Still Found Under House; Woman Held
Garrison, Kentucky, Feb. 22 – Deputy Sheriff’s Commodore Pollitt, Leon Hendrickson, and James McCally unearthed one of the largest moonshine outfits ever found in Lewis county, located on a farm near Quincy, Kentucky.
Forty-five gallons of whiskey, a 100-gallon copper still and complete outfit, 400 gallons of mash, 400 pounds of sugar, and several feet of rubber hose were confiscated. The outfit was found under the house. Mrs. Myrtle Jerrell who occupied the house with her husband was arrested and put under a $500 bond for her appearance. Her husband was not home when the raid occurred.[1]
Indictments Nulled Against Ironton Men
Cincinnati, Ohio, Feb. 22 – Indictments charging Thomas McGuire, Lloyd Bruson, and James Rowe, Ironton with having violated Federal Prohibition Act was nulled by Federal Judge Smith Hickenlooper yesterday as to Bruson and Rowe. McGuire was fined $100, the same to be paid by Rowe when the case up for hearing before Judge Hickenlooper last month.[2]
Uncover Still in Lawrence County, Ohio; Two Men Held
Ironton, Ohio, March 6 – Sheriff White and Deputies Mays and Bennett made a raid in Rock Hollow, near Hanging Rock, arresting John Reeder and Willard Howard, caught manufacturing moonshine. Reeder pleads guilty to the charge in Squire Burke’s court. Both are held in the county jail. The officers found a 100-gallon copper still, and 12 barrels of mash, and destroyed all.[3]
Uncover Still
Raiding in the Pine Creek vicinity, Green township, [Scioto County, Ohio] Thursday, State Prohibition Inspectors C.H. Hutchinson and E.C. Farmer uncovered a 150-gallon copper still and eight barrels of mash. No arrests were made but the officers stated that two arrests probably would be made within the next few days.
In the same vicinity Wednesday, the officers uncovered a 200-gallon still and 13 barrels of mash. Deputy Sheriff Henry Bending accompanied the officers Wednesday.[4]
Federal Jury Finds 69 Indictments. – Majority of Cases Are For Liquor Law Violations.
Eleven Sealed Charges Are Withheld Newport (Ky.) Residents Accused of Conspiracy.
Indictments growing out of alleged conspiracies in and around Cincinnati and Ironton, Ohio, to violate the Volstead Prohibition Act, are among 49 Indictments returned by the Federal Grand Jury to United States District Judge Smith Hickenlooper yesterday afternoon against moonshiners, bootleggers, and liquor runners.
In all, the grand Jury reported 69 Indictments, of which 11 were sealed and were not made public. Among these sealed indictments are believed to be one or more against certain bank officials Involving alleged violations of national banking laws.
In its report to Court, the Jury stated It had been in session since last Tuesday morning; had presented to it 92 cases, of which 19 were ignored, four were passed to the next grand Jury, and true bills were found in the remainder. Judge Hickenlooper, after expressing thanks to the Jurors for their services, excused them, subject to recall later during this term of Court.
Conspiracy Is Charged.
One of the principal indictments, charging conspiracy to violate the Volstead Act, is against Carl J. Radley, 35 years old, Eleventh and Central avenue, Newport, Ky; Grocer William Grau, 33 years old, 1017 Ann street, Newport; Charles Megerle, alias Charles Dietz; Denver C. Wells and Fred Wells, Newport. They are accused of having conspired with William Clifford Devere, Newport, who was sentenced to the Federal penitentiary by Judge Hickenlooper several months ago under a liquor conspiracy charge: Charles and Roy Crook and others, to possess a skill and equipment, transport a still and to manufacture, possess, transport and sell “moonshine” whisky in violation of the Volstead Act.
Devere’s indictment, as well as this one, grew out of the discovery by police last October of a huge still at S38 West Court street. It was, according to the Federal officers, removed to the Court-street house from Silver Grove, Ky.
James Pinkerman, residing near Ironton, Ohio, said to be the “king” of moonshine bootleggers in Lawrence County, with his alleged employees, Harry Scott, John Matney, Richard Hunt, and John Shepherd, is Indicted on charges of conspiracy to violate the Volstead Act and with having violated various revenue laws in connection with the manufacture and distribution of liquor.
