COMMUNITY NEWS ARTICLES
THE ROARING TWENTIES BOOTLEGGERS - 1922
Davenport Democrat & Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Jan. 1, 1922THE GOOD OLD DAYS WHEN DAVENPORT WAS ONE OF THE WETTEST SPOTS ON THE MAP
Say, Bob- Remember?
When the Davenport brewers went on strike because the bosses wanted to limit 'em to 40 glasses of beer a day-during workin' hours? Crool-wasn't it? Gott in hummel!
Nor you don't remember the time of President Garfield's funeral-when the saloonkeepers scouted all over this City Beautiful for keys to lock their doors for two hours during the services? Them joints never been locked after the day they were first opened.
Course you don't remember- you was tudam young.
I don't s'pose you remember Looie Schauder's goulash either-on the mornin' after?
Say-you missed considerable.
More darn fun!
Why in them days every soak was good for an eyeopener on Christmas and New Year's mornin', regardless of creed, color or nationality.
"Say when!" was some slogan.Free Feed for Frahmsizers.
But listen, Bob-let's turn to the good old days of the frahmsize and the scoop, the tom and jerry and the free lunch. On Christmas and New Year's any gink could get a snootful and a bellyful for two bits-easy.
Charlie Gallagher always served T. & J. to his friends on them days. So did Sam Stuckey, John Hill, Gus Becker, Martin Greeley, Henry Schroeder and Oldman Haase.
You could get a free lunch-turkey, goose, roast pig, oysters, and the swellest kind of eats-from Fred Roeschmann, Doc Welch, Otto Lahrmann, Ted Oelkers, Al Hartung, Bill Gray, Smokey Reese, Leo Schumaker, Lew Martens, Jack Frost, "Happy Days" and a lot of other heavy hitters in the old booze league.
Drinkin' was more or less a fine art in them days. Now it's a wildman's game with the wild wimmen-puttin' on a party with the fliv and the jazz. And a lott guys is hittin' up hooch now that never thought of guzzlin' before, just because they think it's hard to get-and they want to show up this here Volstead guy.Humanizing Hapless Hasbeens.
Why, away back in the real old day of Johnny McGuiness, Doc Mitchell, Joe Parrish, Sam Tanner, Philip Schlap, Billy May, Johnnie Smith, Pat Tuohy, Joe Cope, Fritz Quickenstedt, Honts Moore and Ed Hood, any lame bird was treated like a human, and he could toast his shins up agin the old stove and keep stickin' around till some lonesome party, lookin' for somebody to listen to his troubles, would blow in and ast him would he have somethin' to take.
Talk about bein' socialble! It was always fair weather at the "Bucket of Blood," the "Double Elbow" and the "Blue Goose."
They wasn't none of them sneaky stickup guys moochin' around in the dark, lookin' to sap a live one for the price of a hooch. None of this miserable gizzard-grindin' moonshine was bein' dished out in the homes, neither. The women folks was playin' the washboards and tendin' to their knittin' and not learnin' to be distillers.
Say, Bob- if every dame in this burg that's operatin' a home-hooch factory was sent up, they'd have to put sideboards on the big house out at Anamosa.Featuring Family Facilities.
In the old days you could get a quart of real likker or a bottle of wine for one berry at Roddewig's, Thode's, Haase's or any of them wholesale joints. There wasn't no hipoil in them times, nor no doctor's pint prescriptions at three bucks a throw.
Then they had the family places, with grocery store in front and bar in the rear, so's the wimmen folks and farmers could come in and get their needin's. They was Pat McBride's, Fred Aschermann's, Bobby Garvey's, Bartemeier's, Shaughnessy's, Balluff's, Pillion's, Naven's, and Dooley's, and when a guy would settle his bill he always had a sniffler comin', with a bag of stick candy for the young ones. Now it's cash and carry.
Then they was McElroy's "Keystone" over on Twenty-seventh street in Rock Island, where the hard-boiled turks from Corkhill, Goosetown, Rogertown, Flatiron Square and the Patch would wander on Sundays for the "big ponies" and the "crusaders" - all for 5 cents a crack.
That was the original cash and carry, Bob. And, believe me, many a swell package was carried back over the bridge along about sundown.Bucktown's Barleycorn Braves.
Brick Munro, Perl Galvin, Clay Woodward, Nick Newcomb, Jack McPartland, Jocky Manwaring, Heiney Mennen, William Pamperin, and Lee Beauchaine, assisted by Parson Ned Lee, looked after feedin' the Bucktown Braves on Christmas and New Year's and they always got the second helpin' with out no crabbin'.
John Russell, Lew Hannemann, Fred Abel, John Schnaack, Nick Boy, Cal Witherspoon, Pat Marinan, Mike Goettsch, Henry Struve, Miles Brubaker, Ernest Wenzel, Pat Stapleton, Sig Goldstein, Fred Ruehl, Al Moetzel, Dinny Dawney, Pete Jacobsen, Orey Janssen, Joe Traeger, George Rohde, Andy Glenn, Fred Muttera, Henry Yager, Fred Vogt, Din Harrigan, "Rosie" Rosencranz, and all the old-timers, dished out the best in the house to all comers on Christmas and New Year's and mebbe they'd slip you a pint to take home to the woman.
Why, when the big brewery guys, Henry Frahm, George Mengel, Oscar Koehler, Charlie and Ernst Zoller and Bore Koester, made the rounds, they could set 'em up to the house for a five-case note.Snowbirds Springing Stickups.
And now what do you get for a five caser? You meet some slimey bootlegger in a dark doorway and slip him a five-spot for a pint of white mule that would make a rabbit spit at a lion. Then you take a shot in the arm and get goggle-eyed and fightin' mad. And then you have the willies and come near croakin' and you thank God for prohibition.
Take these hopheads that are up against the snow, for instance. Why, them birds, bein' mostly nuts, is so nervous they can't read, nor work, nor do nothin' to ease them bugs that is bitin' their noodles. That's where the strongarm stuff comes in, and the flydicks knows it. When these nobody-home guys gets all 'luminated with the snow, and hittin' on all six cylinders, they get feelin' generous and want to declare in on the other guy's stuff, just like reg'lar socialists. So they shove a cannon under the nose of the first poor blob they meet, or else stick up a one-man-car motorman on some lonesome street.
Whenever you get hep that a doctor's joint has been prowled for the hop, Bob, nail down your windows and get ready to stick up your hands on first call.Mellifluous Melody Mollifies.
Good old brew never acted that way.
Course, it had some pep and action to it. It would make a guy feel like singin' "Sweet Rosey O'Grady" and "She May Have Seen Better Days," and help him to pull a few of them barbershop chords and so some close-harmony stuff, with his hoofs restin' on the old brass footrail. But no guy ever wanted to climb a telegraph pole nor murder his poor old grandmother after takin' on a cargo. No sir'. After you got thru singin' you was all peaceable and ready to hit the hay.
And you didn't need no smilin' coacher to clap his hands and say, "Come on fellers-get action on 'Smile-Smile-Smile' and when you come to them words 'Smile' don't speak 'em, but just smile."
Honest, Bob, I hat to think of what one of them birds would have comin' to him with the old gang lined up and primed.
But you couldn't help singin' when you had real brew under your belt, and you 'magined you was just naturally "there."
Why, in them days, a guy had to go to a masquerade or play Second street on a windy day to get an eyeful. Now look at em!Downhearted Derelicts Delighted.
In them days, too, when a guy got canned at the Arsenal or had his head chopped off at the City Hall for doin' too much work, he could open a saloon and invite his friends and relations to drop in and shake the dice and blow their jack in his joint, just to help him get rich.
He had a 50-50 setup for the big comeback if he'd lay off the booze.
Now what happens?
Why, when a guy loses out on his job, the only stuff he thinks he can pull is to peddle insurance and real estate, or work the old oil-stock graft, and he makes life miserable for all his friends and relations, and his wife's friends and relations, in tryin' to blackjack 'em into fallin' for the bunk he is tryin' to put over.
There's two old-time days in the year that I'd like to see come back just once-them's Christmas and New Year's-with the good old tom-and-jerry, the eggnogg, the hotscotch, the rum punch, and all them other swell drinks and the big free lunch.Retrospective Regrets Recounted.
But I guess it ain't agoin' to happen, Bob, because them good guys that don't hit the dipper nowhow don't want to let nobody else take a crack at it.
Looks like we'd been gyp'd. They took our little red wagon away from us and they didn't even say "gimme." Just grabbed it and then told us to be good. Some fine old army worker done a purty bit of highjackin' and flimmed us when we was snoozin' in the hammick.
And see what they slipped us in exchange-jazz and hooch! Some trade, Bob, some bunk trade. The hooch hound and the jazz lane! No more wimmen and wine!
But they ain't no use puttin' up a squawk at this stage of the game. Them other guys was there with a cold deck, and they crossed us by dealin' from the bottom.
Well, anyhow-I gotta little plant of Old Crow on my hip for New Year's.
So-here's how!
--OLD TIMER.
Davenport Democrat & Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Jan. 4, 1922EVERYBODY'S DOIN' IT NOW; WOMAN LATEST
Mrs. M. Cooper Charged with Bootlegging; Carl Hagen Bound Over.Aha! Cherchez la femme!
Who's your lady bootlegger?
Women venders of delectable moonshine have evidently made their first appearance in Davenport but - O pshaw- they seem to cater to women only! Mrs. Mamie Cooper, 1600 block Rockingham road, got into a peck of trouble when Mrs. Maude Bateman, who lives at the foot of Division street, filed information charging her with selling a half pint of whisky in violation of federal laws. Mrs. Cooper was given her hearing in U.S. commissioner's court this morning, and was bound over to the grand jury under $200 bond.
"She sold me moonshine the latter part of November," Mrs. Bateman alleges. Evidence seems to point to the fact that Mrs. Cooper confined her liquor selling activities, if she engaged in any, to women exclusively.
Carl Hagen, accused of selling intoxicating liquor, was also bound over to the grand jury under bond of $400 this morning. It is claimed that Mrs. Cooper kept house for Hagen.Davenport Democrat & Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Jan. 5, 1922MAN AND WIFE APPEAR ON A BOOZE CHARGE
Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Pohlman Accused of Possessing and Selling LiquorArrested in connection with one of the biggest booze confiscations of last year, in which 1,15 pint bottles of beer and five gallons of hooch were seized by federal authorities, Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Pohlman, 1003 Perry street, will appear in U.S. Commissioner's court Jan. 10 and 11 respectively and selling intoxicating liquor. The couple was arraigned in court late yesterday afternoon. Mr. Pohlman was put under temporary bond of $1,000; his wife's bond was $500. C.J. Murphy is representing the plaintiffs.
The raid in which an unprecedented amount of liquor was confiscated occurred on the night of Dec. 29. Acting on information supplied by neighbors of the Pohlmans, deputy federal marshal Terrence Kinney entered the home with a search warrant, and, with the aid of the police, seized the liquor. Neighbors say that the Pohlmans have been bootlegging for some time.Davenport Democrat & Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Jan. 11, 1922LATHROP AND GLANDON ARE BOUND OVER
Men Arrested in Booze Raid Are Put Under BondGeorge Lathrop and Ike Glandon, 328 1/2 West Front street, charged with violation of the federal liquor law, were given hearings in U.S. commissioner's court late yesterday afternoon. Both men were bound over to the grand jury, Lathrop's bond being fixed at $500 and Glandon's at $200.
In a raid on the Front street premises yesterday, authorities seized a 25-gallon still, a suitcase full of counterfeit labels and seals, and more than a gallon of pure moonshine whisky. Glandon and Lathrop were given a preliminary questioning at the police station before they appeared in commissioner's court. Police believe that the outfit seized was part of the apparatus of a national whisky ring which has been operating extensively in the Tri-cities.
Lathrop is the lessee of the building at 328 1/2 West Front street. In his testimony yesterday, Lathrop denied any knowledge of the still, and said that he was ignorant of the fact that any whisky was being manufactured or sold in his place. He said he rented a room in the building to Glandon, but that he knew nothing of Glandon's activities.
According to testimony, the suitcase full of bogus whisky labels was in the building when the present occupants moved in. The still was found in Glandon's room.
Mrs. George Lathrop corroborated the statements of her husband in court. She said that her children found the labels and had been playing with them for a long time. She denied that her husband had anything to do with the manufacture or sale of liquor.
If the case is tried in federal court information concerning the national whisky ring is expected to be brought out.WITNESSES IN WORD BATTLE IN U.S. COURT
Mrs. J.H. Pohlman Bound Over on Liquor Charge; Bond is $1,000A word battle between witnesses was the feature of the hearing of Mrs. J.H. Pohlman, 1902 Perry street, in commissioner's court this morning. Mrs. Pohlman, who, in company with her husband, was arrested in a raid on their home in which a large quantity of liquor was seized, is charged with possession and sale of illicit liquor. She was bound over to the grand jury under $1,000 bond this morning.
Mrs. Elmer Coss, a neighbor of the Pohlmans, and her daughter, Alberta, appeared as witnesses. Mrs. Coss said that she requested Mrs. Pohlman not to sell liquor to her husband, Elmer Coss, and that Mrs. Pohlman promised not to.
"Elmer would go over to the Pohlman home with an empty bottle and come back with a full one," Mrs. Coss said. "Once I followed him and saw him give money to Mrs. Pohlman."
