Iowa Old Press
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
March 13, 1923
Special to the Democrat
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, March 13 -
Mrs. Mary Kelley's body arrived from San Francisco Saturday morning for burial at Trenton Sunday afternoon. She died at San Francisco, March 4, aged nearly 76 years. She was born in Iowa and for many years lived at Trenton northwest of Mt. Pleasant. Her husband was Robert Kelley. The services were held at Greenmound, west of Trenton, conducted by Rev. T.D. Grover.
Mrs. John Livix, who was formerly Mrs. Addie Wolf, has secured a divorce from John Livix, and this is the third divorce for John. He was twice divorced from his first wife. He lives north of Salem on a farm and was not in court when his second wife asked for the divorce.
Ill with Grip.
Ray Tribby, whose wife was buried Saturday at Burlington, was
unable to go to the funeral services at the grave. He is lying very ill at home
near Salem, where his wife died. She died of the grip. Ray has the same disease,
and his mother went over to care for Mrs. Ray, is ill at our county hospital
with the grip. She was taken ill before Mrs. Ray died.
Baron Crane who has been working at Marshall Fields the past year, in Chicago, has quit and has gone back to the farm near Quincy, but on the Missouri side, where he spent several years following the close of the war. Hay fever attacked him so badly at that time that he had to get away from the farm, but he had hay fever last summer, just the same, so he probably means to fight it out right where hay fever is supposed to originate. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Crane of Mt. Pleasant.
Dr. Clara Eirley, woman physician at the State hospital for the insane, went to Rochester, Minnesota, today to have an operation to remove a growth from one of her feet. It is a growth which is thought to have been the result of an injury to one of the toes suffered a good many years ago.
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
March 29, 1923
Yeggs' Careful Plans to Open Office Safe Prove Productive of No Loot
A Safe in the private office of J.M. Siegel, joint
proprietor of the
Davenport Dry Goods company, 314-316 West Second street, proved a
Will-o'-the-Wisp for yeggmen whose careful plans and tedious labor resulted in
disappointment last night, when they found the safe devoid of valuables.
That the store robbery was planned last week is
evidenced by the fact that
a skylight in the fourth floor of the building was found torn from its hinges
last Monday. Cross-beams were placed across the skylight as soon as the
destruction wsa discovered but these beams did not deter the yeggs from entering
last night. This morning, when the attempted safe robbery was discovered by
George Labath, a janitor, the cross-piece had been torn away.
The yeggmen gained access to the skylight by climbing a
fire escape on a
building in the rear of the Siegel store, and walking over roofs. Descending
thru the skylight to the third floor, they entered Mr. Siegel's office. There,
they moved the office desk in front of the window so as to preclude discovery.
Adhesive tape was then wrapped about the combination
knob of the safe to
deaden the sound of blows believed to have been struck with a sledge hammer or
other heavy implement. Police believe that it took the yeggmen several hours to
open the safe.
When the janitor entered Mr. Siegel's office this
morning, he found
personal papers scattered about in general disorder. He notified the proprietor,
who upon investigation stated that nothing had been taken. No money or articles
commercially valuable had been kept in the safe.
Altho the usual closing time of the store is 5:30
o'clock in the evening,
Mr. Siegel remained there until 6:30 o'clock last night because of an employes'
lecture. The janitor left at 6:45 o'clock. The yeggmen are believed to have kept
watch until everyone had left.
Police officers who took finger prints in Mr. Siegel's
office today report
that a skylight on the Katz Furniture company building nextg door had been
tampered with. A dry goods company's elevator shaft had been broken, but this
method of entrance apparently proved impossible for the thieves.
The Davenport Dry Goods company's "job" is
similar to other safe attacks
which have been perpetrated here during the last week, police officials state.
An organized gang of yeggmen is alleged to be working in Davenport.
[Note: yegg ( yeg ) n. Slang. A thief, especially a burglar or safecracker.
[Origin unknown.]]
--Submitted by C.J.L., July 2005
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
March 5, 1923
POLICE RAIDING RESIDENCE FIND BIG BEER HAUL
Early Morning Visit to Petersen Home Bears Much Fruit.
