories for Wm. Numsen & Son at Laurel, Md. And Geneseo, Ill.,
until his retirement two years ago, died of pneumonia at his home Monday
after noon at 3 o’clock. His death was the third in the family within ten
days. His brother Fred died on Feb. 17. Mrs. Delia Daum, the mother-in-law
of his brother Fred, died last Saturday.

He was born in Germany, Sept. 17, 1865, and in 1875 came to Davenport, where
he received his education. On Dec. 9,1896 he married Miss. Frieda Behning of
this city. During the time he resided in Geneseo, Mr. Susemiehl was a member
of the Kiwanis club of that city. He was also a member of the Lutheran
Church and Modern Woodmen of America.

Those who survive are his wife, one daughter, Dorothy, at home; one son,
Oliver of Chicago, a student at Lewis Institute; and a brother Magnus of
Miami, Fl.  The funeral will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock from
the funeral chapel at 415 Harrison street in Fairmount Cemetery

----- Submitted by P.S., Jan 2006

Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
February 16, 1923

FORMER METHODIST SUNDAY SCHOOL FOUND TO BE DEN OF HOOCH MANUFACTURERS
"Butch" Metzger, 1109 Spring Street, Arrested as Manager of One of the Largest "Distilleries" in History of Scott County Bootlegging; Life of Muhs Threatened When Bribes are Refused.

    FROM a Methodist Sunday school to a bootleggers' den, accompanied by all of the viciousness of the manufacturer of illicit liquor, a place where some of the most vile hooch in the Tri-cities is made - thus reads the history of the building at 1109 Spring street. It is now a double house, the basement of which is, or was until the raid last night, used for the manufacture of sugar hooch.
     The place was raided at 11:30 o'clock last night by a squad of city police, led by Night Captain Walter Homeyer and Local Prohibition Agent Roy E. Muhs. It proved one of the biggest raids in the history of bootlegging in Scott county. Floyd "Butch" Metzger is in the Davenport city jail, charged with being the proprietor and manager of this mammoth distillery, and several of his confederates and co-workers face arrest before nightfall.
     The officers, after they had smashed their way into the building, were threatened with violence. Metzger, according  to one of the officers, made the threat that he would "bump off" Muhs who was the cause of his business being so suddenly interrupted. The manufacturer of the hooch tried in every way possible to bribe the officers. 
     In the basement of the building were found three stills, each of a 20 gallon capacity. Two of them were in operation. Nine hundred gallons of mash, two 100 pound sacks full of sugar, 18 pounds of yeast and two kerosene stoves were confiscated by the officers.
     J.P. Mohr, his uncle, who lives in the other side of the double house, admitted that he was implicated with him, but as yet no charge has been filed against him. A hole or door, contrary to a city ordinance, had been cut in the dividing wall in the basement, allowing the men to utilize the two basements for their illicit business. It was in the Mohr basement that the sugar and yeast were found. He admitted ownership of the sugar and yeast and also of the building. He further admitted that he owned the property and that he knew what was being done in the basement.

Metzger Well Protected.
     Complaints regarding the place and the business conducted by Metzger have come to the attention of city police and prohibition officers for several weeks. He seemed well protected. Nothing of a definite information against the man was obtained until yesterday afternoon. It was then that the raiding party was formed. It was Officer William Henneley who secured the information and swore to the complaint.
     After repeated efforts on the part of Metzger to fix it up with the officers "out of court" had failed and he saw his entire manufacturing plant destroyed and himself lodged behind bars, he is said to have threatened to "get" Muhs when he got out. He also said that he would get the one who made the complaint.
    While the raiding party was in the building the telephone rang. City Detective Kuehl answered the phone. It was a call for "Butch". During the course of the conversation Kuehl heard Metzger say "it is too late. They are here now." Police believed that it was a tip off to Metzger that there was to be a raid conducted. Police as well as federal officers are attempting to trace the call and find out if possible who is protecting the hoochmakers of the city.
     Metzger, when asked if he had not been tipped off earlier in the day admitted that he had received just such a phone call about 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon. He said he paid no attention to it, however, as he felt secure.
     The building in which the alleged den of viciousness was found was a Sunday school chapel of the Methodist Episcopal church until several years ago when it was remodeled into a double dwelling house. As per the city ordinance regarding double houses, a fireproof wall was built in the basement to divide the two apartments. This is the wall that was cut to allow space for the business of manufacturing liquor.
     The man in all probability ill be arraigned before United States Commissioner A.G. Bush late this afternoon.
     When interviewed at his cell in the jail at 1 o'clock he made the statement that the only reason he was "knocked off" was because of Henry Moeller.

Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
February 25, 1923

BOOZE DELIVERER CAUGHT IN ACT CAUSES RAID ON SALOON, HOME BREWERY

     A residence brewery suspended operation and a local saloon failed to keep it's weekend supply of home brew, Saturday evening, when police officers Dietz, Schwinden and Lodge, together with Federal Prohibition Agent Roy E. Muhs deducted that a truck load of empty bottles, taken from the Clancy saloon, Fourth and Gaines street, had contained something decidedly more efficacious than soda water.
     As the result of this deduction, Walter Light, 721 Taylor street, will be arraigned before U.S. Commissioner A.G. Bush on a charge of liquor manufacture, while George Clancy, proprietor of the bar, has decided to plead guilty on a charge of conducting a disorderly house and take his fine of $100 and costs in police court Monday morning.
    Not satisfied with the above evidence of their perspicacity, the officer and Muhs took time out to raid the residence of Mrs. May Arnold, 1125 West Second street, arresting the genial Mrs. May Mrs. Harry Carry, wife of the addict whose murder created a sensation some time ago and who gave their names as John Philps, Frank  Miller and Louie Englehecht.
     Empty whisky bottles scattered about in the Arnold home and a half-pint of hooch concealed in a bed showed that a liquor party had been in progress, police allege. Mrs. Arnold is charged with conducting a disorderly house, while her guests are held as inmates.
     It was early in the evening that Light was noticed loading bottles at the Clancy bar. When the bar was raided seventy-five pints of home brew, claimed to have been delivered there by Light, were found.
     Following the saloon raid, the officers raided Light's home, in the kitchen they found a brewery, consisting of 84 gallons of beer in process of fermentation, a supply of malt and hops, and 200 pints of the finished product.
     The Arnold raid occurred in the interval between the saloon and brewery raids.

Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
February 26, 1923

POLICE OFFICERS SOAKED AND NAVAL BATTLE STAGED IN HOUSEBOAT BOOZE RAID

     A DUCKING for several police officers, a naval battle on the Mississippi, a melodramatic burlesque on Washington crossing the Delaware and on Eliza escaping over the ice and the seizure of some of the "moonshine" that shines on the Gin-Gin-Gima Shore were all features of a booze raid in the wee small hours of Sunday morning which resulted in the arrest of Roy Sampson.
     Captain Walter Homeyer and Officer Gerdts were the unfortunates who were immersed in the Father of Waters as they wandered about Sampson's houseboat oft City island.

Story of the Raid.
     Officers Homeyer, Gerdts and Joe Gubser, headed by Federal Prohibition Agent Roy E. Muhs started for the houseboat off City island at the foot of Myrtle street about midnight. They arrived at the boat by walking the ice and demanded admittance at the front door.
     No welcome was extended however so they attempted to push in the massive door without success. Then Muhs and Gubser used a railroad tie as a battering ram to gain admittance. But while the officers were forcing an admittance at the front door Sampson had made his departure by way of the back door.
     "He was standing in a row boat with a bar in his hand" Muhs declared. "With his high boots, a bandana handkerchief and other accoutrements, he looked like a school history picture of Washington crossing the Delaware.
     "I fired two shots at the water and ordered him to paddle back to the houseboat. Needless to say he did so."

Call a Life Guard.
     Meanwhile the officers were meandering about the boat. Captain Homeyer decided to do an Eliza crossing the ice and assist Sampson up the stream. He stepped off the deck onto the ice.
     The ice broke with a slow gurgling sound and Homeyer was next heard in the water. Then Gerdts, rushing to his assistance, also slipped into the stream. They laughingly climbed onto the deck of the boat. Neither had been more than waist deep in the water. Sampson was taken into custody.
     In the houseboat officers found a 25 gallon still and 300 gallons of mash for making "moonshine" whiskey.

Seize Houseboat.
     Yesterday afternoon Officer Muhs returned to the houseboat and found that someone had been in the place and straightened up the mess. He had suspected Sampson had a confederate so he promptly threw all the liquor and mash into the river.
     A government lock was placed on the door and a notice of seizure posted. Officers said that Sampson did not use the place for a residence.

Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
February 28, 1923

AUG. SCHADEL PLACE RAIDED, 
BOOZE IN BED
18 Pints of Liquor Hidden Between Sheet and Blankets.

     Hidden between the sheet and blankets of August Schadel's bed in his rooms above his soft drink parlor at 301 East Third street, Federal Prohibition Officer Roy E. Muhs found 18 pints of whisky in a raid staged at 11:30 o'clock this morning.
     Descending to the soft drink establishment they took Schadel into custody and found two more points on his person. Officers Leo Cuervorst and George S. Rogers assisted Muhs in the raid.
     Schadel was given a hearing before United States Commissioner A.G. Bush at 2 o'clock this afternoon. He was granted a continuance until 9 o'clock tomorrow morning and held on a temporary bond of $500. He entered a plea of not guilty. Attorney Henry Jebens appeared for the defendant.
     This is the first time that the Schadel place has been raided.

-----

Muhs Winner in Dispute About Local Aridity
Booze Found in Northwest Davenport Clinches Argument.

     "I told you so!"
     Federal Prohibition Agent Roy E. Muhs did not use this expression today, mainly because he is much too well-bred to glory in the defeat of a fellow law-enforcer, even if that defeat is incurred only in an argument.
     Yet as the liquor sleuth sat in Police Chief Schlueter's office at the city hall this morning, there was an unholy expression of triumph on his countenance.
     By means of three cases of home brew and a beer bottle half full of moonshine he had irrevocably shown that Northwest Davenport is not so arid as Police Captain Walter Homeyer once contended, and, in fact, proved by two fruitless saloon raids.
     But now the epic struggle between Mr. Muhs and the captain is over. Northwest Davenport is wet - perhaps not with a capital W, but wet enough to score the telling tally for the government.
     To make Mr. Homeyer's defeat more ignominous, the raid in which the home brew and hooch was obtained, last night, occurred practically across the street from the police official's residence - the Ziebarth bar, located at Fourteenth and Washington streets.
     When Mr. Muhs and Officer Pat Dietz, of the local police department, entered the Ziebarth saloon about 6 o'clock last night they saw the bartender, Henry Ziebarth, in the act of pouring out a drink of liquor for a customer, they claim.
     "Put down that glass!" yelled Mr. Muhs, and his order was promptly obeyed. Then he and the officer subjected the place to search. They found the beer and hooch behind the bar.
     Henry Ziebarth was arrested and this morning was assessed  a fine of $100 and costs on a charge of keeping a disorderly house. He was arraigned in police court thru agreement of city and government authorities.

--Submitted by C.J.L., Feb. 2007