Alberta Coss testified," Father would go over to the Pohlmans and when he returned his breath smelled of liquor. I saw him give Mrs. Pohlman a silver dollar the night before Christmas."
Then Mr. Coss was called in. He said that he never gave Mrs. Pohlman money, but that he laid it on the table for another man. Mrs. Coss berated her husband for not telling the truth and as a consequence was requested to take a back seat by those in charge.
At Mrs. Pohlman's testimony, however, Mrs. Coss again became very angry. "I can't sit here and listen to such lies," she ejaculated and left the court room.
Attorney A.G. Bush ruled that the evidence was sufficient to warrant the holding of Mrs. Pohlman.Davenport Democrat & Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
February 8, 1922WASSILIS IS BOUND OVER TO THE GRAND JURY
Proprietor of Soft Drink Parlor is Put Under Bond of $300Frank Wassilis ,who was arrested after a battle with four policemen night before last, was given his hearing in U.S. Commissioner's Court this morning and was bound over to the Federal grand jury under $300 bond on a charge of violating the liquor laws. Wassilis is accused of possessing half a gallon of moonshine whisky, which he effectually attempted to dispose of when police raided his soft drink parlor at 102 Pershing avenue.
Wassilis paid court costs in police court this morning after which the case against him was dismissed. He also paid cash for a flash light, belonging to a policeman, which he damaged when his place was raided. Wassilis was unable to appear in police court yesterday because he had not sufficiently recovered from the effects of the liquor he drank on the night of the raid, when he barricaded himself inside his establishment and resisted arrest.Davenport Democrat & Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
February 8, 1922RAID ROSTOCK BAR; COPS GET 1 QT. WHISKY
Police Charge Soft Drink Parlor Proprietor with Dry Violation.
In anticipation of the arrival of "Pussyfoot" Johnson, National Prohibition leader, who will speak here against liquor tomorrow night, police officers raided the soft drink bar of Albert "Daub" Rostock, Rockingham road and Howell streets last night, and confiscated one quart of whiskey.
Detective Kinney and Officers Dietz and Lodge surprised Rostock when they walked into the bar room early last evening, and searched the place for contraband. The one quart was found and brought to the station with Rostock to be used as evidence against him, police said. He was released on $100 bond.
It is probable that the case will come up today for hearing late today before U.S. Commissioner A. Bush.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
April 2, 1922TWO SOFT DRINK BARS IN BUSINESS SECTION RAIDED BY FEDERAL MEN SATURDAY
A mother's anger at the abuse of her child by an intoxicated father led to the raiding of two "soft drink" bars in Davenport's business section, Saturday morning. The places raided were the Near Beer bar at 428 Harrison street and the old Stuve bar on the northwest corner of Fifth and Harrison streets. The raids were made by the U.S. deputy marshal and two government agents.
Robert Balluff, alleged proprietor of the Fifth and Harrison street bar, was the only man arrested Saturday, altho warrants for the arrest of several others have been issued. Balluff waived preliminary hearing in U.S. Commissioner's court Saturday afternoon and was bound over to the Federal grand jury under $500 bond.
The "evidence" obtained in the raids was small. Thirty-nine pints of home brew were taken at 428 Harrison street, while seven pints of home brew and a small tea pot containing alleged moonshine whisky were seized at the Struve bar. The Federal men worked silently. At the Struve bar, patrons were not aware that a raid was in progress, and continued buying drinks while a search for liquor was being made.
Mrs. J.A. Cartee, 710 Harrison street, was the woman responsible for the raids. In her affidavit she states that her husband is addicted to the use of intoxicating liquor and that he is a habitual drunkard. She says that she has seen him drinking over the bar at Fifth and Harrison streets.
"When he went into the place he was sober, but when he left he was under the influence of intoxicating liquor," Mrs. Cartee states.
"I saw him there on Aug. 22, 1921. He had taken my little child with him to the bar. Later, on the same day, I saw him lying drunk on a pile of gravel. He was dead drunk. My little child was staying with him and would not leave his daddy."
Mrs. Cartee claims that the child was exposed to the rain and that the child's health was endangered.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
April 3, 1922DICK KNAUTZ IS BOUND OVER TO GRAND JURY
Alleged Proprietor of Bar Which Was Raided Saturday.
Dick Knautz added another splash of motley to his checkered career when he appeared in U.S. commissioner's court this morning in connection with the raid on the Near Beer bar at 428 Harrison street Saturday morning. Knautz was bound over to the grand jury under $1,000 bond, which he furnished.
This is the second time this year that Knautz has appeared to answer liquor charges. He was previously bound over to the grand jury under $500 on a liquor charge.
Knautz is alleged to be one of the proprietors of the 428 Harrison street place. Other arrests may follow.
As was told in the Democrat and Leader Saturday, Arthur Balluff, alleged proprietor of the old Struve bar at Fifth and Harrison streets was bound over to the grand jury under $500 bond Saturday afternoon.
Thirty-nine pints of home brew from the 428 Harrison street place and seven pints of home brew and a small tea pot containing supposed moonshine whisky was all the evidence obtained in the government raid Saturday.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
April 9, 1922RAID ON BAR AND APARTMENT NETS 600 PINTS
Sheriff Searches Galvin and Thorne's Places at 412 West Third St.
FIND GIN AND WHISKEYSix hundred pint bottles of "home brew," two quarts of gin and a half pint of whisky were seized in a daylight raid on the "Annex" Bar, 412 West Third street, and the apartment rooms directly above the bar, Saturday by Sheriff William Brehmer and a party of deputy sheriffs acting under orders from County Attorney John P. Weir. No arrests were made.
Perl Galvin and A.J. (Skimmer) Hines, proprietors of the bar, and Pauline Thorne, who occupies the apartment on the second floor, will be cited into the court of Police Magistrate Harold Metcalf, who issued the search warrants sometime this week to show cause why the liquor taken in the raid should not be destroyed. State charges may be filed against the trio in district court later, the county attorney said.
Additional raids for yesterday were called off when the word was "passed along" the line that raiders were busy. The raid on the Annex Bar had no more than started before Davenport's "grapevine telegraph" lines were humming with messages of warning and temp. bars and resorts hushed the merry tinkle of glasses and threw the electric piano into low-for a while.Search Cellar to Garret.
Sheriff Brehmer and Deputy Sheriffs Frank Martin, Andrew Tumpane, Fred Scharfenberg and L.J. Engel, made a thoro search of the building at 413 and 412 1/2 West Third street from basement to roof in a fruitless search for a hidden supply of "real liker." The raiders even dug up the basement floor in an effort to find a secret cache.
Galvin succeeded in destroying several bottles of gin before the raiding party could interfere. The sheriff claims the whisky supply was also destroyed by someone in the building when the alarm was given.
The "home brew," piled high on shelves in a closet was taken from Pauline's apartments. The "brew" was fresh, having been bottled last Tuesday, according to the story Pauline told the sheriff. One quart of gin and a half pint of whisky were also found in the apartments. The raid on the bar netted one lone quart of gin.Interrupt Tete-a-Tete.
The raid interrupted a gentleman and his lady friend who were seated at a table in Pauline's parlor sipping "something" from wine glasses. Questioned as to their names and a place of abode both assumed a haughty air and declined to answer. They were allowed to depart after the deputies had confiscated their glasses.
According to County Attorney John Weir numerous complaints have been made against the Annex and Pauline's place for several weeks.
The raid is the first Sheriff Brehmer has made in the city since taking office a year ago last January. Heretofore the sheriff's office has maintained a "hands off" in city affairs. The sheriff says he was simply carrying out orders in making the raid yesterday.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
April 17, 1922COUNTY'S WAR ON RUM BLOWS UP; NO CHARGE
Weir Relents and Hines and Galvin Fail to Appear in Civil Case.
Following the sensational raid on the soft drink parlor of "Pearl" Galvin and "Skimmer" Hines, 412 West Third street, and the flat above, of a week ago Saturday, the "investigation" blew up this noon, when civil action was brought against the proprietors.
No criminal charge was filed against the men by the state authorities who caused the raid, and it was announced today by the county attorney's office that nothing would be done probably until the next session of the grand jury, which is next September.
Both Hines and Galvin, as well as Pauline Thorne, were cited to appear in police court this noon, to show cause why the liquor and beer seized in their establishments should not be destroyed.
Inasmuch as they had not been required to put up any bond, when they were arrested they failed to appear in the civil action, and Magistrate Metcalf ordered that the beer now held by the sheriff be destroyed.
The destruction of the liquid by court order acting under state laws, successfully blocks all attempts of federal men to prosecute the soft drink parlor proprietors, if they should so desire.
In the event that government men desire to intercede and force the prosecution in federal court, they will be handicapped by lack of evidence. It will have been destroyed unless the sheriff saves a bottle or so.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
April 23, 1922KRACHT RAIDS TWO PLACES; FINDS LIQUOR
Henry Neil and John Johnson Grabbed in Booze Search.Jack Kracht, marshal at Bettendorf, raided the shanty of Henry Neil, colored, in the "Holy City", and the soft drink parlor of John Johnson, 329 State street, Saturday, and secured a half gallon and a quart of alleged moonshine whisky for his pains. According to Marshal Kracht, he caught the men in the act of selling liquor.
Both of the men are old offenders. A still was found in Neil's shanty in a raid two years ago. Johnson had also had trouble with the authorities. "The two have disturbed the peace and dignity of Bettendorf for the last eight years," Marshal Kracht states.
When he was captured, Neil promised not to sell any more liquor, so the charge against him was changed to that of running a disorderly house. Johnson, however, will be arraigned before the federal commissioner.
The half gallon of moonshine was secured at Neil's place, while the quart was found in Johnson's soft drink parlor.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
April 24, 1922"Hooch" Disguised as New Vinegar Fails to Halt Liquor Seizure.
Moonshine disguised as vinegar, kept carefully in the pantry and contained in a thermo bottle, failed to fool police raiders last night, and three pints of the contraband were taken from the J.F. Lock flat at 226 1/2 East Third street.
Lock was arrested as keeper of a disorderly house and Manuel Portillo and Garcia Devente, two Mexicans, were taken as inmates. Both of the latter admitted that they had purchased liquor in the place.
The disguised "hooch" was brought into court this afternoon, when Lock and the other two were tried on a city charge of keeping a disorderly house and being inmates.
They were then taken to the court of the U.S. Commissioner A.C. Bush, where Lock will be given a preliminary hearing.
"Take the case to the federal court when we are thru with them here," Acting Chief Schlueter told the two officers who had made the raid, Detective Quinn and Officer Rogers.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
April 26, 1922Dispose of Liquor Cases
A number of liquor cases were disposed of in yesterday afternoon's session. Ike Glandon, who was arrested here after a complete bogus whisky outfit, including spurious stamps and labels, had been found in his residence, was fined $500 and costs by Judge Wade. Frank Wassilus, proprietor of a soft drink parlor, was fined $300 and costs on a liquor selling and possession charge. E.P. Hughes was also fined $500 and costs on a similar charge.
Colored Man Pleads Case.
Henry Neil, colored Bettendorfer, who was arrested by Marshal Jack Kracht last Saturday, after the marshal had found a quantity of moonshine liquor in Neil's shanty in the "Holy City," acted as his own attorney. Neil made an eloquent plea, asserting that his life has been pure as the driven snow, that his existence has been singularly free from fault, and that he has only been arrested once. This in the face of Marshal Kracht's assertion that Neil is an old offender.
Judge Wade fined Neil $100 and costs, but remitted the fine on condition that Neil pay the costs of the case within 30 days.
"And I don't want to see you here again," admonished the judge in dismissing Neil.
"No, sah, Jedge, you won't never see me here no moah!" cried Neil, beating a hasty retreat.Kazarian Up Today.
The case of Malik Kazarian, of Bettendorf, who is charged with selling liquor to minors, may come up for trial this afternoon. Jerry Murphy, known as "the terror of Steamboat Island," may also appear for trial. John Johnson, who was arrested by Marshal Kracht in connection with Henry Neil, and who is accused of selling liquor at his soft drink parlor at 329 State street, Bettendorf, has asked for a continuance of his case. J.H. Pohlman, in whose home a large quantity of liquor was found in a raid by federal agents the first of the year, will probably appear in court this afternoon.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
April 27, 1922ARREST 7 IN POLICE RAID ON GAMBLERS
Seize Five Gallons of "Hooch" and Four Cases of "Home Brew."
SMASH DOWN DOORS
Confiscate Cards, Poker Chips, Tables and Other Paraphernalia.Police raiders last night smashed down the doors to the gaming rooms maintained by C.A. Challberg and Jack Oaster at 120 East Third street, seized five gallons of bad whisky, four cases of home brew, several hundred poker chips and other paraphernalia, which made the best equipped in the city and arrested the proprietors and five inmates.
The raid was led by Lieutenant Walter Homeyer, recently promoted to the position. Other officers in the party were Pete Kuehl and Pat Dietz. The place was cleaned out of everything except two "crap" tables which were too large to get into the patrol.
It was about 11 o'clock that the raiders whirled a police car up to the entrance to the establishment. They demanded entrance to the rooms on the second floor.Break Down Door.
No one answered the knock of the police officers and the door was barred with a Yale lock. Hearing movements on the inside, Lieutenant Homeyer again demanded entrance.
When no reply was forthcoming, the stocky officer and Patrolman Pete Kuehl put their shoulders to the panels and burst in the door.
