The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1916-12-23
BIC BOOZE RING
/. HIT N ARRESTS
Of SIX. BY [|NDE
Attorney General Believes He
Has Ring-Leaders of Organ.
.u , lied Gang
A BISMARCK PEOPLE IN
1LLEG1T1MATE TRAFFIC
Prosecutor Has Names Of Every.
one Involved, With Many
Afidavits

A smashing blow was delivered Bis.
marck's alleged booze ring last night
and today, when six arrests for boot
logging and blindpigging were made
upon Information procured by Attor-
ney General H. J. Linde and upon
warrants sworn out by him, in coop
Grafton with States Attorney H. r.
Berndt.
The half.dozen in the tolls form, in
the opinion of the attorney general,
very small proportion Of Bismarck's
bootlegging machine, whose cohorts,
Mr.. Linde's records show, number Al
principals and agents. The attorney
general has evidence which will bring
practically every one of these men be-
fore the bar of justice to answer to
charges of blindpigging, bootlegging,
or maintaining common nuisance.
Has the Goods On Them.
II have the goods on them," said
the attorney general this morning,
patting a bullying file in which are re-
corded the names of the alleged
wrong-doers and aff1davits of witness
es who have purchased whiskey or
other liquor from them at frequent
intervals. 2st
81 intend to go through with this
prosecution until + have broken up
this ring. !, have them on the run
now. In other attempts which have
been made TO-, clean up the city we
have had to cope with the fear of the
little fellows for the big fellows.
The little ones were anxious enough
to tell what they knew, but they were
afraid of getting their blocks knock
ed or by the gang. Even some Of
our business men who were in po-
sition to help and who were anxious
to do so, did not dare, because the
gang was too strongly organized.
Was Paid For Protection.
"The ringleader of the bunch, whom
will have in Jail before night, has
regularly collected from his custom
ers for protection. This particular
fellow has been jobbing the stuff to
the bootleggers and the small pig
gers. He has charged from Is to 25
cents extra on each pint for 'protec-
tion,' and seemingly he has been able
to protect, for the customers of other
agents have been pinched, but patrons
of this king pig have been let alone.
I am not prepared to state for pub
lication just now how this protection
was procured from the men higher
up, but I have. the Information and
intend to use, it., without regard to
the standing or position of those who
may be hit" - sa. ....
Raids Made Last Niaht. ..
The raid, long planned, was made
last night by Night Captain Chris
Martineson, Sheriff French, Deputy
Sheriff Welch and Night officer John
Huber. The grist yielded was:
Willis ,Bryans,. charged with main
tanning common nuisance.
Leon Bryans, son of Willis and
manager of the Bryans livery, charg-
ed with bootlegging and maintaining
a common nuisance.
John Doe Skeels, driver for the Bry-
ans livery, charged with bootlegging.
Ed C"Plume'') Kelley, charged with
keeping common nuisance.
Mrs. Ed "Plume" Kelley, charged
with keeping common nuisance.
Another Arrest Today.
A warrant on a charge of maintain
ing common nuisance, was issued
this morning for Isham Hall, who was
arrested early this afternoon.
When arraigned, the Bryans and
young Skeels each gave cash bail in
the sum of $500. The Kelleys we're
remanded to Jail, where Mrs. Kelley
is recovering from a beautiful spree
which she has been feeding, her hus
band says, with a pint Of alleged
whiskey daily.
Hearing Tuesday.
The hearings of Willis and Leon
Eryans and young Skeels will be
held at 2 o'clock next Tuesday after
noon in Judge Dolan's court. The
Kelleys and Isham Hall will have
their preliminary examinations later
Long Under Way.
The attorney general has been en-
gagged in quiet but thorough inves
tigation for the last six weeks. He
did not spring his trap until he was
confident of his ability to convict