Iowa Old Press
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
September 5, 1923
TWO MUST FACE GRAND JURY ON LIQUOR CHARGE
- H. LOPPE AND F. ALGER BOUND OVER BY U.S. COMMISSIONER BUSH
Henry Loppe, proprietor of a soft drink bar at Second and Myrtle
streets, was bound over to the grand jury this morning by U.S.
Commissioner A.G. Bush. He was charged with illegal possession of
intoxicating liquor. Loppe's bar was raided last Thursday by
Prohibition Officer Roy E. Muhs, Police Officers Dietz and Lodge
accompanied him on the raid. It is claimed that the officers had
to force their way thru the doors to gain entrance. Fred Alger,
who it is alleged is part owner of the resort, was also bound
over to the grand jury. His bond was set at $500. It is claimed
that Alger, on seeing the officers enter the building, began to
dump the bottled liquor into a sink. Alger, however, claims he
was just a patron. Twenty-nine pints of hooch in small containers
and five empty five gallon jugs were found by the raiding party.
[transcribed by C.J.L., Nov 2007]
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Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
September 7, 1923
TAKE LICENSE FROM SALOON; RAID RESULT
"Soft" Drink Bar Ceases Existence on Order of
Mayor Mueller
An order which will make it impossible for Herman Loppe,
proprietor of a bar at 1040 West Second street, to sell soft or
any other kinds of drinks in the future was given Police Chief
Charles Schlueter by Mayor Alfred C. Mueller today. The mayor has
revoked Loppe's license. Loppe was recently bound over to
the federal grand jury under $1,000 bond on a liquor charge,
following a raid on his place by Federal Agent Roy E. Muhs,
together with Officers Dietz and Lodge. Loppe's bartender, who,
it is claimed, was endeavoring to dump a quantity of hooch at the
time of the raid, was also bound over to the federal grand jury.
According to Chief Schlueter, the Loppe bar has had five
different proprietors and has been raided three times. Mayor
Mueller considers the bar a nuisance.
FIND HOOCH IN SALOON; COPS CATCH KEEPER
A gallon of hooch found in the back room of his soft drink bar at
502 Harrison street in a raid this morning secured the arrest of
"Buck" Kniphals, the proprietor, on a city charge of
conducting a disorderly house. No inmates were arrested. Kniphals
will stand trial in police court tomorrow morning. The raid was
conducted by Prohibition Officer Roy E. Muhs and by Officers
Dietz and Schwinden, of the police force, as the result of
numerous complaints that drunken men were clogging the alley in
the rear of the saloon.
[transcribed by C.J.L., Nov 2007]
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Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
September 9, 1923
OFFICER TRYING TO FIX UP BOARDER'S
TROUBLE FINDS HENHOUSE STILL
Maybe it's because Mrs. George Petrof, 3243 Harrison street, is a
Czech, whereas George himself is a Bulgar; maybe its the age-old
domestic dispute about who shall wear the trousers that's to
blame; maybe it's only a case of George's looking on the Mule
when its White. Anyway, George doesn't stand much of a chance of
making a batch of nice, liver-corroding hooch with those two
sacks of sugar his obliging boarder gave him instead of the board
bill. Because Officer Walter Snider, who dropped in at the
Petrofs at 5:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon to settled a little
question of household supremacy, found George's cunning
wash-boiler still and two kegs of rye mash. Now George is
scheduled to tell all to U.S. Commissioner A.G. Bush.
It happened this way:
The Petrofs had a boarder. He was an amiable boarder, and it
pained him to watch George and the Mrs. wrangling, day in and day
out, on the question of whether a Czech is more masterful than a
Bulgar or vice versa. Whenever he'd pay Mrs. Petrof his board
bill, arguing that he, and not his lawful wedded ought to hold
the purse strings. And when George would get the board money,
Mrs. George had a few things to say.
The Boarder's Plan
Finally, the boarder hit upon a plan, to fix things and restore
tranquility. George needed some sugar because he was getting
ready to make a gallon or two of Lighted Lamp cocktail. And the
boarder owed George and Mrs. Petrof some money. What was more
simple than to buy George two 200-pound sacks of sugar, expecting
all friction to be obliterated in a rolling tide of moonshine?
That's exactly what the boarder did. But it didn't work. George
took the sugar, but kept right on asking for payment from the
boarder, and, when he didn't get it, took the boarder's best suit
and socks, declaring that he would keep them until he got a cash
payment. At the end of his rope, the boarder called at the police
station Saturday afternoon and told his troubles to Sergeant
Henry Nagel. He demanded an officer to help him get his clothes
and Sergeant Nagel furnished Officer Snider.
The Beans are Spilled.
When Officer Snider arrived a the Petrof domicile, Mrs. Petrof
met him and started to explain just why Czeco-Slovakia didn't
agree with Bulgaria. "He says the boarder wouldn't pay the
money he owed us, but the boarder bought him two big sacks of
sugar so that he could make hooch!" she exclaimed. The
officer pricked up his ears. " Oh, he makes hooch, does
he?" Snider said slyly. Then he started to investigate, and,
sure enough, there was the wash-boiler still in the hen-house!