The seven occupants of the rooms had retired, but before the eyes of the raiding party was a complete bar, well bolstered with glasses and bottles, several poker tables, with their accompanying "kittys" and plenty of poker chips.Haul Out Evidence.
While one of the policemen guarded the seven men, who were placed under arrest immediately, another called the patrol wagon. The men were taken to the station and later another trip was made with a wagonload of gambler's paraphernalia.
Chips, cards, counting boards, "kittys," etc., are being held by Acting Chief Schlueter for evidence. In the meantime Oaster and Challberg have been given a continuance of their case until Monday morning. They appeared in police court this morning.
Ed Miller, Jack Kane, J. Malloy, George Peck, and Frank Harrison, the five inmates, last night posted $10 bonds, and failed to appear this morning.Liquor Charge Soon.
Police officers will press a charge of "having liquor" "in possession" against Oaster and Challberg, they declared today, and they were ordered to take the two proprietors to Commissioner R.C. Bush for a hearing.
It is probable that the liquid evidence will be turned over to U.S. Marshal Kenney last today or tomorrow. The booze was in containers ranging in size from a half pint to five gallon jug.
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
May 3, 1922POLICE "ARID" SQUAD SEIZES STILL, LIQUOR
Raid Residence of Lizzie Rickets, 1318 West Second Street.
SHE PLEADS GUILTY
Take 15 Gallons of Moonshine and Keg of Aging Booze.Members of the police dry squad, headed by Lieutenant Walter Homeyer, last night swooped down on the residence of Lizzie Ricketts, 1318 West Second street, seized a huge still and 15 gallons of moonshine. Several gallons of the finished product were in a charred cask, getting properly aged.
Brought before U.S. Commissioner A.G. Bush this morning, the Ricketts woman pleaded guilty to a charge of "having liquor in possession," and was bound over to the federal grand jury on $500 bonds.
The still, one of the most complete outfits ever taken by prohibition forces, and the liquor, was turned over to federal authorities after the preliminary hearing.Demands Warrant.
It was shortly after midnight that Lieutenant Homeyer and Officers Gubser and Lamont forced an entrance to the residence of Miss Ricketts.
The woman demanded a warrant but the complaint the police had received was against her for immoral life. They started on a search of the house.
She continued to precede the officers, demanding a search warrant at every step. They finally found the still and the liquor.
She was immediately placed under arrest for having the still, and as short time later the keg of aging whisky came to light. Other jugs and bottles distributed in various sections of the house added five more gallons to the contraband.
George Lathrop, with the remains of a quart bottle on his hip, was arrested at 2:15 and charged with dealing from his pocket.Scarlet Woman Swoons as Law Decrees 30 Days
Mary Smith, a member of the "oldest profession in the world," today created consternation in the court of Police Magistrate Metcalf, when she collapsed in a faint, as the police judge sentenced her to 30 days in jail for immoral life.
Police officers rushed to her assistance and the stiffened body of the woman was carried from the court room, while the hundred or more spectators gaped and shuffled their feet in uncertain sympathy.
She had been arrested at her home at 1210 West Second street by Lieutenant Homeyer and Officers Gubser and Lamont.
August DeGrave, the man who was with her in her room at the time of the raid, was fined $10 and costs, which he paid. The charges against F.A. Bogart, O. DeGrave and H. DeBarr, also found in the house, were dismissed.
Later the police magistrate relented and assessed a fine of $50 against the woman.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
May 8, 1922DRY RAIDERS CAPTURE FIVE IN 'TEMP' BAR
Police Arid Squad Seize Pitcher of "Hootch" at Seventh and DivisionMembers of the Sahara squad of the police department raided the soft drink parlor of Walter Petersen, Seventh and Division streets last night, arrested five men and seized a quart pitcherfull of "hooch".
Officers Lodge, Dietz and McDermott answered a call for a disorderly house, and when they reached the place, all of the occupants were mellowly good natured, due to the influence of moonshine.
Officer McDermott investigating the rear of the bar, discovered a pitcher containing moonshine of marvelous potency, and four were brought to the station. Walter Petersen, the proprietor, appeared later and gave himself up.
They will appear for trial on charge of being keeper and inmates of a disorderly house Wednesday afternoon, police said.
In the meanwhile the police who made the raid are contemplating taking the case to the U.S. commissioner, where Petersen will be charged with keeping liquor in his possession, the officers said.
The four arrested as inmates were Otto Gilbert, Albert Rostock, Fred Strathmann and Ray Woods.REGRETS THAT MARSHAL DIDN'T FIND NEW STILL
But There is Sufficient Evidence Against Bettendorfer Anyway."If you would have waited until next week you would have found the brand-new still I ordered," John Stanalitz, 431 West Brown street, Bettendorf, told Marshal John Kracht when the marshal raided Stanalitz's residence Sunday afternoon.
A still coil and boiler, two barrels of whisky mash and three quarts of moonshine whisky were found in Stanalitz's home. Charged with possession and manufacture of liquor, Stanalitz will be given a hearing before U.S. Commissioner A.G. Bush this afternoon.
According to Marshal Kracht, Stanalitz has made a clean breast of his moonshine operations. He told the marshal yesterday that he had ordered a big new still.
The man was bound over to the federal grand jury under $300 bond in U.S. commissioner's court late this afternoon.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
May 9, 1922POLICE CAPTURE HUGE STILL AND OPERATOR MAKES "MOVIE" ESCAPE
Leaping from a second story window to elude the "dry" raiders of the police, the operator of one of the largest and most complete whisky stills ever in Davenport, made a sensational "movie" escape last night. Police were left to seize the paraphernalia.
The seizure netted one 25-gallon copper still and coils, complete, 15 gallons of the finished product, and nine 50-gallon barrels of rye and corn mash.
The raid was on the house at 2308 Western avenue, formerly that of Charles E. Alford, but two months ago purchased from him by Otto Gassmann. Police are seeking Gassmann and Ralph Lane, who is thought to be the man who made the desperate and successful escape.Hold Lane's Car.
Lane's Ford car was parked in front of the house and local authorities are holding it. They are also taking charge of the house and its contents and awaiting the appearance of Gassmann.
Meanwhile action has been started in the district court by County Attorney John Weir, to obtain an injunction so that the house can be sealed by court order. The liquor manufacturing plant and the product seized is considered sufficient evidence to warrant such action.
Armed with a search warrant, police demanded entrance to the residence about 11 o'clock last night. There was no reply to their knock and they forced a window to the cellarway.
Lieutenant Homeyer and Officers Elmer Schlueter, Dietz and Kuehl scrambled thru the opening and started to search the house. As they mounted the stairs they heard movements in the upper part of the residence.
When they reached the second floor, they discovered that a screen had been kicked out and the operator of the still,. which was cooking over a double gas burner, was gone. He had jumped from the window and escaped, police said.
Several complaints have been received from neighbors who declared that the smell of the mash and cooking rye, permeated the air for several hundred feet.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
May 22, 1922WOMAN 'SHINE MAKER NABBED BY DRY SQUAD
Two Stills and 25 Gallons of Hooch Taken from Mary Olson.Women continue to invade the fields of masculine endeavors, both legal and illegal, and yesterday the police and federal raiders arrested Mary Olson, 427 Concord street, seized two stills and 25 gallons of moonshine.
When the local searchers for the desert oasis charged into the Olson residence, they found no one home, but in the cellar was as complete a set of moonshine outfit ever seen by the "dry" officers.
The two stills, one seven and the other 15-gallon capacity, together with half a dozen whiskey barrels and 25 gallons of the finished product, were brought to the station, while an officer was left on vigil for the return of Mary.
The raid was staged at 4 o'clock Sunday morning and three hours later Arthur Johnson was arrested as he attempted to enter the house with a key. A few minutes later the woman approached and was taken into custody.
Both are charged with possession and manufacturing of liquor, altho Johnson declares that he was merely a roomer and knew nothing of the still.
Police also invaded the residence of Arthur Seckler, 2136 West High street, shortly before midnight last night, confiscated various parts of a huge still and 15 gallons of corn liquor.
The raid was headed by two government men and Lieutenant Homeyer of the Davenport police force. Other officers were Kuehl, Cuervorst, Schwinden and Dietz.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
June 4, 1922"DRY" SQUAD MAKES HEAVIEST SEIZURES IN SIX BIG RAIDS
Police, Headed by Federal Agent Muhs, Confiscates Distilling and Brewery Paraphernalia and Destroys Hundreds of Gallons of Product-
Thousands of Bottles of Beer, Whisky and Wine Taken.Raiding stills, breweries, soft drink parlors and "speak easies," the Davenport dry squad, headed by Federal Agent R.E. Muhs, yesterday afternoon made the largest seizures of liquor, moonshine and otherwise, and beer that has ever been confiscated.
Thousands of bottles of home brew were carted to the county jail, while stills, crocks and other paraphernalia for the manufacture and sale of illicit alcoholic drinks made a total of five patrol wagons loads.
Virtually no section of the city with the exception of the extreme east, was missed by the arid raiders, who, in the emergency car of the police department sped from brewery to moonshiner and on to the retailers in the contraband between the hours of 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. yesterday.
Places raided were:
J.F. Devenyns, 305 South Thornwood avenue, residence.
William Stark, 121 1/2 Ripley street.
Amos Judisch, 329 1/2 West Second street.
C. Knautz, 428 Harrison street.
John Fey, 1314 LeClaire street.
Ivan Mastup, Waverly road.Two at Large.
With the exception of Devenyns on Thornwood avenue and William Stark, Ripley street, all of the brewers, moonshiners and dealers were brought to the station, where they were released on appearance bonds set by County Attorney John Weir. The two at large are expected to surrender today.
Besides the thousands of quarts of the finished product which was removed from the various residences, apartments, and business establishments raided, the squad destroyed several hundred gallons of beer in the process of fermentation.
After three hours of labor the raiding party, which consisted of Detective John Kinney and Officers Dietz, Kuehl and Snider, their clothing bespattered with grain mash and soaked in home-made brew, wearily reached the police station.Get Huge Plant.
One of the largest and most complete breweries, not excepting that at 517 Harrison street, raided a week ago, was seized at 305 South Thornwood avenue, where between 1200 and 1500 bottles of beer were confiscated.
This was the last place entered and the raid was directly the result of a tip slipped to police while they were raiding the brewery of William Stark, 121 Ripley street. Altho no one was home when police arrived with a search warrant, there was a bottle full of steaming beer which had been cooking a few minutes before.
Police were at the Stark place, emptying the jars of beer which contained 96 gallons in the state of fermentation, when the telephone rang."Hot" Tip Comes.
An officer answered the telephone and a feminine voice at the other end of the phone asked:
"Has the law been up to see you yet, Bill?"
"No, not yet," the policeman replied. And inquiringly, "Have they been down to your place?"
"No," the lady answered. "I've got so much stuff here that I couldn't get rid of it short of two days. Come on down awhile," was her invitation.
"All right, we'll be down right away," was the suave statement. "Wait for us."
The telephone call was traced and the address obtained.
Federal Agent Muhs immediately had a search warrant made out and the raiders resumed their march thru the city, bound for Thornwood avenue.Break Open Window.
The residence, a stucco dwelling, was locked and bolted when police arrived. The lady had not waited.
Officer Pat Dietz jimmied a side window with a pair of pliers and when the window was forced open the policemen were smothered in a wave of odor of working beer which emanated from the room.
Officer Snider climbed thru and the raiding party were given entry thru the rear door. The house was empty of people, but all around one of the rooms huge stone crocks stood, some empty, but most of them filled with beer.
For two hours the police worked and two patrol loads of beer and paraphernalia were taken away before all had been removed.Other Raids Precede.
Five other raids preceded that at the Devenyns home and officers seized wine, beer, whisky and one still.
Starting at 11 o'clock they confiscated a still and one pint of moonshine liquor at the place of Ivan Mastuh on Waverly road. Altho they searched the premises, they were able to unearth only one pint of the finished product.
Leaving there, they sped to 1314 LeClaire street, where they surprised John Fey. Three cases of home brew, one gallon of "hooch," and six five-gallon jugs of wine were taken.
Without hesitation they followed their list and stepped into the soft drink parlor of C. Knautz, 428 Harrison street, where they found two and a half quarts of whisky and half a case of beer.Crowd Sees Next One.
Half a minute after the police car had pulled up to the entrance of Lahrman's hall, a crowd of several hundred curiosity seekers watched while officers charged up the stairway and entered the improvised barroom in the rear of 329 1/2 West Second street.
Here was a complete barroom, lined with bottle and well supplied with glasses. Two quarts of gin, a quart of whisky, and a dozen bottles of home brew were taken by the officers.
The place, said to be operated by Amos Judisch, was closed by the officers, while they sought the proprietor. Police officers declared they saw Judisch as he stepped into an automobile immediately after the raid was started.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
June 11, 1922HOLD LINWOOD OWNERS TO THE FEDERAL JURY
Mr. Kettnich Is Held Under $2,000 Bond and His Wife on $500 Bond.The "inside story" of Saturday night's raid on Lindwood Inn was not related in court today by the so-called prominent business men who were rounded up in the raid. While practically all of them gave fictitious names Saturday night, the identity of many of them was known to the raiding party and they were informed at the time that they would be subpoenaed to testify at the hearing.
