Iowa Old Press

 Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Thursday evening, Dec 9, 1926

MRS. SHAFFER TO TAKE OVER OLD NAHANT HOTEL
Widow of Former Cafe Owner to Succeed "Brick" Munro.
    Mrs. Florence Shaffer, widow of the late Charles Shaffer, prominent restaurant owner, was scheduled to take possession of the Mississippi Hotel at Nahant today, according to information furnished the sheriff's office which has been temporarily in charge of the property following the filing of landlord's lien proceedings against James (Brick) Munro, former tenant.
    Munro, who has operated the hotel for several months, vacated the property late yesterday preparatory to turning the premises over to Mrs. Shaffer, who has leased the hotel from J.W. Ryan, the owner.
    A watchman, employed by the sheriff's office, was instructed to surrender possession of the hotel to Mrs. Shaffer.

Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
December 27, 1926

Former Underworld Queen and Companion Chased by Cops; Damaged Police Car
    Vic Clesieski, driving an automobile owned by Helen Van Dale, former underworld queen and one of the star witnesses in the Looney conspiracy case, was arrested shortly before 1 o'clock Sunday morning near Nahant where he was chased by police officers whose car he had hit. Clesieski and Helen Van Dale who was in the car with him are at liberty on bail of $50 posted following his arrest on a charge of reckless driving.
    The driver and his companion were caught after a long chase during which officers fired shots and finally punctured two tires.
    A police machine in which Officers Fred Werner and Ben Geerts had been riding was parked in the 3700 block on Rockingham road when Clesieski rammed into it. The officers were not in the car at the time. They found the police machine damaged and one flat tire.
    They set out to overtake Clesieski who tried to get away. He headed down the river road toward Nahant with the policemen in pursuit. He turned into a side road in an effort to elude the officers who came upon him as he was examining the damage done the Van Dale woman's car. Clesieski jumped in the car, a new Essex sedan, failed to heed the officers' order to stop and started away.
    Officer Geerts, an old army man and one of the best marksmen on the department, drew his revolver and shot holes in the two rear tires as the automobile was being driven away.
    When Clesieski and his companion were brought to police headquarters, the woman said her name was Mrs. Reece and she said she lived in the vicinity of Nahant. They explained that they believed the policemen were holdup men, but they did not explain why they failed to stop to determine what damage they had done to the police machine.
    Clesieski was released on bond and is to have a hearing in police court this afternoon.

Submitted by C.J.L., July 2005