The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1915-03-26

quart bottles containing small
amounts Of @red-eye' were what Of
fcers found when they entered and
searched the home Of Jacob Schmittel
IN the Barnard block last Friday night
Mayor Randall, Marshall Gates and.
H.AG, Rowe and Dan Pelton, Tho two
latter specially depuitized, acting on
specific information, it Is said ,raided
the Schmittel apartments about IO
O'Clock, with the above results. The
former two officers entered from the
rear, while the latter two kept vigil
from the front. Two gallons Of
whiskey were taken from a small
closet adjoining the kitchen, the cases
Of beer from another small closet adj
jacent tol the front room, and two
more gallons Of whiskey from a trunk
in the bedroom between the two main
rooms. A quart bottle containing
whiskey was on q stand in the parlor.
The only persons discovered were
MI. and Mrs. Schmittel, and the lat
ter's sister and her husband. All were
placed temporarily under arrest. Later
in the evening Mrs. Schmittel was
placed under formal arrest and es-
corted to the Office of the mayor, along
withall the booze. Before Ii o'clock
the Mayors Office looked like a whole
sale liquor house. The Schmittel
woman was charged with the illegal
sale of intoxicating liquor and placed
under a bond Of $500, signed BY Mr..
and Mrs. John Schmittel, for appear
ance before Mayor Randall Wednes-
day morning. Attorney Geo Smith
was retained as counsel BY the de-
fense. u
Elias Thomas, colored, and two or.
three other well-known citizens were
closely questioned by the Mayor and
Prosecutor Underwood, but little Of
Importance was CLEANED from any ex-
cept Thomas. While somewhat Of an
unwilling witness at the start, Thomas
finally made affidavit that he had
bought liquor from and at the home
Of the defendant. The case consumed
the greater portion Of the night.
Mayor Randall says that he had
contemplated the raid for several
weeks and had been laying pitfalls
into which he felt certain the victims
would fall He had been informed
that Mrs. Schmittel was afrequent vis-
itor to the city and brought home
large quantities Of liquor. The mayor
detailed a party to report To him when
ever trip Of this kind WAS made.
Last Friday afternoon when she took
a northbdpnd ear for Cleveland she
had for a3fellow passenger the local
sleuth above referred to. He followed
the woman, witnessed the purchase
of the whiskey, saw her mount car
for Medina, upon which he also took
passage. It was also arranged that
the latter should alight from the car
at the same time as the woman, SIM
ultaneously butting his knee into her
valise. He did so as both alighted
at the 'Y' and declares that there
was iinmistakable sounds Of rafting
glass and swishing booze.
While having planned the raid
himself, declares the Mayor, he adj
mits having received an anonymous
communication q few days before call
ing his attention. to the fact that
speak-easies existed in town, named
the Schmittel place and also claimed
that a search Of the restaurant on
the corner beneath the Mayors Office
would result similarly. On the
strength Of the letter thorough
search was made of Mr.. Menagay's
rooms Friday night, but no liquor
whatever was found. Mr.. Menagay
welcomed the search and assisted in
every way he was able. 1t developed
that the suspicion was gained from
the fact that q barrel had been ship
ped to Mr.. Menagay a few days be-
fore, which it was believed contained
liquor. It did contain some bottle
beer, but Mr.. Menagay had procured
it for his personal use and had It
conveyed at once to his farm in the
country.
Pelton also received an anonymous
letter the day before the Mayor re-
ceived his; containing the same mes
sage. Although there was a marked
difference in the style Of chirography,
the author Of both letters is unques-
tionably the same individual. The at
tempt at disguise was crude. The
letters were signed, "Your in Christ" ,"
or something to that effect and it has
been matter Of remark why the
writer did not evince a little more
Christian courage and call on the
Mayor in person.
Without waiting for trial the de-
fendant with her attorney appeared
before Mayor Randall at 3 o'clock on
Tuesday afternoon willing to plead
guilty to selling intoxicating liquors,
Illegally Ayhe plea was accepted aud
defendant was given a fine Of $3.50
and costs, the latter amounting to
$7.26. "A check for the former amount
was Forthcoming, but two weeks was
allowed III which to secure the SIPS,
defendant meanwhile being committed
to the watchful eve Of Marshal Gates.
Under the Law both the booze and
all the receptacles in which II WAs
~ y.