The preliminary hearing was held this afternoon before U.S. Commissioner A.G. Bush. The only witnesses in court were Prohibition Agent Muhs and Deputy Sheriffs Frank Martens and Andy Tumpane. These witnesses gave no testimony aside from the fact that liquor had been confiscated at the place.
Mr. and Mrs. Kettelsen both waived examination and were bound over to the federal grand jury. Mr. Kettnich was released on $2,000 bonds and his wife on $500 bonds. Harold Metcalf was their attorney. No charges were preferred against Hans Jaeger.Woman Sole Owner.
Mrs. Kettnich today declared that she was the sole owner of Linwood and that her husband George Kettnich and Hans Jaeger, had no proprietary interest in the place. According to Mrs. Kettnich, she bought out all her husband's interest last fall. Jaeger, she says, at no time had an interest. Mr. Kettnich and Mr. Jager are partners in the ownership of the Grotto cafe on Perry street. Saturday night both were at Linwood helping Mrs. Kettnich during the rush hours.
"I am the sole owner of Linwood and am willing to take all responsibility for its management. I endeavor to conduct a first class place and have worked hard along these lines. I do not see how I can be held responsible for all the acts of my patrons," declared Mrs. Kettnich today.POLICE RAID INGRAHAM FOR THIRD TIME
Find Three Bottle of "Hooch"- Disorderly Housekeeper Fined.For the third time in the last few months, police raided the soft drink parlor of A.J. Ingraham, 15?0 West Seventh street, but last night they confiscated several bottles of moonshine liquor. Ingraham was fined $100 and costs for maintaining a disorderly house.
Officers Dietz, McDermott and Kuehl last night broke up the wild party which was being staged at Seventh and Division streets and Ingraham was brought to the station. The charge preferred against him was keeping a disorderly house. Two and a half quarts of liquor were confiscated by the officers.
In accordance with a new policy adopted by the police department, if there are any federal charges filed against Ingraham, they will be preferred by the United States prohibition agents.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
June 13, 1922LAU HELD AT LAST ON LIQUOR CHARGE WHEN AGENT "MISUNDERSTANDS"
Apologetic Reception by Federal Officials Greets Alleged Dealer at Preliminary Hearing Today-
"It's All a Mistake," Muhs Says- Other "Mistakes" Made When Raider Took Three Bottles of Whisky
from Lau's Auto at Linwood Saturday Night.The slumbers of Al Lau, whom police term the "king of Davenport bootleggers," were rudely interrupted this morning by a telephone call from Deputy U.S. Marshal Terrence Kenney, who summoned Lau to appear in U.S. commissioner's court on a charge of possession and transporting moonshine liquor.
Lau, as he himself stated today, was surprised. He had expected nothing of the sort. Since he drove his automobile away from the Linwood roadhouse after the big raid Saturday night, he has been unmolested. Silently and unostentatiously he had departed, together with 150 odd merrymakers, whose conviviality had been disturbed by government agents.Misunderstanding, Says Muhs.
"Why did you not arrest Lau when you found, as you claim, three pints of moonshine whisky in his automobile Saturday night?" Federal Agent R.E. Muhs was asked this morning.
"It was all a misunderstanding," Muhs replied. "I told Lau to wait for us while we raided other parts of the road house, but he misunderstood me and left in his car before we could take him into custody."
"Is it not the custom among government agents to hold automobiles in which liquor is found?" was another question.
"It is," was the answer.
"Are you holding Lau's car?"
"No. This is not that kind of a case. We merely found the booze in Lau's car and did not see it when it was in motion."Hearing Like Tea Party.
A spirit of apologetic camaradie [sic] prevailed between Lau and the government agents when the man was arraigned before U.S. commissioner A.G. Bush this morning. Smiles were frequently exchanged and when the question of Lau's bond came up, suggestions were quickly offered. Lau stated that he thought he could obtain his $500 bond this afternoon.
"In the meantime, I will turn you over to Marshal Kenney," Commissioner Bush told Lau. "Whatever arrangements the marshal sees fit to make will be satisfactory to me."Chamberlin Gets Continuance.
At the request of Attorney William Chamberlin, who has been retained by Lau, the case has been continued until July 7. Federal Agent Muhs said that he thought he could be in Davenport on that date.
"There is nothing to this case," Muhs told a Democrat reporter today. Marshal Kenney, too, was emphatic in his statements that the case was not of great importance. "I suppose the papers will print two or three columns of this," he said.Bush Fears Criticism.
When the question of Lau's bond came up, Attorney Chamberlin at once said that there was not much danger of Lau's getting out of town before he can be tried. Lau hesitated when he was asked whether or not he knew of any particular person willing to put up the $500.
"In order to avoid public criticism," Commissioner Bush interposed, "we can show this man no lenience. Defendants are always required to furnish bond for their release."Lau's Car Seized Before.
Lau has never been convicted on a booze charge, and has, up to this time, had but one clash with government prohibition agents. About a year and a half ago, his automobile was seized by the government and held at the county jail for one day, when it was released after liquid evidence against Lau had mysteriously disappeared.Man is Unruffled.
In court today, Lau presented an unruffled and confident demeanor.
"I didn't know that I was coming here at all today until I was waked by the telephone," he stated.
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
June 21, 1922WOMAN'S TESTIMONY THAT SHE MADE BOOZE TO FREE ALLEGED BOOTLEGGER
Altho Mrs. Minnie Pence, 121 1/2 Ripley street, testified in U.S. commissioner's court this morning that the large quantity of liquor found by police and government agents in her residence was her own property, brewed by her alone, she failed to free William Stark, alleged to be the real owner of the booze.
Stark's bond was increased to $1,000 and a complaint summarily filed against Mrs. Pence. The woman is held to the federal grand jury under $500 bond.
"Altho I lived at 121 1/2 Ripley street, I knew nothing about the liquor kept there," Stark testified this morning. "The booze belonged to my landlady, Mrs. Pence. I was merely a roomer and knew nothing about my landlady's operations. If you will call her, she will bear me out in this statement."
Mrs. Pence was called. Her chic blue shirt appeared too narrow to hide behind, yet she made a valiant attempt to shield her roomer.
"I performed all the brewing work myself," she stated. "Mr. Stark was in no way concerned."
"Did you handle ten-gallon crocks all by yourself?" asked Commissioner A.G. Bush.
"Yes, I didn't have to move them. They were washed on the bench where they stood."
"Does the liquor belong to you?"
"Well, you found it in my residence, didn't you?" was the nonchalant reply.
Thereupon a complaint was filed against Mrs. Pence. Stark's bond was increased to $1,000 and he was bound over to the grand jury.
Police who assisted in the raid on the Pence place assert that Stark and the woman were living together since a quantity of women's clothing was found in Stark's bedroom. Hundreds of bottles of beer and several crocks of fermenting beer were seized in the raid.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
July 4, 1922TWO STILLS, LIQUOR AND MASH SEIZED IN RAID ON OUTSKIRTS
Two complete stills, one in operation, 370 gallons of grain mash and two gallons of moonshine whiskey were seized by police and federal agent R.E. Muhs in a raid on George Youngen's shack, 400 block East Thirty-second street, early this morning. Youngen was arrested.
Ten five-gallon jugs, three 3-gallon jugs and 18 gin bottles were destroyed by Muhs, Lieut. Homeyer and Officers Dietz and Kuehl.
When the officers entered the shack, they found a still merrily bubbling away, and booze producing apparatus lying near, Youngen, who lives on the Dubuque road, could not be found.
After destroying the bottles and jugs, the raiding officers left, but Officer McDonald was detailed to watch the shack. Shortly before 2:30 o'clock Youngen arrived, and was promptly arrested.
Two roomers in Youngen's place were questioned during the raid, but investigation showed that they had nothing to do with the manufacture of the booze. Police believe that Youngen used the shack purely as a factory.
The man is now in jail pending his hearing before U.S. Commissioner A.G. Bush, probably tomorrow.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
July 7, 1922ANALYSIS OF BOOZE SHOWS 4 PERCENT
So Julius Goettsch Is Bound to Federal Grand JuryChemical analysis of beer taken in a raid on Julius Goettsch's bar at 932 West Sixth street showed the liquor to contain 4 per cent of alcohol, so Goettsch was this morning bound over to the federal grand jury on $500 bonds by United States Commissioner A.G. Bush.
Goettsch plead guilty and waived examination.AL LAU BOUND TO GRAND JURY, BOND IS $500.
Al Lau, frequently suspected of being a bootlegger, will face a federal judge on a booze charge for the first time at the October term of court.
United States Commissioner A.G. Bush bound Lau over to Judge Wade after a hearing at 9 o'clock this morning. The bonds were set at $500. Lau was arrested on a possession shortly after the celebrated raid at Linwood.
The only witness examined by Commissioner Bush was Federal Agent R.E. Muhs who found liquor in Lau's car.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
July 13, 1922GARAGE TAKES CELLAR PLACE; BOOZE SEIZED
Beer and Whisky Taken from Building Owned by J.P. Brown.The garage apparently usurped the place of the cellar in the case of J.P. Brown, 30, 1021 West Third street, who is being held on a liquor possession charge. Brown's garage was raided by Federal Prohibition Agent R.E. Muhs, together with Officers Shroeder and Hanson at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Forty-three dozen bottles of home brew, 95 gallons of beer in fermentation, three 25-gallon crooks, three ten-gallon crocks, six gallons of alleged moonshine whisky, two bottle capping machines and a sack full of bottle caps were found in the garage.
"He tried to keep us away from the garage." Federal Agent Muhs said this morning, "but he did not succeed. We found nothing in the house and all liquor manufacturing was evidently carried on in the garage."Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
July 16, 1922RAID ON WAREHOUSE NETS 4,200 BOTTLES OF HOME BREW BEER
A six weeks' investigation of what is believed to be the biggest brewery in Davenport terminated in a raid on the "warehouse" at 1911 West Sixteenth street shortly before 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon.
Four thousand, two hundred bottles of home brew were seized by Federal Prohibition Agent R.E. Muhs, assisted by Police Offcers Clark Lamont and D. Rodenbaugh. One of Ewart & Richter's largest trucks was required to haul the booze away.Proprietor Not at Home.
Thomas Clark, 1908 West Fifteenth street, alleged proprietor of the brewery, was not at home when the raid was made. His residence across the alley was searched and a quantity of liquor manufacturing apparatus was found. The raid squad "spotted" the goods, and returning last night, removed 3 1/2 boxes of malt extract, 3 1/2 boxes of hops, nine crocks from 30 to 8 gallon capacity, a wash boiler used to boil mash, 2 syphon hoses, and a half bushel of bottle caps. A bottle capper was found in the cellar of the place.
Charged with violating the Eighteenth Amendment, Clark will probably be arraigned before U.S. Commissioner A.G. Bush next Monday.Watched Six Weeks.
"For six weeks I have been watching Clark's operations," Mr. Muhs stated after the raid. "He was a tough customer, and every one of his movements was cautiously made."
"He employed a boy to deliver booze to local soft drink bars and other places. When the boy delivered the goods, Clark would walk in and collect the money. Yesterday I walked into a soft drink bar 15 minutes after Clark had left.
"Clark delivered beer by the thousand. He was no small fry."Think Clark "Master Mind"
That the Clark plant was the source of supply for most of Davenport's bootleg places is the belief of police who claim that the man was a "higher up" in the illicit liquor game. His arrest, it is thought, will mark the end of much booze peddling in this city.
When the raiders entered the warehouse, which, externally appeared to be an ordinary dwelling house with curtains at the windows, they found cases of beer piled up to the ceiling. It required a half hour of hard work on the part of Muhs and the police to load the beer onto the truck.Used Only For Booze.
There was little indication that the warehouse was used as a dwelling house, since the cases of beer occupied much of the space, altho an upper room of the building contained no liquor.
A crowd of neighbors stood outside while the raid was in progress, and many jokes concerning the work in progress were exchanged.JOE HALLECK PLACE RAIDED SEIZE STILL
Coil and Wash Boiler Apparatus Taken from Small DistilleryJoe Halleck, 524 Federal street, was "not at home" when Lieutenant Homeyer and Officers Bishop and Kuehl visited his place and removed therefrom a 50-gallon still and coil, and a washboiler cooker Thursday night.
Halleck will be arraigned before United States Commissioner Bush next week.
The raid followed numerous complaints that Halleck, who was bound over to the federal grand jury on May 7, was again manufacturing liquor.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
July 17, 1922SPONGE SQUAD NABS TWO STILLS TWO MEN HELD
Moonshine, Mash and Utensils Seized in Sunday Raids.The homes of R.J. Brandt and John Petersen, 2214 and 2216 1/2 West First street, were the objective of Davenport's sponge squad, led by Prohibition Officer R.E. Muhs, in raids made shortly after 11 o'clock Sunday night. One complete 15 gallons still, 60 gallons of mash, and a half gallon of moonshine whisky were taken from Brandt's place, while Petersen's upstairs rooms furnished another complete 15-gallon still, three, one-gallon jugs of hooch and one 12-gallon stone jar.
Brandt and Petersen were arrested.
Assisting Mr. Muhs in the raids were Lieut. Homeyer and Officers Kuehl, Kinney and McDermott. Entering the cellar of the Brandt home, the officers found a complete liquor manufactory. The 60-gallons of mash were destroyed and the moonshine and still taken to the police station.
Petersen's still was secreted in a closet. Pushing back a sliding door, the raiders discovered it nestling coyly in the semi-darkness.