John Smith, his wife, Mrs. Augusta Smith, his daughter, Mary Smith, son Stanton Smith, and nephew, Glen Martin, Proctorville, Ohio, are indicted under charges of having conspired together to violate the Volstead Act and having conducted a common nuisance in the Smith home. The quintet is said to have been doing a large business, and that it was not uncommon for 25 automobile loads of people to be at their home at one time.
Common Nuisance Alleged.
Indictments charging conduct of common nuisances and possession and sale of liquor in violation of the Volstead Act were returned against Ernest A. Brown, Millville, Ohio, proprietor of Bend Inn, and Gene Quackenbush, 929 Pyrtonia avenue, Hamilton, alleged proprietor, and Charles Kelly, 937 Pyrtonia avenue, Hamilton, alleged employee, of Good Luck Inn, Millville. These roadhouses were raided by Federal prohibition agents following reports that students of Miami University and the Woman’s College, Oxford, Ohio, were frequenting the places.
Similar charges are contained in an indictment returned against Minnie Kelly, proprietress of Walnut Shade Inn, and Benjamin Wilson, 20 Somerset Street, Ludlow, Ky., an employee. Possession and nuisance are charged against George Flohn, 1627 Pleasant Street, an alleged owner of “Owls Nest” camp along the Miami River, William P. Gradolph, 723 South Front Street, Hamilton, and Clifford Gradolph, 163 Walnut Street, Hamilton, are accused of having conducted a common nuisance at 111 south second street, Hamilton.
Golden McCoy and Albert Klein, Plainville, are charged with having conducted a nuisance and with having operated a rectifying or “whisky-cutting” plant at Cliff View Camp, Little Miami River.
Frank Reichrath, Cincinnati, proprietor of Reichrath’s Gardens, 372 Spring Grove avenue, is alleged to have possessed liquor. Ernest Joplin and Wiley Argo, 1931 Cordova Avenue North College Hill, and Clyde Rickels. Mt Vernon, Ky., is charged with having possessed a still and mash at the Cordova-avenue address.
William Morgan, Lawrence County, Ohio, is accused of moonshining and having whisky in his possession. Nicholas Mueller, 2934 Colerain avenue, and Bolser Mueller, 1797 Westwood avenue, are charged with having conspired together to transport liquor.
George Green, 213 Athey Avenue, Covington, Ky., Charles Hadley, 563 Pike Street, Covington, and Orle Dunn, 509 Madison Avenue, Covington, also are charged with conspiracy to transport liquor.
Accused In Liquor Case.
- W. I. Shore, proprietor of a cafe and hotel, 209 Lawrence Street, Ironton, Ohio, and
- Luke Mulligan,
- Eden Pierpont,
- Charles Kelly and
- George McMahon, employees, are accused of having conspired together to violate the Volstead Act and to conduct a common nuisance on the premises.
Others Indicted under the Volstead Act were:
- William Adkins, Lawrence County, Ohio, possession of liquor
- Clem Braebender, 3837 Herron avenue,
- Walter Sedler, 3838 Herron avenue, Cumminsville, possession, and sale
- Arthur Bonds, Ross Township, Butler County, possession of liquor and conduct of a nuisance
- Gilbert Bowman Langdon court, sale, possession, and nuisance
- Noah Breeze
- Raymond Murphy, 2260 Adams Avenue, Norwood, a second offense of manufacturing liquor
- Charles Cortwrlgnt, Ironton, sale, and possession
- Walter Crabtree, Lawrence County, possession
- Ben Gold, 818 Barr street, sales, possession, and nuisance
Frank Hadley, Addison, Ohio, possession of liquor - Edward J. Harig, 101 Winkler street, possession
- James Hudson. 531 Carlisle Avenue, possession
- Reed McGuire, New Boston, Ohio, sales and nuisance
- Frank W. Mackzum, 3896 Isabel avenue, Oakley, sales, possession, and nuisance
- William Mills, 032 Cutter street
- Jesse C. Marks. 619 Hopkins street
- Rubinlee Duffle, 638 Hopkins street, possession
- Herman Mueller, 78 McHenry road, sale and nuisance at 1200 Poplar street
- Charles Turner, 4041 Reading roads, sales, and possession
- Earl Winkler, Second and Etna streets, Ironton, sale
- Samuel Woodson, 4 Langdon court, sale, and possession
- George McMahon
- Charles Kelly, Lawrence County, Ohio, sale
Violated Revenue Act
These were Indicted under charges of having transported liquor in automobiles in violation of Revenue Section 3540:
- Claude Jackson, 706 street
- Ralph Mason, 718 Clinton street
- Louis Perry. 1046 Cutter street
- Henryetta Sanders, 525 Clinton street
- Edward Crawford, 231 West Southgate Street, Newport, Ky.