The soft drink bar of Walter V. Petersen,
1801 West Seventh street, maintained its reputation for "softness" but
Petersen's residence next door fared not so well when Officers Schwinden, Dietz
and Lodge raided it on a state liquor search warrant early this morning.
Three hundred pints of home brew beer were found in the
cellar of Petersen's home and were hauled to the police station in the patrol
automobile. It is alleged that beer manufacturing paraphernalia was also found
in the cellar.
Prohibition Agent Roy Muhs, who accompanied the
officers on the raid, gave Petersen's bar "the once over" but reports
he could find no intoxicating liquor.
According to the officers, Mrs. Petersen poured 15
gallons of a mysterious liquid into a catch-pipe when she heard them knocking on
her door.
No arrests have yet been made.
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
March 8, 1923
LOTS OF BOOZE IS SEIZED AT MURRAY PLACE
Soft Drink Parlor Caters to All Classes of Trade
Everything from bottled in bond to the
mooniest of moonshine was found by Federal Prohibition Officer Roy E. Muhs in a
raid on the W.C. Murray bar at 227 Perry street late this morning. It was
evident that the establishment catered to all classes of "the trade."
Seven quarts of gin, four quarts of bottled in bond,
five pints of moonshine, five half pints of moonshine, two pints of alcohol,
three gallons of alcohol, one gallon of moonshine, 13 quarts of moonshine, some
essence of gin and a small quantity of whisky coloring were seized in containers
of various sizes and descriptions.
A water pitcher and five glasses smelling to heaven of
alcohol were also seized. All of the illicit liquor was found in the back room
with the exception of a small bottle behind the bar.
This is the second time that the Murray place has been
raided. Murray was fined $100 by Judge Wade at the last term of the federal
court. Officer Pat Dietz of the local police department assisted Muhs in the
raid. Mr. Murray will be given a hearing before U.S. Commissioner A.G. Bush
tomorrow morning.
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
March 11, 1923
Raid Brewery and Two Bars; Get Big Haul
"Gampy" Powers' Place Also Yields Quota of Booze and Men
More than two hundred bottles of home brew beer,
thirty eight gallons of beer in process of fermentation, a quantity of hops and
malt, a bottle capper and other liquor apparatus was seized by Officers Hennelly,
Snider and Gubser, of the local police department at the resident of W.J. Burke,
508 1/2 Harrison street, Saturday night.
Burke, who was arrested will face trial before U.S.
Commissioner A.G. Bush on charges of possession and manufacture of intoxicating
liquor, according to Federal Prohibition agent Roy E Muhs. The man was arrested
some time ago for keeping a disorderly house, and was fined $100 and costs in
police court.
When Burke was brought to the police station last night
he was booked for keeping a disorderly house, and four men gave their names as
J.F. Dunn, Tom Malone, Earl Wills, and R. Smith were arrested as inmates. Burke
was released on $110 bond, but was later arrested on authority of Mr. Muhs. A
pantry in Burk's kitchen was found filled with beer in bottles when police
raided the place. A thirty gallon crock and an eight gallon crock, containing
fermenting beers were also found. Six bottles of beer in a paper sack, evidently
ready for removal, were found on the kitchen table, it is alleged the four men
had been drinking. Four empty beer mugs standing nearby.
Raid Rohde Bar.
The soft drink bar of Richard Rohde, 109 West Fourth
street, was raided by Mr. Muhs, together with Officers Hennelly and Gubser, just
before the Burke raid was staged. A thoro search of Rohde's place revealed a
pint of moonshine whiskey concealed in a closet. Rahde was arrested on a city
warrant, and will face trial in police court for keeping a disorderly house. No
inmates were taken.
Ahrens Bar Nabbed.
At the bar of Louis Ahrens, 1611 West Fourth street,
the same squad found seventeen pints of beer, a quart of moonshine, another
quart bottle half filled with moonshine, and a half pint of hooch. The bartender
was in the act of pouring out a drink for a customer when the raiders entered.
A quart of moonshine was found cleverly concealed
behind an old board on a stairway leading to the cellar. The other liquor was
found behind the bar.
Ahrens was arrested for keeping a disorderly house. His
place was raided on a city warrant.
Arrest "Gampy" Powers.