Both Petersen and Brandt were given a hearing before United States Commissioner A.G. Bush this morning.
Petersen plead guilty to the charge of possession of the 15-gallon still and mash and was bound over to the federal grand jury on $300 bonds. Brandt also plead guilty, waived examination, and was bound to the federal jury on $400 bonds. Neither man was able to furnish the bond so they are held at the county jail.
Steve Stopulus, arrested on July 7 charged with possession, was arraigned before Commissioner Bush this morning and given a continuance until Aug. 3.WILLIAM MURRAY IS BOUND OVER
Entering a plea of not guilty but waiving preliminary examination before U.S. Commissioner A.G. Bush this afternoon, William C. Murray of Murray Bros. was bound over to the federal grand jury on a charge of possessing liquor. His bond was fixed at $500.
The Murray cigar store and soft drink parlor is located at 227 Perry street. In the warrant it was indicated that chemical analysis of home brew seized several weeks ago showed it had the necessary "kick" for conviction.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
July 18, 1922CHAS. PALMER PUTS UP BOND FOR JACK WALL.
Wall Bound to Federal Grand Jury by U.S. Commissioner.Jack Wall, well known among the citizens who would never support Mr .Volstead for president, was bound over to the federal grand jury by U.S. Commissioner A.G. Bush this morning and Charles Palmer, also widely known, furnished his $1,000 bond.
Wall was charged with possession of and sale of liquor at 416 West Second street. The place was raided about a week ago. Wall plead not guilty but waived preliminary examination.
Henry Jaeger, Jr., plead guilty to the possession of beer but not guilty on a charge of possession of gin in connection with the recent raid on his place at 1029 West Second street.
He waived preliminary examination and was bound over to the federal grand jury on $500 bonds.STOPOLOUS IS FINED $100 IN POLICE COURT
"Slippery Steve" Free to Face Music of U.S. Government.Steve Stopolous, 519 Perry street, was assessed a $100 fine in police court this morning on a charge of keeping a disorderly house, and may now devote his entire time to answering a charge of possessing illicit liquor on which charge he has been arrested by federal prohibition officers.
Stopolous has been dubbed "Slippery Steven" by the police and federal officers, who have been keeping a close watch over him for the last few weeks. It was understood that he was getting ready to move to Moline and for this reason the man was shadowed.
Stopolous, a Greek, has been the cause of many complaints from neighbors, who asserted that he was running a saloon in his residence.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
July 23, 1922BARBER HELD AS 'LEGGER AFTER RAID
Ed Rodler Arrested Friday Night-Bound Over to Federal Jury.Ed Rodler, formerly lessee of the Davenport Hotel barber shop, recently managing the Blackhawk hotel shop is facing a charge of having liquor in his possession, following his arrest Friday night at his home, 222 Gaines street, after a raid by federal officers and police.
Government men and Lieut. Homeyer and Officer Kuehl last night searched the Rodler house and confiscated 16 bottles of beer and about five gallons of moonshine whiskey, in half a dozen containers.
Rodler was given a preliminary hearing before U.S. Commissioner A.G. Bush yesterday morning, waived the hearing of the evidence, pleaded not guilty, and was held to the Federal Grand jury on $500 bond, which he furnished.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
July 26, 1922PRO AGENTS SWOOP DOWN ON MAYSVILLE; BIG RESORT RAIDED
As the result of a raid on his two soft drink bars, dance hall and picnic grounds in the little town of Maysville, 12 miles northwest of Davenport, yesterday afternoon, Albert Roehlk, characterized by prohibition men as a "big duck in a little puddle," will face liquor charges in U.S. commissioner's court here.
The raid was conducted by Federal Agent R.E. Muhs and Deputy U.S. Marshal Terrence Kenney. Leaving Davenport shortly after 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, the raiders made a clean sweep of the town, returning to Davenport with eight sacks of beer and a small quantity of moonshine liquor.
While practically the whole population of Maysville looked on, Muhs and Kenney ransacked Roehlk's holdings. Liquor was found in the icebox, behind the bar, in drawers, and in cubby-holes. Thirty sacks full of empty beer bottles were found on the picnic grounds, a circumstance which leads Mr. Muhs to believe that the place did a rushing business Sunday. "Had we gone there Sunday, we would have found booze-selling activities in full swing," he said today.
Roehlk was not at home at the time of the raid, but his arrest is assured, officers state. He may be brought up before Commissioner A.G. Bush tomorrow morning.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
July 30, 1922WIFE'S EFFORTS FAIL TO SAVE 'LEGGER HUBBY
Simmons Taken After Woman Pours Out Liquor SupplyThe loyal, tho illegal, attempt by Mrs. Harry E. Simmons to save her husband from facing a bootlegging charge, by the destruction of the liquor supply in Simmons' place in Bettendorf yesterday afternoon failed because prohibition forces had obtained a sale "on" Simmons. He has been released on $500 bond pending his hearing before Commissioner Bush next Friday.
The raid was made on Simmons' shack on Fourth street, Bettendorf, near the river, by Federal Agent Muhs and Marshall John Kracht, late yesterday afternoon.
Muhs purchased a pint of moonshine from Simmons, it is charged and then returned with the town marshall. Simmons realized that the arrest was imminent and stalled for time outside the shack.
Meanwhile Simmons' wife was pouring the liquor onto the floor in a vain effort to remove the evidence. Officers found it seeping into the boards when they entered the place.
Simmons was brought to Davenport and his bonds set at $500 by the commissioner.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
August 3, 1922CLARK TO GET BEER UTENSILS BACK IS ORDER
As a result of yesterday's litigation in Justice W.W. Scott's court, utensils and materials alleged to have been used in the manufacture of beer at the residence of Thomas Clark, West Fifteenth street, will be returned. No evidence that the crocks seized by Prohibition Agent R.E. Muhs contained intoxicating liquor has been brought out.
The Clark case has attracted much attention for the reason that it involves a conflict between state and government authorities. Mr. Muhs is certain that the liquor he poured out of the crocks at the time of the raid was intoxicating, but as he did not preserve any of the liquor, Attorney Carl Lambach, representing Clark, contended that there was no evidence that been had been manufactured in them.
Three hundred and fifty bottles of home brew were found by the raiders in a building believed to be owned by Clark, yet Attorney Lambach states that there is evidence to show that Clark was not the owner of this beer.GREEK'S CASE IS DISMISSED IN U.S. COURT
Consider Steve Stopolous, Booze Owner, Is "Punished Enough"The case of Steve Stopolous, 519 Perry street, at whose residence a 50-gallon barrel of wine was found, was dismissed by U.S. Commissioner A.G. Bush this morning. Stopolous recently paid a fine of $100 and costs in police court and Mr. Bush said this morning that arraigning him in commissioner's court would be equivalent to trying him twice on the same charge.
Police officers appeared in court this morning to give evidence against Stopolous, but were dismissed when the case was quashed.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
August 6, 1922DESERT SQUAD ARRESTS THREE IN NIGHT RAID
Federal Agent and Police Confiscate Homebrew and Whisky
CARL ASCHAUER ESCAPES
W.J. Timothy, Donald Sievert and Frank Schultz Held Without BondsFederal Agents and police officers of the "dry" squad last night raided three soft drink parlors, arrested the proprietors of two of them and caught one bootlegger as he negotiated a sale of a pint of moonshine. One place was a waterhaul and no booze was found. The three men are being held without bond pending their hearing tomorrow morning.
Those arrested are:
W.J. Timothy, 118 Brady street.
Frank Schultz, 2046 West Third street.
Donald Sievert, 121 Brown street.
Efforts to have a bond set for the three prisoners by U.S. Commissioner A.G. Bush were useless and altho all of them had plenty of money and bondsmen, they were forced to remain in jail with no prospects of freedom until after the hearings.Starts Early.
The raiding squad, consisted of Federal Agent Muhs, Lieut. Walter Homeyer and Officers Dietz and Kuehl, started early last night. Two cars were used and the officers walked into the three places designated in the search warrants at the same time.
At Carl Aschauer's place, Third and Iowa streets, police officers discovered nothing. Altho they said there was evidence that an overturned pitcher had once contained moonshine whisky. No arrests were made when a minute search of the premises failed to discolse any contraband.
At the W.J. Timothy bar, 113 Brady street, the officers were more successful and confiscated six partly filled cases of home brew. Some of the brew was on the ice and this also was brought to the station.Dumps Bottle.
When the arid raiders entered the establishment of Frank Schultz, 2045 West Third street, the bartender tipped the pitcher, which police say contained houch. Speedy work on the part of the police prevented the escape of all the booze however.
They confiscated what was left in the pitcher a glass which had contained whiskey and when they searched the second story of the place unearthed two two gallon jugs, containing three gallons of moonshine.
Donald Sievert, alias "Jitney", was the third man to be arrested and he was taken in front of his home, 121 Brown street just after he had completed the sale of a pint of moonshine to a patron. The money and booze were held by the police.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
August 7, 1922Davenport No Place for Bootlegger Says Man Trapped by Muhs.
"DAVENPORT bootleggers may as well quit. They can't get by. I've been in the game four years, and look where it has landed me!"
Lugubriously Donald "Jitney" Sievert, 121 Brown street, made this statement to Federal Prohibition Agent R.E. Muhs after he had been "caught with the goods"- to wit, a pint of moonshine whisky and several jugs smelling strongly of hooch- Saturday night.
Sievert pleaded guilty to a liquor charge and was bound over to the grand jury under $500 bond by U.S. Commissioner A.G. Bush, who held a special hearing Sunday morning. The man had little to say in his own defense as this is his second "official" violation of the prohibition amendment. The April federal grand jury ignored liquor charges against him.
In a confession prepared for Mr. Muhs, Sievert says that he sold the pint of moonshine to Claude Hunter, Peerless hotel, after Hunter had stated he was sick and needed a bracer. "I took his five dollar bill and got him whisky," he admits. "Just then a car drove up with three police officers and a government man. They found the bottle alongside a tree by my car. In the car they found two five-gallon and two one-gallon jugs. Then the officers took me, Claude Hunter, and the pint bottle of moonshine whisky to the police station."
"Sievert has the right hunch when he warns local bootleggers," Mr. Muhs said today. "They will all be picked up."Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
August 13, 1922PLEADS GUILTY TO POSSESSION OF BAD WHISKY
H.W. Michaels Bound Over by U.S. Commissioner.H.W. Michaels, Petersen building was bound over to the federal grand jury on a liquor charge by U.S. Commissioner A.G. Bush Saturday. Michaels' bond was set at $500. He furnished it.
The man pleaded guilty to the possession of a gallon of moonshine whisky seized at his place by prohibition officers in a recent raid.BROWN AGAIN FALLS VICTIM TO MUHS IN NEW RAID ON HOME
After successfully and legally spiriting the liquid evidence against himself from the custody of county officials by court order, John P,. Brown, alleged bootlegger, again found his house and premises searched yesterday and was shy four quarts of moonshine.
Federal Agent Muhs made his second raid on Brown's booze at 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon, searching the place at 2331 East Pleasant street, whither Brown moved after the dry squad had seized his beer and whisky at 1021 West Third street several weeks ago.
Yesterday afternoon two pints of beer were taken from the cellar of Brown's new home and the four quarts of liquor were discovered just inside the lot line in the rear of the house, wrapped in a gunny-sack and concealed in high weeds.
The raid yesterday was only another move in the chess game which has been played thru the courts between Brown and the federal agent.
Arrested several weeks ago when the dry raiders confiscated 42 dozen bottles of beer, 95 gallons of beer mash and six gallons of "hooch", Brown retained Attorney Carl Lambach and started a fight in the courts.
The search had been made on a state warrant, which Lambach claimed was illegal. He convinced the court and an order releasing the beer and whisky held in custody of the sheriff was obtained.
Two trucks drove up to the jail, extracted the beer and sped away, leaving the government agent without evidence on which to convict Brown of bootlegging and possession.
Muhs didn't weaken, however, and when he found that Brown had removed his quarters from West Third street to East Pleasant street, he obtained another search warrant, but this time it was a government order.
Brown wasn't at home yesterday afternoon.
U.S. Marshall Terry Kenney and Officer Pete Kuehl assisted in the raid.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
August 14, 1922"BROTHER'S KEEPER" COULDN'T KEEP SELF FROM BOOZE BINDOVER.
"Mr. Bush, this is a frame up!" Outraged at what he believed was underhanded work on the part of prohibition authorities, James Hendrych, Bettendorf butcher shop proprietor, voiced this protest when he found that, instead of being his brother's keeper, he couldn't keep himself in U.S. Commissioner's court this morning.
Five minutes after he had signed his brother's $1,000 bond on a liquor charge, Hendrych was himself arrested on a charge of selling moonshine whisky and was also bound over to the federal grand jury under $1,000 bond. Altho he stated that he was able to furnish his own bond, besides that of his brother ,he was not allowed to do so. He succeeded in finding a bondsman.
James Hendrych is accused of several sales of liquor to Bettendorf residents. Information against him was filed by Federal Agent R.E. Muhs, while Oldrych Hendrych was "having it out" with Commissioner A.G. Bush today.
Oldrych's saloon on Main street between Grant and State streets, Bettendorf, was raided by Mr. Muhs and Deputy U.S. Marshal Terry Kenney Saturday evening. Four gallons of moonshine in containers varying in size from half pints to two gallon jugs were seized. Oldrych pleaded guilty to the liquor charge.