- William Simington, 630 West Fourth street
- Will Smith, 318 East Seventh street
- George Stewart and Elmer Starkey, 1114 Budd street
- Roy Swirls, 636 Yale avenue, Dayton, Ohio
- John Watson, 1015 Cutter street
- Joseph Wurk, 3768 Main avenue, Norwood
Transportation of liquor in violation of the Volstead Act is the charge against Charles King, Johnson Hotel, Addyston, Ohio; Fred Morgener, 510 West Liberty street, and James Tindle, 1061 Mound street, who are indicted under charges of having possessed and transported liquor in violation of the Volstead Act. Jake Thuerling, 2259 Bogan street, Cincinnati, and James McCoy, 225 Sixty-ninth street, Carthage, conspiracy to violate the Volstead Act and transformation of liquor in violation of Section 3,450. Amos Young, 655 West Fourth street, and Albert Smith, 521 West Fifth Street, are charged with a second offense of transportation. Transportation, under Section 4,350, conspiracy and the conduct of a nuisance at 315 Clinton street are the charges against Floyd Beckett, 935 Clinton street.
Face Theft Charges. Three indictments were returned by the Jury In connection with alleged thefts of merchandise from interstate commerce shipments involving Henry and Anthony Schmidt, brothers, Sixth and Sycamore streets, Hamilton, grocers and butchers, and George and Fred Rinck, brothers, Hamilton. In one indictment, the Rincks and Schmidts are accused of having conspired together to possess property stolen from Interstate commerce shipments. Another charges the Rincks with entering a freight car and stealing therefrom, and with possession of stolen goods. The third Indictment charges the Schmidt Brothers with having possessed property stolen from interstate commerce shipments.
The four men were arrested several weeks ago following a raid on the Schmidt Bros, grocery and the alleged discovery of a large quantity of merchandise said to have been stolen. It was said the Schmidt brothers conducted a “fence” for freight thieves.
George J. Dillhoff, 40 years old, 4322 Sullivan Avenue, St. Bernard, druggist, at Delmar and Sullivan avenues, St Bernard, and former clerk in charge of the St. Bernard Branch Post Office, is indicted under charges of having embezzled $3,558.44 of the post office money order funds of his postoffice.
Arthur F. Smith, 37 years old, 525 Prospect Place, former post office clerk at Station “N,” Baymiller and Eighth streets, is charged with having embezzled $223 of funds he collected on C. O. D. parcel post matter handled by him.
Misuse of Mails Charged
Rubel A. Moore, 24 years old, 20 Alexandria Pike, Newport, Ky., is indicted on a number of counts of having misused the mails in furtherance of a scheme to defraud Chicago mill order houses out of merchandise.
This is the second time Moore has been indicted under this charge, it is said. The first was In December 1924, when he was sentenced to Atlanta Federal Penitentiary by Judge Hickenlooper following a plea of guilty to similar charges.
Hugh L. Baker, 46 years old, 1333 Walnut street, is indicted under the national motor vehicle act. He is accused of having transported a stolen automobile from Lexington, Ky., to Hamilton, Ohio. When a Hamilton detective attempted his arrest, it is said, he held a pistol to the officer’s face and forced him into the automobile.
After taking him out of Hamilton, Baker released the detective and then made his escape. He was captured a few days later.
Daniel Ross, 724 Melvin street, Cincinnati, was indicted under charges of having stolen merchandise from an interstate commerce shipment.
Maybelle Henderson, 622 Smith street, is charged with having possessed morphine and cocaine in violation of the Harrison anti-narcotic act.
It is announced Judge Smith Hickenlooper will begin arraignments of those indicted yesterday next Tuesday afternoon and will continue each afternoon until all have pleaded. The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio, 07 Apr 1928, Sat • Page 24
Ironton Holds Boards Yesterday Was Ironton, Ohio, Day in the United -States District Court
With few exceptions, all persons arraigned yesterday to answer to Indictments returned against them by the recent Federal grand Jury were from Ironton and Lawrence County, Ohio.
William Morgan, Ironton, charged with having manufactured and possessed liquor, was fined $100 and sent to Jail for 60 days.
Four men charged with having conspired with Clifford Devere, Newport, who was given a penitentiary sentence several months ago by, Judge Hickenlooper, pleaded not guilty. They were:
- Carl J, Radley, Eleventh street and Central avenue, Newport, Ky.