Late Saturday afternoon officers Gubser and Snider
entered the shanty of James "Gampy" Powers, member of an alleged
holdup gang rounded up by police some months ago. The officers found two pints
of whiskey. Powers, together with four other men who gave their names as Joe
Murray, James McCarthy, John Smith and J.H. Patterson were arrested. Powers is
charged with keeping a disorderly house while the guests are held as inmates.
Powers' shanty is located the the foot of Fillmore street.
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
March 14, 1923
ELABORATE POLICE PLOT CATCHES JUDISCH WITH GOODS AT HIS SALOON
Amost Judisch, graced with the epithet
"slippery fish" by police officers, fell into the toils of the liquor
law in his soft drink bar, 329 West Second street, at 11 o'clock this morning
when he was outwitted by an elaborate police plot designed to cut off every
possible avenue of evasion.
As a result of his arrest, Judisch, who leaped into
prominence in the Detective Henry Moeller graft case when he accused the ousted
officer of taking hush money, will be given hearing for liquor possession on
sale before U.S. Commissioner A.G. Bush at three o'clock this afternoon.
Disguised as a thug, in civilian overcoat and cap, his
face unshaven, Officer Patrick Dietz succeeded in seizing one of the most
important bits of evidence against Judisch - a pint pitcher filled with
hooch - when he entered the saloon this morning. Samples of beer on draught were
also taken for analysis.
Police say that Judisch has, on previous occasions,
foiled raiding officers by dumping liquor so that it could not be used as
evidence. In order to obviate such an occurrence this morning, every detail of
the raid was worked out in advance
Federal Prohibition agent, Roy E. Muhs, together with
Officers Lodge, Schwinden, Dietz, and Detective Kinney participated in the raid.
Dietz, in disguise, was the first to enter the saloon.
Finding he was unrecognized, he edged up behind the bar where once Rohde, a
bartender, was standing. Dietz pushed Rohde out of the way, discovered the
pitcher of hooch, and then handed his search warrant to the bartender.
Rohde, realizing that Dietz was an officer, attempted
to destroy the pitcher, but his efforts were in vain and it was seized.
Meanwhile, the other bartender, Charles Calhan, now
under liquor indictment with Jack Wall and Orey Shea in Federal court, was being
held on the telephone by Detective Kinney, while Judisch was busily engaged in
conversation with Officer Schwinden in front of the saloon. Muhs and Lodge were
sitting in an automobile watching developments.
After Dietz had secured the pitcher, Officer Schwinden
informed Judisch that his place was going to be raided. "All right, go
ahead," said Judisch, not perceiving that the raid had already been staged.
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
March 23, 1923
POLICE RAIDING SALOON, HOME, SEIZE LIQUOR
Henry Jaeger, Bar Proprietor, Gets Fine of $100 and Costs.
Raiding the soft drink bar of Henry Jaeger, 1221
West Third street, and Jaeger's adjacent residence at 1217 West Third street, at
4:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon, Officers Joseph Gubser and Walter Snider,
together with Federal Prohibition Agent Roy E. Muhs seized four pints of
moonshine whisky and arrested Jaeger.
Arraigned in police court today on a charge of keeping
a disorderly house, Jaeger was fined $100 and costs by Magistrate Harold
Metcalf. The man is also obliged to pay for two search warrants issued on his
place - a matter of $8.85.
Two pints of hooch were found in Jaeger's bar by Mr.
Muhs, while the officers found two more pints in Jaeger's residence.
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
March 23, 1923
Seek 250 Gallons of Liquor, Lost, Strayed, or Stolen in City
Some 250 gallons of grain alcohol, valued at $2,500,
is "lost, strayed or stolen" in the city of Davenport. As a result of
the disappearance Albert Rohlk, Maysville saloonkeeper, will probably be quizzed
on the harboring of two men who were carrying this liquor from Chicago to Des
Moines by automobile at his place for two nights when the case for revoking his
parole comes up tomorrow or Monday.
It was the big snow storm of a week ago that forced the
two men transporting the large quantity of "joy water" in a Buick and
in a Cadillac car to lay up over the night at Maysville, according to
information obtained by prohibition officers.
Muhs Makes Raid.