According to Bettendorf authorities, the Hendryches have been causing trouble for some time.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
August 15, 1922POLICE ARREST SEVEN IN RAID ON A ROADHOUSE
Ivan Mastup, Proprietor, is Assessed $100 Fine Today.A drunken watermelon vendor, lying blissfully in a ditch near a roadhouse on the Waverly road, north of Forest park, led a police raid and the arrest of Ivan Mastup, proprietor, and six inmates at 3:20 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Officers Swinden, Dietz, McDermott and Kuehl together with Federal Prohibition Agent R.E. Muhs, were returning from the fair grounds when they noticed James Bartell, the watermelon man, and his deserted cart of melons. Observing his two intoxicated persons on the porch of the roadhouse, they staged a raid. Besides Bartell and Mastup, those arrested were Mildred Wells, J.R. Reams, Frank Voss, C.J. Hanson and Neal Spencer.
According to the police ,booze was flowing freely at the place. An ice box, gaily decorated with lettuce leaves and containing a quantity of beer was found on the creek bank. Liquor was also found in the house.
Mastup was fined $100 and costs in police court this morning. He pleaded guilty to a charge of keeping a disorderly house thru his attorney, B.T. O'Neil. The man is an old offender, and has been bound over to the federal grand jury on a liquor charge. It is not likely that information will be filed against him in commissioner's court on this latest offense police say.
All of the inmates and Bartell were ordered to pay costs by Magistrate Harold Metcalf.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
August 25, 1922CLAIM GROCER SOLD BOOZE AS HIS SIDE LINE
Jacob Ziffren Held to Federal Court After Raid.Five ounces of alleged whisky found in the grocery store conducted by Jacob Ziffren 830 Warren street during a raid conducted last night by Prohibition Officer Muhs led to his arrest on a charge of violating the Volstead act. Ziffren was taken before United States Commissioner A.G. Bush this morning where he was bound over to the federal court for trial. His bond was fixed at $500.
A significant fact to prove the charge that Ziffren had sold liquor to his patrons was the finding of a whisky glass in close proximity to the bottle containing the small amount of spirits. Complaints are said to have been made against Ziffren by residents of the neighborhood. After the place was searched by Muhs, United States Marshal Kinney made the arrest. The necessary bond was furnished by Ziffren.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
September 4, 1922POLICE RAID RESIDENT AND DISCOVER BOOZE
Woman and Four Men Arrested; Two Pay Costs TodayOne woman, Agnes Thiel and four men, Otto Handez, Lloyd Housman, Charles Nelson, and Earl Campbell, besides a pint bottle of hooch, two dozen bottles of beer and a number of "empties" were captured at 328 1/2 West First street, in a police raid yesterday. The Thiel woman is charged with keeping a disorderly house, while the men are accused of being inmates.
The raid was made by Officers Hennelly, Gubser, Gerdts, Snider and Phelan. When the police entered the house, they found a party in progress, whiskey glasses, and bottles being displayed invitingly on a table. Housman, who was lying on a bed, occasioned some trouble by fighting, but was finally subdued, after he had been thrown over the bed several times.
Handez and Housman appeared in police court this morning and were assessed costs of the case. The others will probably be tried tomorrow.
According to Federal Prohibition Agent R.E. Muhs, liquor charges will be entered against Agnes Thiel unless she is fined $100 and costs in police court.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
September 5, 1922WOMAN FINED FOR KEEPING BOOZE HOUSE
Agnes Thiel Assessed $100 and Costs in Police CourtAnges Thiel, alleged proprietor of a disorderly house, at 328 1/2 West First street, was assessed a fine of $100 and costs by Magistrate Harold Metcalf in police court this morning.
A pint bottle of moonshine whiskey, two dozen bottles of beer, and a basket full of empty bottles were found by police at the First street place in a raid last Sunday. Four men, alleged inmates of the house, were arrested with the Thiel woman. Two of the men, Charles Nelson and Earl Kammel, forfeited bail, while two others, Otto Handez and Lloyd Housman, paid costs of the case when they appeared for trial yesterday.MOELLER RAID 3 TEMP BARS IN HOLIDAY DRIVE
Detective Henry Moeller of the Davenport police force, working in new territory, raided three soft drink parlors yesterday afternoon, aresting [sic] one proprietor and his bar tender, but, obtaining no evidence against proprietors of the other two places.
A.H. Myers, who keeps the place at 510 West Third street, and Michael J. Reuefer, his employe, were bound over to the federal grand jury in U.S. commissioner's court this morning after they had waived examination on charges of possession and sale of liquor, filed by Federal Agent M.E. Muhs. Reufer gave the name of "J. Domes' at the police station. The two were held in the county jail until today's arraignment before Commissioner A.G. Bush.
According to Moeller, he first entered the Jim Clancy bar at Fourth and Gaines streets. Rushing behind the bar, he seized a jar and a pitcher full of liquor. As he was turning to leave, Jam Jessen, the bartender, knocked the utensils out of his hands, he says, allowing them to break on the floor. No more liquor was to be found in the place, and Moeller left.
From Clancy's place he went to Myers' and when he asked for a drink of "bank," he alleges, there was no hesitation about the sale. Then Moeller announced that the place was under arrest. He took Myers and Reuefer to the police station together with three gallons of alleged moonshine whisky found in a five gallon jug.
After he had discharged this duty, the detective went to the Jensen and Sorenson soft drink parlor at 711 West Second street, but was unable to find any intoxicants.
"I had good luck because my face was not familiar to the bar owners or employes," Moeller said today. "Had they known who I was I would not have been able to obtain any evidence at all."HUGE STILL IS RUN IN GUISE OF TRUCK FARM
Underground Booze-Making Plant of Alfred Koell Seized.A quiet little truck farm conducted by Alfred Koell on rural route No. 2, Davenport, when raided late Saturday afternoon by Prohibition Officer H.E. Muhs, proved to be the location of one of the largest and best camouflaged stills ever found in this vicinity.
Koell was arrested following the seizure of the still and a large quantity of illicit liquor and mash and when arraigned this morning before United States Commissioner A.G. Bush, was held for a special hearing on Sept. 6. A bond of $1,000 fixed by the court, was furnished by the farmer-distiller.
The distillery was cleverly hidden in an extra excavation made at one side of the building since the farm house was built. Making a surprise visit to the house, Muhs found an 85-gallon still in operation over a coal fire. The place, according to the officer, was operated solely as a distillery, with no evidence that farm produce had ever been sold on a paying basis.
In addition to the still, the officer unearthed 450 gallons of sugar mash and 16 gallons of moonshine liquor. The still confiscated is 5 feet 6 inches high, 9 feet in circumference at the top and 11 feet at the bottom. Seventeen 50-gallon barrels were found on the premises.
A brick fire-place had been constructed under the still and was fed by huge chunks of coal despite the scarcity of the latter commodity due to the strike. The excavation which houses the distillery is 30 feet long by 15 feet wide.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
September 11, 1922SOFT DRINK MAN GIVEN "SURPRISE PARTY, " AGENT
Geo. Cheek Arrested This Morning in Raid; "Coffee" is Confiscated.George Cheek, who operates a soft drink parlor at 102 Pershing avenue, was arrested this morning in a raid on his place of business which was conducted by local Prohibition Agent R.E. Muhs and Officer Pete Kuehl.
It is alleged he was selling moonshine whisky.
The raiding party confiscated a coffee pot said to contain a small amount of the whisky and several glasses which it is alleged the "coffee" was served in.
Cheek is held at the Davenport police station pending his hearing which is expected late this afternoon or Tuesday morning.ALLEGED LIQUOR DEALERS BONDED AT $500 APIECE
Harry Koehler and George Fahey Taken at Palmer Roadhouse Arraigned.Three of the men taken by the federal agents in their raids Saturday on local road houses and bars were arraigned today before United States Commissioner A.G. Bush and bonded at $500 each.
The three arraigned were Harry Koehler and George Fahey, taken the Palmer House, and Joe Johnston, the alleged bartender at the Hollywood Inn. Both of the resorts are near Nahant. They are directly across the road from each other.
John Looney, a Rock Island attorney, represented Johnston at his arraignment this morning. The other two appeared without an attorney. All three men are charged with the sale of intoxicating liquors.
Local Prohibition Agent M.E. Muhs, who led the raids said this morning that there was sufficient evidence to convict the entire gang who were taken in the sweeping "surprise party" that was sprung Saturday evening. The "party" he said was the direct result of a long and thoro investigation on the part of the United States agents.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
September 24, 1922FEDERAL AGENTS CONTINUE DRIVE AGAINST LIQUOR
Proprietor of Soft Drink Bar at Eldridge Taken after Raid.William Zabel, owner of a soft drink parlor at Eldridge, and William Jones, said to be his bartender, were Saturday bound over to the federal grand jury, when they were arraigned before United States Commissioner A.G. Bush on a charge of possession and sale of intoxicating liquor.
A raid was conducted on the Zabel bar late Friday evening and a five gallon jug of moonshine whisky is said to have been found with a coffee pot of hooch. The raid was made by Federal Agent R.E. Muhs assisted by two special agents from Minneapolis.
The two men were arrested by United States Marshal T.F. Kinney. They were released under $1,000 bonds.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
October 2, 1922FEDERAL COURT STARTS ON OVERLOADED DOCKET AT 10 O'CLOCK TUESDAY
Tomorrow morning, promptly at 10 o'clock, the gavel in the hand of Federal Judge Martin J. Wade will resound thru the erstwhile deserted court room in the Federal building like a terrific peal of thunder on a storm tossed sea, and the monstrous wheels of the grist mill of justice will start their semi-annual grind of the more than two hundred cases on the federal docket.
They are here, or due in the city this evening, those court officials and attaches, in whose hands rest the responsibility of punishing those who run afoul of the United States laws.
Judge Wade and United States Attorney Ralph Pringle are due to arrive in the city this evening. N.F. Reed, clerk of the United States court; John C .DeMar and William P. Gregory, assistants to Mr. Pringle, and Roscoe Jones, deputy clerk, arrived last evening and this morning.
Tomorrow morning the court room, the scene of many sighs, the silent listener of many pathetic tales, yielding its last breath of freedom, for terms of years to many and yet withal the cause of many a young miscreant turning on to the straight and narrow, will take on the bustling air of ponderous activity.
The docket, probably the heaviest of any that has been presented to the court for many years, contains 78 cases left over for the spring term and 108 new cases bound over by United States Commissioner A.G. Bush. Of these 108 there are 91 alleged violation of the Volstead act, said Prohibition Officer Roy E. Muhs, this morning.
Many of these defendants are repeaters, persons who have faced the Federal Judge from one to four times before.
At 10 o'clock tomorrow morning the Grand jury will be impaneled. That august body will take the massive pile of evidence and after carefully weighing it will present indictments or dismissals.
The day will be broken up in the hearing or motions and the regular legal procedure preparatory to the presenting of criminal cases.
Then the petit jury, the pleadings of defense attorney, the sobs and sighs of those dear to those on trial, then the long anxious suspense of the dragging moments while the jury, retired, is weighing the evidence and then the verdict which means either happiness for some, a fresh start for the defendant or a blasting life with years behind the bleak, dark walls of the penitentiary.
Some of the most prominent cases to come before the Federal court starting tomorrow are: Mary Olsen, an alleged brewer in the West end of the City of Davenport; Charlie Noel, charged with being a brewer, Dick Knautz, alleged bootlegger who faces the judge for the third time; J.F. Devlins, charged with being one of the leaders in the bootlegging industry; Mr. and Mrs. George Kettnich, said to be the proprietors of Linwood; John Brown, on two booze charges; W.C. Murray, Jack Wall, Thomas Clark and Chas. Neiswander, all local men who face two or more charges of selling intoxicating liquor; Albert Roehlk, alleged proprietor of the Maysville road house; Donald Sievert faces the judge this time as a booze defendant, but has a record of running afoul of the United States laws several times prior to this; Jess Follett, alleged bootlegger; Jake Mounts, charged with being the proprietor of a soft drink bar at Buffalo; James and Olnych Hedryck, Bettendorf alleged bootleggers; Harry Neil, also of Bettendorf; Jack Oster and C.J. Shallberg, charged with operating a place at 120 East Third street; John Looney, junior, and Louis Pedigo, alleged bootleggers; Alfred Koell, charged with operating an immense still; Harry Koehler and George Faye said to be the proprietors of the Palmer house on the Nahant road; J.K. Burns and Roy Robertson, Clinton, who were apprehended with an immense quantity of alcohol, transporting it from Duluth in two automobiles; Joe Johnston and Skimmer Hines, charged with being waiter and proprietor of the Hollywood Inn, across the road from the Palmer house; Carl Ashauer and George Getzinger, charged with operating a place at 329 and 331 East Third street; Ora Shea and Charlie Calnan, nabbed in the second raid on the place known as Jack Wall bar; John and Henry Jensen, charged with selling booze in the Antlers bar; George Pennington and Theodore Badger, 120 East Third street; Mr .and Mrs. A.T. Lee, proprietors of an alleged joint at 1??7 Harrison street; J.F. Donnelly and Harry Pohlman, 1609 Harrison street; Jerry Louck and Mack Spittler, proprietors of a soft drink parlor at Third and Pershing streets; George Jones and William Zabel, alleged bootleggers of Eldridge and Fred Royster, Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Green and David Burzell, proprietors and bartender of an alleged notorious blind pig in Muscatine.
