Muscatine County, Iowa

COMMUNITY NEWS


The following articles were submitted by Gladys Wilson, February 9, 2012

Muscatine Journal, Thursday July 13th 1909 pg 1

MUSCATINE WOMAN CHARGED WITH ILLEGAL LIQOUR SALES
MRS. MINNIE WELLS ENJOYS A RARE DISTINCTION

Muscatine has enjoyed the rare pleasure of seeing the charge of bootlegging lodged against nearly every variety of individual and if there was any class lacking, it was supplied this afternoon when constable John Duncan arrested Mrs. Minnie Wells, at her cabin boat along the river front, just South of the Great Western Cereal company’s elevator. Mrs. Wells is the first woman charged with the offense of illegally selling liquor, and it is understood that she stoutly maintains her innocence. She will in all probability have her hearing Wednesday morning at justice Howe’s court, with County attorney Pepper prosecuting, and James Dugan, as the principal witness. The information filed against the woman alleges that on that day on July 4th she sold booze at her cabin boat, but whether or not the state will be able to substantiate the charge is problematical.

SON IS RELEASED

William McCloskey, a son of the woman now under arrest, was released from the county jail the latter part of last week after having served 30 days under the charge of illegally selling booze. The scene was also at the above named cabin boat and at the time the police confiscated quite a quantity of beer and whiskey.

Long in Cabin Boat

It was stated this afternoon that Mrs. Wells has resided in a cabin boat at various places along the river.

Muscatine Journal Wed. July 14, 1909

MRS. WELLS STOUTLY CLAIMS INNOCENCE

Protesting her innocence stoutly, Mrs. Minnie Wells, charged with selling liquor, appeared before Judge H. S. Howe immediately after her arrest yesterday afternoon by Constable Duncan and produced a cash bond for her appearance at 9 o’clock Thursday morning when the trail will be held. The woman has engaged attorney J.G. Kammerer to defend her, and it was reported a jury will be demanded. Mrs. Wells had little to say when arrested by Constable Duncan , aside from emphatically asserting her innocence and willingly accompanied the officer to Judge Howe’s court where the bond was fixed up, and her release obtained. It is expected that Judge Howe’s office will be crowded because of the novelty of a woman being charged with selling liquor illegally.

Muscatine Journal Thursday July 15th, 1909

Trail of Mrs. Wells Attracts A Crowd
Woman Has Much To Say In Her Defense
Emphatically Declares She Never Sold Whiskey to James Dugan

A woman pitted against two men, was about the situation at the conclusion of the morning session of the trail of Mrs. Minnie Wells, who, in an effort to refute the testimony of James Dugan and George Fidler, emphatically declared the she had not sold a pint of whiskey to the former on the afternoon of July, 5th. Mrs. Wells, while somewhat uncouth in general appearance, gave her testimony without qualification, and displayed a spirit of decision that left no doubt as to what her disposition toward the prosecuting witness might be. With one exception, she was the only woman in the court room, and the fact that there was a large crowd of men eager to hear every bit of evidence, did not seem to embarrass her in the least. Dugan testified he bought a pint of whiskey from the woman on the afternoon of July, 5th and his testimony was corroborated by George Fidler.

Denies It Vehemently

Mrs. Wells, when she took the stand, denied vehemently that she had sold the booze to Dugan, but admitted he had made several overtures to in an effort to make the purchase, but she refused to sell. She stated that she had purchased the booze for her own use, and took it to the Andrew Letwiler houseboat, located near her own along the river bank, west of the grain elevators. Right here Attorney Pepper made a misstep, as in cross examination he referred to her home as a cabin-boat. Mrs. Wells, with apparently injured dignity hotly replied “my place is a cottage along the river. It is not a house-boat.” There was, however, no argument along that line, attorney Pepper conceded the point willing.

Completed Today

The case in all probability will be completed today, as at noon there were only a few witnesses to be examined. Attorney Kammerer, for the defendant, demanded a jury, and the following men were selected to hear the case: Charles Butler, A.G. Tyler, and J.E. Conklir.

Muscatine Journal Saturday July 17th 1909 pg 1

CASE AGAINST WOMAN FALLS BY WAYSIDE

County Attorney Pepper this morning dismissed the charge of illegally selling liquor against Mrs. Minnie Wells, an occupant of a cottage just south of the grain elevator, the reason being insufficient evidence to convict. The case was tried on Thursday before Judge Howe, the jury being discharged because of its inability to reach a verdict. The county attorney stated that the evidence was not strong enough to obtain a conviction, therefore to save the expense of another trial, the matter was dismissed.

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