Federal Prohibition Officer Roy E. Muhs got wind of the
liquor stores at Maysville and planned the recent "bob sled raid" on
the Rohlk saloon in that town. Despite the clever plan devised by Mr. Muhs and
the secrecy with which the raid was carried out, the liquor was carted away
before their arrival.
Mr. Muhs learned after an investigation that the
alcohol had been hauled back to Davenport.
A series of rapid-fire raids on local soft drink
parlors and other places where it was believed that the liquor might be stored,
followed, but so far it has not been located.
So "somewhere in Davenport" there are 250
gallons of grain alcohol resting uneasily as the strong arm of the law gropes
nearer and nearer. The big question is "where" and this may be
answered at the Rohlk hearing.
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
March 28, 1923
"DRY" SQUAD RAIDS FARM; FINDS HOOCH
Charles Crull, Living West of City, Arrested on State Charge.
Charles Crull, living on a small truck farm west of the
city on the Telegraph road, was arrested today on a state warrant following a
raid conducted by city, county and federal agents and the seizing of a quantity
of "moonshine" whisky, some mash and paraphernalia used in the
manufacture of the whisky.
The raiding squad, composed of Deputy Sheriff Pete
Kuehl and Federal Prohibition Agent Roy Muhs, seized four five-gallon jugs of
"moonshine" whisky, one three-gallon jug of whisky, one gallon of
mash, one 20-gallon copper kettle and one 1?-gallon copper kettle, a two-gallon
crock, two funnels and three-fourths of a pint of coloring.
Crull was lodged in the Scott county jail pending
hearing on the state charge.
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
March 28, 1923
THREE NABBED IN BOOZE RAIDS BY LOCAL OFFICERS
All Pay Fines of $100 and Costs in Police Court Today.
As the result of liquor raids by Officers
Kuehl, Peterson and Snider, together with Federal Prohibition Agent Roy E. Muhs,
early last evening, three business men were each fined $100 and costs when they
were arraigned as keepers of disorderly houses in police court this morning.
Those fined are William C. Cannon, proprietor of a restaurant at 322 East Third
street, E.A. Wilson, proprietor of a barber shop at 324 East Third street, and
Howard Banks, keeper of a soft drink bar at 2228 East Eleventh street.
Officers Kuehl and Peterson were the policemen who
raided the Cannon restaurant. When he saw the officers approaching it is
alleged, Cannon seized a pitcher containing moonshine whisky and threw it into a
garbage can in a rear room of his place. The pitcher was recovered and was found
to contain a small quantity of hooch.
Two quarts of moonshine whisky were found by Mr. Muhs
and the same officers in Wilson's barber shop. The liquor had been secreted in
an ante-room, it is claimed.
Banks' bar was the third establishment to be raided.
According to Mr. Muhs, Banks had poured out two drinks of whisky for customers
when the raid too place. This whisky, together with a pint bottle of whisky
behind the bar, was seized as evidence.
In police court today, Cannon and Banks entered ready
pleas of guilty. Wilson, however, was not so sure, and hesitated, maintaining
that he was not selling liquor at his barber shop and protesting against being
described as the keeper of a disorderly house. Magistrate Harold Metcalf
informed him that he could take his choice between pleading guilty in police
court and receiving a fine of $100 and costs, or of being arraigned before U.S.
Commissioner A.G. Bush with the possibility of being bound over to the federal
grand jury. Wilson decided to take the police court fine.
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
March 30, 1923
CRULL UNABLE TO PAY FINE, GOES TO JAIL
Man, Accused of Maintaining Liquor Nuisance, Fined $500
Roy E. Crull, arrested by city, county and federal
agents following a raid upon his home west of the city on the Telegraph road,
was fined $500 and costs in district court late Thursday by Judge W.W. Scott.
Crull pleaded guilty to a state charge of maintaining a liquor nuisance. Several
gallons of "moonshine" whiskey, hooch, mash and a number of utensils
used in the manufacture of the booze will be destroyed.
The man was unable to pay his fine and was ordered
committed to the Scott county jail for a period of five months. He was
represented in court by Attorney L.E. Roddewig.
The fine is the largest in a liquor case in district
court in several years.
--Submitted by C.J.L., Feb. 2007