Those who are to face charges of violation of the drug act are: Wm. McCallahan, charged with being a habitual dope peddler; Harry Carry faces two charges of dope selling; Bill Stark, who attempted to lay all of the blame on his "lady friend"; Louis Tofts, charged with being a habitual peddler; Mose Meyer, colored; and Onez Gorman, charged with being an addict.
Two face charges of violation of the Mann act. They are Roy Francis, who is alleged to have transported a young girl from Rock Island to Clinton and George Stoddard.
The grand jurors summoned to appear at ten o'clock tomorrow morning are: Charles Arthur, Dewitt; Gustav Broders, Stockton; Charles Caldwell, Washington; R.E. Cressy, Lost Nation; John Crooke, Clinton; Jerry Corren, Washington; George Demory, Tiffin; W.J. Dunker, Grand Mound; Henry Durst, Iowa City; Henry Gunther, Wheatland; Albert H. Hartwig, Muscatine; Thom. Large, DeWitt; E.K. Linkhart, Oxford; W.W. Mercer, Iowa City; Henry Nitz, Stockton; C.O. Pame, Iowa City; Marion Parmelee, Fruitland; L.F. Rittenmyer, Iowa City; M.C. Robert, Oxford, Route No. 2; Everett Shearer, Ainsworth: James Singleton, Conesville; J.B. St. John, Calamus; James Sullivan, Iowa City; Gus Swanson, 734 Center avenue, Ottumwa and T.L. Wales, Centerville.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
October 4, 1922JUDGE WADE SAYS ROADHOUSE PROPRIETORS ARE THE WORST EVIL
AS HE SENTENCES VIOLATORSDeclaring that the present day roadhouse or picnic grounds are the worst sort of bootlegging establishments, Federal Judge Martin J. Wade continued to dish out jail sentences to proprietors and employes of such places.
Time seemed to be no object. Jail sentences run from 30 days to six months. Every jail sentence was accompanied with a fine from $500 to $1,000.
He said that it was these so-called temperance picnic grounds that was corrupting the morals of the younger set in the rural communities. "Things have reached such a state of affairs that the young farmer boy does not think of going to a dance without this hooch. It is the fault of you fellows who are such cowards that you will not do your bootlegging in the city, but go out into the country, then proceed to sell promiscuously." This and other statements of a like nature constituted the severe lectures which accompanied the sentences of the defendants.
Pleas of hard times, of families with no means of support and the scarcity of work were of no avail.
"Considering your case and the plea of yourself and the counsel I will be lenient with you," he would say, then follow with six months in jail and fines as high as $1,000.
The first one to be so disappointed was Joe Johnston, said to be a waiter at the Hollywood Inn on the Nahant road. He was charged with the sale of liquor on September 4 and the possession of 74 pints of beer on September 9.
A.J. "Skimmer" Hines, who was arraigned with him, was said to have had no connection with the place. The charge against him was dismissed.
Johnston pleaded guilty, but contended that he had just started to work there. He said that he had been employed as a kitchen helper, and that a man by the name of Brady who lives in Rock Island was the proprietor.He was Fined $500 and Costs.
George Faye, alleged proprietor and Harry Koehler, said to be a waiter at the Palmer House, another of the rural picnic grounds, were dealt with the severest of any of the "roadhouse magnates". This resort is located across the road from Hollywood Inn.
The two were charged with the sale of liquor on September 4 and with the possession of 132 pints of beer, five quarts of wine, a quantity of gin and whiskey on Sept. 9.
Faye drew a sentence of three months in jail and a fine of $1,000, none of which was suspended and Koehler was awarded a fine of $1,000, $800 of which is held suspended for thirty days pending a more thoro investigation.
The contention of the defendants was that they had just taken the place over and that they were preparing to establish an eating house there.
Ed Thiel, charged with running the same sort of a resort at Stockton was fined $500 and costs. He was arrested on July 15 when he had in his possession one quart of whiskey, one pint of gin and a pint of wine.LIMIT GIVEN TO DISTILLERS AT FEDERAL COURT
Jail Sentences are Feature of Morning Session; Many Arraigned."You fellows must remember that the Volstead act has not been repealed and that it carries a penalty of a jail sentence, a penitentiary sentence and a fine and some of you fellows are going to go to Fort Leavenworth," Federal Judge Wade told the first defendant charged with the manufacture of hooch that faced him this morning.
John H. Rystraffer was the man addressed. He was arrested on July 19 when the prohibition agents found him with two tents on the river bottoms near Buffalo. In the two tents were two 40-gallon stills, 700 gallons of mash and six gallons of whisky.
In the center of one of the tents was a fireplace over which was one of the immense stills. The mash was in 18 50-gallon barrels around the tent.
"Six months in jail and a fine of $1,000." echoed the voice of the judge after the defendant had told his story.
Rystraffer contended that he was a bricklayer and that he had been engaged to build two fireplaces for which he was to receive $5 per day.
Joe Hollock was apprehended on the street on July 14 carrying a two-gallon keg of liquor on his shoulder. His place was searched and a 26-gallon still was found with 100 gallons of mash and one gallon of whisky.
In view of the fact that he had resisted arrest, broke away from the city police and ran and later was recaptured he was fined $500 and sent to jail until the fine is paid.
Alfred Koell, a farmer residing three miles south of the city of Davenport, was charged with the manufacture of "poison." This was the term used by the judge instead of hooch or whisky.
Prohibition Officer Roy E. Muhs found his car in front of the federal building. In it was a two-gallon jug of liquor. The man was questioned and told where his still was located.
It was found to be a 25-gallon still. Sixteen gallons of whisky was found as was 450 gallons of mash.
The defendant told the court that he had operated the still since June and had sold his product to the soft drink bars in the city for $5 per gallon. He was sentenced to two months in jail and fined $1,000. The sentence was suspended until Nov. 15 to allow him time to harvest his crop.WM. GOLDERMAN WAS NOT GIVEN JAIL SENTENCE
William Golderman was fined $100 and costs in Judge Wade's court Tuesday afternoon but was not given a jail sentence in addition, as was erroneously reported in the city papers.
Mr. Golderman states the liquor found in his possession at the time of his arrest he had secured for his own personal use.KETTNICH IS LET OFF WITH $300 AND COSTS
Linwood Proprietor Says Guests Brought Their Own Liquor.After an eloquent plea on the part of the counsel for the owners of the property on which Linwood Inn is located, George Kettnich was fined $300 costs by Judge Wade in Federal Court when he claimed that he did not have the liquor there for sale, but that the patrons of the place had brought it with them.
The arresting officer testified that when the raid on the inn was made, July 10, the defendant tried to break the bottles of liquor on the ice in the ice box.
Eight pints of whiskey, four pints of gin, and ten quarts of home brew were confiscated.
Kettnich was first arraigned this morning and pleaded not guilty. Then the prosecuting attorney threatened to change the information to include his wife as co-defendant. This afternoon the plea was changed to guilty.
He and the owners of the property promised to do everything in their power in the hereafter to keep the place as clean as a recreation resort as possible.
Jake Mounts charged with operating a soft drink parlor in which he sold hooch pleaded not guilty and his trial was set for Thursday morning.BIG FINES FOR TRANSPORTING ARE ASSESSED.
Victim of Circumstances Is Sent to Jail with Heavy Penalty.A victim of circumstances, yet he must pay. This is the predicament that Richard Eshen found himself in this morning when he faced Federal Judge Martin J. Wade in the United States district court.
Eshen claims to be an ironworker and is employed on the new Parker building.
He says that on July 10 he was sitting in the LeClaire park when two men with whom he was acquainted walked up to him. They had just arrived in the city and were carrying a suit case apiece. One of them, Grover Haines, was carrying a traveling bag besides the case. Haines asked Eshen to carry the bag for him.
He did, not knowing what it contained and the three started up the street. They had gone only a short way when Haines saw two policemen coming toward them and he told Eshen to duck across the street. He says he did, but that the police beat him across and do he dropped the bag and ran. He was caught and taken taken to the station for investigation. It was then he says that he learned what was in the bag.
He was fined $500, $400 of which was held suspended to give him a chance to prove his story, but he must serve ?? days in the Scott county jail in the meantime.
Homer McCullough, driving a truck belonging to Posateri brothers of Rock Island was fined $500 and costs on a charge of transportation of 152 pints of home brew. The fine is suspended pending the time when analysis of the brew is returned. If it proves to have more than one-half of 1 per cent alcohol the fine must be paid or he must go to jail. If not the fine will be withdrawn.
He was arrested on Aug. 1 when he told the officials that he was an extra for Possateri brothers and that he had gotten the brew at ??17 First avenue, Rock Island.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
October 22, 1922HUBBY CAUSES RAID ON HOME OF HIS WIFE
Separated Spouse Claims He "Framed" Her with WhiskyThat her husband, from whom she is separated, placed a gallon of moonshine whisky in her home and then notified police that she was acting as hostess to a "hooch party" is expected to be the defense of Mrs. Roy Fischer, 625 West Second street, arrested with four of her friends in a police raid Sunday.
Mrs. Fischer, charged with keeping a disorderly house, and the four inmates, John Alexander, W.H. Keagle, Irene Banks and George Cheek, will appear for trial in police court Tuesday afternoon. They were arraigned before acting police magistrate Merle F. Wells this morning and a continuance was granted upon motion of their attorney, C.P. Hanley of Muscatine.
According to Mrs. Fischer's attorney, the woman's husband visited her home before the raid and asked permission to leave the liquor there. This permission was granted and then, it is alleged, Mr. Fischer filed information against his wife.
Police who made the raid, however, assert that when they entered the Fischer home the occupants made a wild scramble to escape, one of them, George Cheek, actually getting away. It is asserted that Mrs. Fischer destroyed a pitcher containing liquor and thus attempts were made to break a number of whisky glasses, which, together with the jug of moonshine, are being held as evidence.
Mrs. Fischer and all of her guests except Cheek were arrested by Officers Dietz and Lodge while Cheek was later picked up by Captain Homeyer and Officer Kuehl.
The Fischers now have divorce action pending in district court. Attorney Hanley is representing the woman in the disorderly house case as both she and her husband are former residents of Muscatine.
Mrs. Fischer's 11-year-old daughter, Louise, who was found when the raid was made, has been sent to the Juvenile home. The mother is making an attempt to effect her daughter's release.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
October 25, 1922DISMISSED IN POLICE COURT, HELD TO JURY
Hubby's Tip Causes Wife's Arraignment on a Booze ChargeAfter she and her friends had been exonerated of disorderly house charges in police court late yesterday, Mrs. Roy Fischer, 625 West Second street, was arraigned on a liquor possession charge before US Commissioner A.G. Bush, this morning and was bound over under $200 bond.
Information charging Mrs. Fischer with the unlawful possession of a gallon jug of moonshine whisky was filed against the woman by Police Officer Pat Dietz, who assisted in a raid on her home Saturday. Officer Dietz testified in police court yesterday that when he and Officer Pat Lodge went to her residence she smashed a pitcher, believed to have contained liquor and a number of whisky glasses.
In view of this testimony, Mrs. Fischer has been bound over.Says Hubby to Blame.
Attorney C.P. Hanley, of Muscatine, appearing for Mrs. Fischer, W.H. Green, George Cheek, Irene Banks and John Alexander, the latter four persons charged with being inmates of a disorderly house, based his police court defense on the fact that Roy Fischer, the woman's husband, had filed information against her, causing the raid. He attempted to prove that Fischer, himself, had "planted" the liquor in her home and then notified the police.
These charges were vigorously denied by Fischer, who testified that he arrived in town Sunday night, and then visited his wife's home in order to get his trunk. He said that his wife ordered him to leave and that he then went to the police station and asked for aid in getting his trunk. He knew nothing of the jug and of moonshine until he visited the house a second time, he declared.Was Told to Break Glasses.
On the witness stand, Mrs. Fischer asserted that she broke the glasses at the instigation of her husband, who, she said, told her to perform this action if officers should ever enter the house. She said that she did not own the jug of moonshine, and that it must have been placed in her kitchen by her husband, against whom she has instituted divorce proceedings. She claimed that Mr. Fischer was jealous of her, and that he therefore attempted to work her harm.
In dismissing charges against Mrs. Fischer and others, Police Magistrate Harold Metcalf said that there was not enough evidence to warrant their being punished for keeping and being inmates of a disorderly house. He ruled that there was small evidence that any of the persons were intoxicated and that ambiguous circumstances concerning the finding of the jug of whisky were not sufficient to secure conviction.Two Known Leggers.
George Cheek and W.H. Green, police assert, are known as former bootleggers and appear to be good friends of Mrs. Fischer. Officer George Rogers alleges that the woman was seen in company of these two in Cheek's saloon at Front street and Pershing avenue.
Both Police Magistrate Metcalf and Commissioner Bush stated today that the woman his hitherto had a good reputation.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
November 15, 1922WHITE POWDERS, HOOCH AND 13 PEOPLE NABBED
Donahue Place Raided by Government Men and City PoliceOne of the biggest steps toward a clean up in the city of Davenport was made, according to Night Police Captain Walter Homeyer, when he, one government narcotic agent, two prohibition agents and Police Officers Kuehl and Dietz swooned down on the resort said to have been operated by Mrs. Ella Donahue at 420 West Fifth street at 8:30 o'clock last night.
