Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-04-23
$4,000 PLUMBER
IN POLICE RAID
ON CIRCUS
PLAIN CLOTHES MEN SEIZE
SELLS-FL0T0 LIQUOR
GAMBLING DEVICES ALSO ARE
TAKEN BY PATRoLMEN
showmen Make Determined Efforts to
Recover Goods, Without Sue
cess-Bartender Is
Arrested

In raid on the dining car and buff
fet attached to the Sells-Floto circus
train, standing on a side track at YER
mont and Santa Monica avenues, late
yesterday afternoon Patrolmen Murphy,
Busse, Clifford and Roberts arrested
Frank H. Miller, a bartendc. employed
by Lee Groth and w. e. Daudell, pro-
prietors of the Log Cabin saloon at
Denver, who subleased the privilege of
feeding and selling liquor to the show
employees, confiscated a roulette wheel
and all paraphernalia connected with
that game, several thousand poker
chips and several dozen of packs of
cards, and seized quantity of cham
payne, whisky, wines and beer valued
| at $4,000.
The arrest of Miller and the seizure
of the gambling outfit and liquor was
made after the accused is said to have
sold several drinks to one of the offf-
| GERS and several other persons not con-
nected with the show.
Miller was taken to the police station
| and booked on a charge of violating the
| liquor ordinance, and his ball fixed at
| $500. At q late hour last night he was
unable TO furnish the amount neC6S-
| sary for his release.
| The raid on the car, which is known
| in circus parlance as the privilege
car" was the result of complaints re-
ceived by the police yesterday to the
effect that liquor was being served on
the show grounds and at a car belong
ing to the circus management.
Patrolmen on Grounds
Four patrolmen in plain clothes were
detailed on the case and visited the
circus grounds yesterday afternoon.
After making an investigation at the
grounds they are said to have learned
that liquor ha(. been sold from a stand
near the ticket wagon, from a place
near the tent kitchen and from another
part of the grounds. The policemen were
unable to get sufficient evidence, they
say, to warrant arrests.
The patrolmen then went to the din
ing car, which was attached to a
string of sleeping cars used by the
show employees. After remaining there
a short time several persons entered
+! the place and were sold drinks. The
purchasers of the drinks were not con-
nected with the show. To be positive
that the bartender in charge of the
liquor was selling to any one who
might wish to quench their thirst, one
of the policemen entered the car, pur-
chased a drink and rendered in pay
ment a marked CON- After being
served and the money accepted Miller
was arrested and the contents of the
buffet seized.
Groth & Daudell, who have the con-
cession for the dispensing of liquors
and meals to the employees of the show,
are said to be wealthy men. Groth,
assisted by his son, travels with the
circus and looks after the liquor in
oil at 10 fhn
management of the Denver saloon.
Raid Causes Excitement
The raid on the thirst attachment of
the circus created a commotion among
those in charge of the show and a
strong effort was made to effect a re-
lease of the liquor which had been
seized.
F. J. Worrell, assistant manager of
| the show, appeared at the central po-
| lice station last night and asked Chief
| Dishman If there was any arrange
ment whereby the show could secure a
| release of the seized liquor, and seemed
greatly disappointed when told that it
would be held for evidence.
! Worrell said it was custom with
all circuses to operate what they called
/ a privilege carr where employees of
the circus could obtain meals and
liquor. He declared that the car was
10 De cloSeu WINE On sue Track anu
that the show persons were to have
acctss to it only while travelling.
| When asked about the gambling par
| aphernalia in the car he admitted that
the circus performers and other en-
ployes of the show gambled, but only
when the show train was in motion.
| He said the men in charge of the
buffet had strict orders not to sell liq-
uor to any person not connected with
| the show. He denied that there had
been any gambling since the car was
side-tracked here, despite the state
ment of the police that waiter con-
nected with the dining car had won
$134 at roulette late Tuesday night.
Denies Gambling
1.-THE seizure of the roulette wheel,
| the cards and poker chips does not nee
essarily prove that there was any gam
bling here" said Worrell. II have sew
eral cigars in my pocket, but am not
| smoking them"
| The car from which the liquor is al
legged to be sold is partitioned in two
sections. One part is equipped with
| tables and used as a diner, and the
other portion is fitted as a buffet with
regularly appointed bar. In the lat
| ter portion was found the roulette
wheel, poker chips and cards.
The Sells-F'loto show is owned by H.
| Fl. Tammen and George D. Bonfils,
owners of the Denver Post. and who
! own valuable real estate in Kansas City
and Denver. They are rated as mill
| lionaires and are said to be interested
| In a number of other enterprises.
Neither of the owners is travelling with
| the show.
| Soon after the arrival of the police
men at the car where the liquor is said
| to have been sold son of Groth is said
| to have filled a demijohn with liquor.
packed it in an oat sack and attempted
| to leave the car, when he became sus-
| picious and decided to wait. The police
| say he was on his way to the grounds
to replenish the stock of those alleged
| to be selling liquor on the grounds.
| After Assistant Manager Worrell left
| the police station several other at
| taches of the show, accompanied by
Attorney Robert Adcock. appeared and
made an unsuccessful attempt to have
| the liquor released.
tt is not probable that any others
connected with the show will be ar
rested. Miller is the only person said
to have sold liquor since the show ar
rived. He will be arraigned in police
court this morning.