Nearby, in another shed, were the two kegs of rye mash. So,
George was brought to the police station, but he didn't stay
there long. Mrs. George, leading two little Czech-Bulgars,
arrived shortly after he did, and informed Chief Schlueter that
she was afraid to stay in the house alone. Chief Schlueter let
George go home for the night, but ordered him to show up promptly
Monday morning, when the commissioner interview will probably
take place.
LIQUOR SEIZED IN HIS SALOON AND HIS
RESIDENCE
Raiding Party Visits Home and Saloon of Moonshiner
Simultaneously.
Raiding the saloon and residence of George J. "Pike"
Clancy at the same time, Saturday afternoon resulted in finding a
cache of illicit booze in both places. The Clancy saloon located
on Fourth and Gaines streets was raided by Federal Prohibitions
Officer Roy Muhs and Officer McDermott and the Clancy home, 412
Brown street, was raided by police officers, Pat Dietz and
Schwinden. Bottle flies, who were sitting about the Clancy bar
endeavored to tip off the residence that the place would be
raided. But the tip was a futile attempt. The officers were
already there. The raid on the bar resulted in the officers
finding a case of beer, a gallon of hooch, and number of empty
jugs and bottles, and a capping machine. Officers, who raided the
home were rewarded with a five gallon jug of hooch and a case of
home brew. As this is Clancy's third offence in dealing with
illicit booze it is probable that he will be tried in the Federal
court. His two previous arrests fell under a violation of the
city ordinance while the third charge will mean Federal
prosecution.
[transcribed by C.J.L., Nov 2007]
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Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
September 21, 1923
HOFFMAN WILL FIGHT CHARGE OF CONTEMPT
Doris Reid Gets $200 Fine; Henry Auerochs $500 Fine
Henry Hoffman, owner and operator of Hoffman's Camp which was
closed by court order for one year, will probably fight charges
of contempt of court which are pending against him before Judge
F.D. Letts. Hoffman appeared with his attorney, Carl Lambach,
before the district court yesterday afternoon and was granted a
continuance this afternoon. While Hoffman announced a
determination to fight, his companions, who were arrested in the
booze raid on his place at the time injunction papers were served
Wednesday afternoon decided to "take their medicine".
Doris Reid was fined $200 and costs while Henry Auerochs, better
known as "Roxy", was given a $500 fine. They were in a
cottage at the Hoffman camp at the time of the raid. A temporary
injunction restraining "Roxy" and the Reid woman from
the sale of liquor was asked by County Attorney John P. Weir.
Judge Letts set Oct. 3 as a time for the hearing on the temporary
injunction. The county attorney is also asking a permanent
injunction at the next term of the district court.
[transcribed by C.J.L., Nov 2007]
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Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
September 25, 1923
THIRD OFFENDER IS VISITED BY FEDERAL AGENTS
Quantity of Beer and Hooch Is Taken in Raid on Pete Bien
In a raid at 2:15 o'clock this afternoon on the soft drink parlor
of Pete Bien, 1901 Rockingham road, Police Officer Pat Dietz and
federal agents including Roy Muhs found two one-half barrels of
alleged beer and a small quantity of hooch. The raid was made
under two federal warrants. One for the first floor of the
building and one for the second floor. Bien's place was raided
some time ago on a federal warrant and later on a city warrant.
This is his third offense. It is claimed by the officers that
Bien dumped a quantity of hooch in a sink when he saw them
entering the building. Most likely Bien will face United
States Commissioner J.G. Bush tomorrow morning on the charge of
having illegal liquor in his possession.
[transcribed by C.J.L., Nov 2007]
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Davenport Leader
Davenport, Scott co., Iowa
Thursday, September 27, 1923
WAR HERO LOSES DECORATION HE GOT IN RUSSIA
If the finder of a war decoration Order of St. George
Cross would return same to owner, A. Monroe MacCready, who served
with the Royal Flying corps of Russia, he will be presented with
a genuine Russian salute. According to MacCready, the medal was
lost Tuesday somewhere between the Davenport hotel and the
American Legion headquarters. The medal is described as a maltese
cross with the figure of St. George fighting the dragon. On the
other side of the medal are Russian numerals. The cross is
suspended from an orange and blue ribbon. MacCready received the
medal from the Russian government for bravery shown while over
the firing lines in an airplane. The finder of the medal can
reach him at the Davenport hotel.
[transcribed by L.D., December 2014]
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Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
September 30, 1923
POLICE RAID THIEL PLACE - ARREST FOUR
Try, Try, Again Motto of Cops Who Finally Secure Their
Arrest
For a long time, Officer Hennelly and Detective Phelan, of the
Davenport police force, had suspected that all was not as it
should be at the residence of Mrs. Agnes Thiel, 326 West First
street. Saturday afternoon, the pair proved it by arresting Mrs.
Thiel, affectionately known as "Ag", together with
Ethel Cox, Ella Overton, George Rupp and Walter Mooney, as keeper
and inmates of a disorderly house. According to police reports,
illicit liquor predominated in Saturday's raid. Mrs. Thiel and
her guests will face trial in police court Monday morning. A week
ago Detective Phelan and Officer Hennelly raided the Thiel
residence and found Mrs. Thiel snugly tucked in bed, her eyes
closed so tightly that the glare of two flashlights could not
open them. "You're always welcome, boys, whenever you want
to come up. There's nothing wrong here," the woman declared,
as she ushered the officers down her front stairs at that time.
[transcribed by C.J.L., Nov 2007]