The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-14
Moral Conditions During the
Bunch Administration Held
To Have Been Contributory
Cause of Conspiracy.
DEPUTY SHERIFFS
GIVE THEIR TESTIMONY
Trial of Gene Williams Reveals
Lot Of Bootlegging, Gamb-
ling, Graft and Other Crimi-
nal Occurrences.

Muncie, Ind. June 1s.-Under q
ruling by Judge Cause that tax moral
conditions In Muncie during the ad-
ministration of Mayor Rollin H.
Bunch were conducive to a "tempta-
ton to conspire," the attorneys for
the state in the Gene williams con-
spiracy case were permitted to con-
tinue the introduction of evidence OF
the recent wholesale existence here
of blind tigers and gambling dsns.
williams, with Mayor Bunch and
other administration officials. was In
dicted by the Delaware County grand
jury on the charge of conspiracy to
collect brides from men and women
for immunity from arrest for law
violations. williams IL deputy
prosecuting attorney and IL con~i.t-
cred a member of the administrator
crowd.
williams attorneys have objected
to the introduction of evidence which
did not refer directly to their clients.
but the State has gone on presenting
testimony to show that tho Bunch
williams crowd permitted blind
tigers and gambling dens to exist
Although 1t Ia the boast Of Mayor
Bunch that no resorts have been per-
mitted to run here. Viola Gossett tes-
titled that she had been called to VIII
liams. office and told by Williams that
she would have to pay IS q week for
keeping a small resort" She also
said that Williams told her the larger
places were to be assessed $26 q
week each.
Deputy sheriffs Testify.
The first witnesses introduced by
son. Carl; Homer c. Walk and Carl
Hurd. all deputy sheriffs. who par
ticipated in the blind tiger raids In
August, 1914. The defense ridiculed
several husky deputies who, on ar
irving at one blind tiger found the
proprietor to be a legless man In q
wheel chair.
Charley Lewellyn. a cigar dealer,
told Of having q slot machine in his
store. His most important testimony
concerned visit to his establishment
by Gene Williams, who. the witness
said. came to him about the time
agent. was exposed at Richmond.
and told him to remove his slot ma
chine. The State sought to prove by
this witness williams interest in
the welfare Of Yount's slot machine
business, which was endangered here
by the Richmond exposure.
Clarence w. Dearth, q former
prosecuting attorney Of Delaware
County. told OF hts service ~ q depu-
~ sheriff in raiding Harry Bowmana
blind tiger In Howard Street. Dearth
described the mechanism used by visi-
tors to Bowman's place. whore a rope
was attached to latches and springs
that controlled the door leading to
the room used.
Ashton L. Van Mugs, probate on
officer Of the Juvenile Court, also
participated In the Bowman raid. He
said forty bottles Of beer were found
in the place.
Albert Carpenter. another deputy
| told of visit to Pat ouirk's blind
tiger. where he was met by . police.
man. ouirk's brother. who told him
the search warrant he carried wa,
OF Deputies left, but Sheriff White
returned later and raided the place
Describes Visit 10 Cigar Store.
Rev. Phineas ID. Greenwalt. &
Methodist minister. described hts visi,
| with q squad Of deputy sheriffs to thu
cigar store of Ernest Curtis The
minister said the raid brought a har.
! vest OF dice, cards. poker chips
twelve barrels Of empty beer bottles
two barrels of filled bottles of beer
and large quantity Of whiskey.
Inc WItueoe SAID ne saw several
boys there who were not more thar
sixteen years old. He said there was q
bar In the place: that the floor was
wet and the room had the odor OF
| beer.
Curtis was arrested by .he min.
lister and was turned over to the
sheriff.
William NJ. Mann. q lawyer, gave q
vivid description Of the raid on the
blind tigers of former Fire Chief Pau
Karlen. The raiders found Karien's
Ice box ana three men sitting on the
lid, one Of .ho men drinking rom .
bottle Of cold beer The raiders or.
dered tho three mon to get off the
box. to which they objected 20 Wig
orousiy that Karlens son and one OF
the raiders Frank whitney, got into
an alteration.
You'll not get into that box ex.
cept over my dead body" Karlen
said. according to the witness.
Some ono then called the police
| and two patrofmen In uniform soor
arrived. Thew demanded to zee th1
search warrant and then It was dis.