Five capsules and a box of white powder which the government say is cocaine was confiscated, as was more than a gallon of moonshine liquor, nearly three gallons of wine, four quart bottles and four pint bottles of home brew and a quart bottle of Kimmel.
The powders are to be sent to the government chemists in Minneapolis for analysis. If the chemists report that it is cocaine, new charges will be filed on all of those taken in the raid.
A total of 13 people found in the house at the time were subjected to a severe questioning. They were, Mrs. Donahue, the alleged proprietor, Robert McGrath and Thomas Hines, said to be the two bartenders and Loretta Donahue, alias Loretta Hassan, a daughter of Mrs. Donahue, Mrs. Ed. White, who gave her address as 1305 Second avenue, Rock Island, and who claims to have operated the Market Square hotel on Seventeenth street in that city, Mrs. Gene Johnston, 113 Brady street, Mrs. Ebba Munson, 619 Iowa street, Hilda Witt, 528 West Sixth street, Margaret Donahue, another daughter of Mrs. Donahue and George McDermott.
Mrs. Donahue, Hines and McGrath were arraigned before United States Commissioner A.G. Bush this morning and bound over to the federal grand jury under $2,000 bonds. These three will all of the others were arraigned in police court on charges of operating and being inmates of a disorderly house and the cases continued. The alleged proprietor was released under $50 bonds and the others under $25 bonds. Louis Roddewig appeared as their attorney.
Captain Homeyer said that for the past six months this place had been an eyesore to the city, that time after time officers have picked up drunks who told him that they bought the booze of Mrs. Donahue and that several of them had signed affidavits to that effect. He told of several raids that the police had made and when they reached the place they found that it had been cleaned and the liquor dumped. One dope addict told police that there was dope sold there as well as booze.
The government came and secured several "buys", then went to police headquarters and asked for help. He said that the police department was only too glad to give it to them.
The house was full of people at the time of the raid. It was given a thoro search by the raiding party. The powder which is said to be quinine and the full capsules and several empty capsules were found behind one of the pictures that was hanging on the wall.
The quart of Kimmel, made in 1906 in Berlin, Germany, was found concealed in the piano. It was only after the piano was dragged from the wall by Officer Kuehl that the liquor was discovered.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
November 19, 1922Alleged Opium Joint, Hooch Palaces Raided by Davenport Police
More Than a Score Arrested in Clean-up of City Saturday Night; "Hop" Pipe Found in Dresser Drawer Furnishes Evidence of Dope Rendezvous; Officials Kept Busy Booking Inmates and Storing Varied Receptacles of Liquor; Lone Officer Stages Raid.Federal agents and Davenport police joined hands to clean up the city Saturday night, raiding an alleged opium joint, gin palaces, and houses of ill fame, arresting twenty four persons and confiscating opium smoking apparatus and a large quantity of liquor.
Held either on government or city warrants are Mrs. M. Brown, 208 East Fifth street, Mrs. Clara White, 614 West Fourth street, Lill Maloff, wife of the proprietor of the notorious Hollywood Inn, and Mrs. May Arnold, 1125 West Second street.
While desk sergeants at the city police station worked to place inmates at these places in cells or to send them to the house of detention, a squad of officers was busily engaged in finding nooks in which to stow carboys, kegs, cases and bottles of illicit liquor. Orders were given those arrested to line up and a long queue leading to the booking slate was formed.
It was at Mrs. Brown's place, which has been under surveillance for a long time, that police and federal agents obtained the biggest haul. The most important find here, however, was an opium pipe, secreted in a dresser drawer-evidence which will be turned over to narcotic inspectors in an effort to obtain substantiation for the police that the Brown place was a rendezvous for drug addicts.
The liquor obtained at the Brown place consisted of four ten gallon kegs of wine, nine quarts of gin, two gallons of moonshine whiskey, several jugs and bottles of wine, a number of cans of cereal extract and a quantity of whiskey mash.
Booze in Chicken Coops.
This booze literally filled every crevice of the East Fifth street house. Officers Dietz and Kuehl and Federal Prohibition Agent Roy E. Muhs removed from mattresses, drawers, closets, ice boxes and other cubby holes, ransacking the place from top to bottom and always finding more liquor. The whiskey mash was discovered in a chicken coop. Officers found the opium pipe in Mrs. Brown's bedroom, but were unable to find any narcotics.
Federal Agent Muhs stated last night that he has obtained evidence of sale on Mrs. Brown, and will file charges against her in federal court. Following the discovery of the opium pipe, the woman was subjected to a rigid examination by police authorities, with somewhat unsatisfactory results. The grilling is expected to be continued today.Kept "Bar Tender."
Those arrested as inmates of the Brown place gave their names as Betty Jerome, Maurice Hanson, John Smith, and W.M. Chalupa. Hanson is alleged to have had charge of the liquor-dispensing end of the establishment, and appears to be well known to the police.
Simultaneous raids were made on the Clara White and Lill Maloff places by officers who, called to raid one place, found two.
The White house was raided under government warrant, and yielded two jugs of wine, drinking utensils, and several hydrometers, used in ascertaining alcoholic content of liquor. At this place, it is claimed, a pitcher of hooch was poured out of a window by panic-stricken inmates. Besides Mrs. White, four inmates who gave their names as C. Endorf, P. Canary, John Gray and Ed Murphy, were arrested.Nicknamed "Buckskin"
Mrs. White is a well-known police character and is known affectionately as "Buckskin". Charges of sale of intoxicating liquor will be filed against her, Federal Agent Muhs says.
At the Lill Marloff home, Night Captain Walter Homeyer and his aides found a merry party in progress and proceeded to break it up as quickly as possible. Besides Mrs. Maloff, seven inmates calling themselves Ed O'Connor, M.D. Coburn, A. Hebbeln, J. Rowley, J.H. Reistoffer, H.P. Kerr and Edna Smith were found drinking or indulging in other forms of vice, police say.
The Maloff place was raided under a city warrant, the woman being arrested on a charge of keeping a disorderly house. Two cases of beer were seized, but it is not probable that federal information will be sworn out against her.
Mrs. Maloff is also known as Lill Tank, and is supposed to have acted as an agent for John Looney, vice ring leader.Lone Officer Raids.
Officer John McDermott staged a lone raid early in the evening when he was called to the May Arnold home, 1125 West Second street, to investigate a call which had been received at the police station. A woman had stated over the phone that Nick Johnson, a man living at that place, had been slugged.
When McDermott arrived at 1125 West Second street he at first could find nothing wrong. Finally, in the rear, he discovered Mrs. Arnold washing dishes in her kitchen, while Johnson, his head bleeding, was leaning against a door. In the kitchen were John Phillips, Mrs. Nick Johnson, and Martin Blanick, and Austrian. Mrs. Johnson and Phillips appeared to be intoxicated.
In response to questions they asserted that a man named "Jimmy Smith" had slugged Johnson and had struck Blanick on the mouth, following an argument.Escapes Thru Window.
While they were talking, "Jimmy Smith" himself entered thru an outside door, and was promptly apprehended. He appeared willing to remain under arrest, and Officer McDermott, after locking the kitchen door, started to investigate other rooms of the house.
After he had gone into the parlor, "Jimmy Smith" made good his escape thru a window. It is expected he will be arrested soon, as his whereabouts are known.
Fifty bottles of home brew beer were found in the Arnold cellar by the officer.
Mrs. Arnold was taken to the police station where she was booked on a charge of running a disorderly house. The rest were booked as inmates. All will appear for trial in police court Monday morning.
The hectic evening began with the somewhat sensational arrest of H.W. Michaels, No. 12 Petersen building, caught with a pint bottle of moonshine at the corner of Third and Brady street by Federal Agent Muhs and Officer Pete Kuehl.
Mr. Muhs has been trailing Michaels ever since he was fined $500 and costs on a liquor charge at the last term of federal court here. He suspected that the fine had not curbed Michaels' liquor dispensing proclivities, he states, and therefore determined to watch him closely.
Another reason why Michaels was watched was because he had failed to pay the $100 installment of his fine within the 30 days given him by Federal Judge Martin J. Wade.
Saturday evening, Mr. Muhs asserts, Michaels was on his way to deliver the liquor to a customer. Evidence of sale of liquor may be produced against the man, who is now being held in the county jail pending a conference between Judge Wade and Mr. Muhs.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
November 21, 1922FEDERAL AGENT AND COPS SEIZE LIQUOR IN RAID
Residence of William J. Burke Yields Quantity of Illicit Beer.Raiding the residence of William J. Burke, 508 1/2 Harrison street, late this afternoon, Federal Agent Roy E. Muhs and Police Officers Dietz and Kuehl, siezed a quantity of home brew beer.
The warrant under which the place was searched was issued from the court of Justice Merle F. Wells upon affidavit sworn out by Officer Dietz. According to Justice Wells, no evidence of sale has been obtained.
A curious co-incidence occurred when the officers went to the Burke place to raid it. A man named Rice, ice-wagon driver, was found hauling a suitcase filled with 30 pints of beer thru an alley near the residence. Rice was arrested and is being held for investigation.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
November 26, 1922POLICE RAID HOOCH JOINT, GET BOTTLES
Proprietor Admits Sales and Says He will Plead Guilty.Police Captain Homeyer and Officers Kuehl and Snyder conducted an energetic raid on the residence of Charles H. Hawkins, 1040 West Second street, Saturday night, obtaining as their reward two large crates of whiskey bottles and a minute quantity of moonshine whiskey.
A bottle of real "evidence" was destroyed by Hawkins while the officers were searching the upper rooms of his place. When arrested, Hawkins admitted he had been selling liquor, and stated that he would plead guilty to a charge of keeping a disorderly house when he is arraigned in police court Monday.
In the arrest of Hawkins, police believe they have captured one of the biggest hooch distributors in Davenport. Captain Homeyer asserts that numerous complaints about that Hawkins place have been received, indicating that it has been a menace to the community.
The only liquor secured in the raid just covered the bottom of five gallon jug.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
November 29, 1922Still, Liquor, Seized in Raid on Three Homes
Big Source of Supply Believed Stopped by Desert Squad.Acting on government search warrants, Federal Agent Roy E. Muhs, together with Police Officers Lodge, Dietz, Phelan, Gerdts, Kuehl and Hennehy raided three homes in the same neighborhood late yesterday afternoon, seizing a 15-gallon still and a large quantity of liquor. Authorities believe that the raids have stopped an important source of booze supply in Davenport.
Arrested as manufacturers are Robert Light, 2021 Telegraph road, Ray Meuman, 2116 [or 3116] Telegraph road and Henry Sothmann, 2733 Telegraph road. Light was the only one of the three to be at home when the simultaneous raids were staged. The other two were arrested later.
A thousand bottles of alleged home brew beer, besides two five gallon kegs and a five gallon jug of wine were seized at Light's residence. Fifty-two gallons of beer ready for bottling were also found at this place.
The still, 25 gallons of whisky mash, and a gallon of moonshine whiskey were taken at Sothmann's place.
Meuman's residence yielded 600 bottles of beer and a five gallon keg of whisky.
The booze and booze-manufacturing apparatus seized at the three places provided two full loads for the police patron wagon, which hauled the stuff to the police station where it is being held for later destruction. Five hundred bottles of beer were broken at Light's home as it was not thought necessary to retain as evidence. The mash and unbottled beer were also destroyed.
Light and Sothmann are former brewery wagon drivers, and according to police, were unable to get out of the habit of handling liquor. It is asserted that Light and Meuman have furnished merchandise for local bootleg parlors, altho they and Sothmann are charged only with the manufacture of liquor. No connection between the three seems to have been established.
Light waived preliminary examination before Commissioner Bush today and were bound over to the Federal grand jury on $1,000 bonds which he furnished. He plead not guilty. Sothmann also plead not guilty, waived examination and was bound over on $500 bonds. A continuance until Dec. 6th was granted to Roy Meumann. He furnished a temporary bond of $500.
The cases were called before United States Commissioner A.G. Bush this morning.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
December 7, 1922D. SCHROEDER PUTS IN HIS RESIGNATION
Suspended Fireman, Accused of Possessing Hard Liquor, QuitsDave Schroeder, suspended from the fire department last week because several bottles of alleged hooch were found in his boots at the Harrison street hose house, handed his resignation to Chairman John Meier of the board of police and fire commissioners this morning.
His resignation put an end to speculation as to whether or not he would appeal his case. The charges were the first black mark against Schroeder in more than 24 years of service.
Mr. Schroeder rates a pension under the commission law regardless of his suspension.ST. JOHN, TAKEN IN RAID ON INN, FURNISHES BOND
Arthur St. John, bar tender at the Crow Creek Inn, taken by Federal men in a raid upon the place last night, furnished $500 appearance bonds in commissioner's court this afternoon and was released from custody pending a preliminary hearing on the charge of selling liquors.Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
December 10, 1922Nienstedt Bar Raided by Pros: No Booze Found
Armed with a government search warrant, Federal Prohibition Agent Roy E. Muhs, assisted by Police Officers Gubser and Gords, searched the William Nienstedt bar, 1138 West Third street, Saturday night, and found-nothing.
"There wasn't a drop of intoxicating liquor in the whole place," Mr. Muhs said, after the raid. "Nienstedt's bar sure was a disappointment."
Which, according to a citizen's mood, is an advertisement- or not.
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