Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-08-16
STORY OF RAID
TOLD ON STAND
BY +. |. WATKINS
Superintendent Of Enforce
rnent League Cross-ex-
arnined Today.
North Dakota Reforner
Served as Minnesota Dep
uty Sheriff.

F. L. Watkins. superintendent of
the North Dakota Law Enforcement
league, was the only witness heard to-
day In the preliminary hearing Of the
East Grand Forks Brewery case be-
fore Judge Phil Mclaughlin. On
cross-examination by counsel for the
defendants, Mr.. Watkins gave vol
luminous testimony about the pur-
poses and methods of the Enforce
ment league, about the recent raid on
the brewery and. in a general way,
about his observations made during
the time he was investigating the at
fairs of the defendant brewery.
What May Be Seen at Fargo.
Assistant Attorney General H. A.
Bronson continued the examination
of the witness from yesterday after
rious books and records he had seen
there In connection with the present
case.
MI. Watkins said that among the
material seized on the night of July
81, and later brought to the jurisdic-
ton of the federal court at Fargo,
were books of orders and names as
well as Of express receipts. Mr. Wat
kins also had seen minutes of the
meetings of the board of directors Of
h brewery company, account books,
journals, ledgers, check book and
n letter file. Photographic copies
which Shad been made Of many of
these records. were admitted Is evil
dence.
The Enforcement League.
Geo. A. Bangs began his cross-ex-
animation at about 10 o'clock and
continued all through the morning.
II is not completed yet. In reply to
q series of questions from MI. Bangs,
the witness said that ne held no Off
cial position whatever. but tina he
was superintendent Of the Enforce
ment league which he described as a
voluntary association and not a cor
poration. The league has no mem
bership list, and its purposes were, as
indicated in its name, to enforce the
laws. with special reference to the
liquor laws of this as well as other
states. j.,
Mr.. Watkins said that R. B. Griffith
league and that r. M. Pollock of Far
go is treasurer. The witness had
been superintendent of the league
since June 1911 and had devoted all
his time to the work of the organi-
Zation ever SINCE
It appeared from the testimony
that the superintendent twice a year
confers with an advisory board re-
garding h general policy and plans
of the league, but that specific tasks
are left to him and his assistant, Mr.,
Finwall.
Preparations for the Spectacle.
Once in a while Mr.. Watkins deem
ed it important to consult Individual
members of the league regarding
steps that were to be taken, and he
had. for instance, discussed the East
Grand Forks situation with Mr.. Crit
fifth without referring to the method
which would be employed or to tho
time when the raid would be carried
out. Shortly before Mr.. Watkins had
arrived here in the evening Of July
10, he had taken the matter up with
Assistant Attorneys General Bronson
and Brennan, and it seems that Mr..
Bronson had suggested immediate ac-
ton.
way back in 1914 Mr.. Watkins had
discussed the beer situation with Oh
ger B. Burtness, then states attorney,
and some time last spring he had
written states Attorney Theo. B. Ell
ton, offering his assistance, in a gen.
erai way without mentioning speci-
fcaIly the East Grand Forks brewery,
he said.
In 1918 Mr.. Watkins had had a
conference with the defendant, Mr..
McInerny at the latter's request; this
conference was held in the office Of
r. b. Griffith. and concerned the de-
livery of beer on the North Dakota
side Of the Red river.
Still No Prosecution.
MI. Bangs brought out the fact
that while the witness had an i'm
preston. which almost might be said