- William Grau, 101 T Ambrose street, Newport;
- Denver C. Wells,
- Charles Meggerie, Newport.
- A fifth man indicted, Fred Wells, has not been apprehended.
The group was charged with having conspired to transport, manufacture, possess, and sell whisky and with possession of a still at 938 west Court street.
Other men, charged with conspiracy to manufacture, possess, and sell whisky and with maintaining a nuisance at 209 Lawrence Street, Ironton, Ohio, also pleaded not guilty. They were:
- W. I. Shore
- Luke Mulligan
- Eden Pierpont
- Charles Kelly
- George McMahon, all of Ironton. Kelly and McMahon also pleaded not guilty to an additional charge of having sold liquor.
- James Pinkerman
- Harry Scott
- John Matney
- John Shepherd, all of Ironton, pleaded not guilty to a charge of having conspired to violate the prohibition laws and having violated the revenue laws in connection with the manufacture and distribution of liquor.
- Mary Smith
- John Smith
- Augusta Smith
- Stanton Smith
- Glen Martin, all of Proctorville, Ohio, pleaded not guilty to a conspiracy charge to violate the prohibition laws. They are said to have conducted a large business in a private residence.
All who pleaded not guilty will be called for trial next week.
Henry Homer Curry, 40 years old Huntington, W. Va was sentenced to two years in the Atlanta Penitentiary on an automobile charge when he changed his plea of not guilty to a Plea of Guilty.
Assistant United States District Attorney Harry Abrams informed District Judge -Smith Hickenlooper that Curry had tried to sell a new automobile sedan to a used car dealer. that he had purchased a new car on a bad check and afterward sold it to a used car dealer for $500, and that he also had been involved in another case.
His record showed he had served a five-year sentence in the Moundsville, W. Va. Penitentiary on a grand larceny charge and had been pardoned after serving part of a seven-year sentence on a forgery charge.
William Adkins, Ironton, Indicted on a charge of possession, pleaded guilty; and was sentenced to 60 days in the Lawrence County Jail and to pay a fine of $100.
Walter Crabtree, Ironton, indicted on a similar charge, was fined $250. Crabtree, the Court was informed, had liquor in every room in his house when the place was raided. Previously, a “buy” was made at his home from his 14-year-old son, the Court was told.
Earl Winkler, Ironton, charged with illegal sale, was given a 90-day jail sentence, while Charles Cortright, Ironton, charged with sale and possession, was given a 60-day sentence in the Lawrence County Jail. The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio 13 Apr 1928, Friday, Page 11
“Big Betsy” Wrecked
Logan, Ohio, August 2 – “Big Betsy” of Sam’s Creek, after being under guard for many hours by dry sleuths working in the hills west of here, came to the end of her career early today when they wrecked her. This 100-gallon modern copper still, it was estimated supplied the corn liquor needs of Western Hocking county for months. The distillers were not found.[6]
Plead Guilty Before Feridal Judge Hickenlooper
Because of his hard luck stories, John Day, Ironton, Ohio, who was indicted by the last Federal Grand Jury on a charge of having committed a second violation of the Volstead Act, virtually was not punished by Judge Hickenlooper yesterday, though he was given a sentence of 31 days in Lawrence County, Ohio, jail at Ironton.
It seems that John was sentenced last April by the Judge to serve six mons in Ironton, Ohio, Jail. But when he went to the jail to begin his sentence, the Jailor found a pint of whisky in his pocket. A state charge was filed against him and he was fined $500.
Unable to pay it, he was ordered to serve it out in jail. This prolonged his stay in the jail after he had completed the Federal sentence, and when he appeared in Court yesterday he still had 31 days to serve before he had served up his fine. Judge Hickenlooper ordered the 31-day sentence pronounced by him be served by Day concurrently.
On a charge that he possessed and manufactured liquor on his farm at McDonald Hollow, Lawrence County, Ohio, and owned a still. Vernon Howard, 21 years old, was sentenced to serve 60 days in the Lawrence County, Ohio, Jail at Ironton. Cincinnati Enquirer 1 Feb 1928, page 12
[1] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 22 February 1928, page 2
[2] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 22 February 1928, page 2
[3] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 6 March 1928, page 13
[4] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 9 March 1928, page 17
[6] Portsmouth Daily Times, Portsmouth, Ohio, 2 August 1928, page 1
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