Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-02-02
SEATTLE OFFICIALS
FACE GRAFT CHARGES
MAYOR, POLICE CHEF AND FOR
MER SHERIFF INDICTED BY
FEDERAL JURY.

Seattle and the entire state we're
shocked this week when the federal
grand jury, which had been investi-
eating bootlegging conditions in Sc
attic and vicinity for some weeks. re-
turned indictments against Mayor Hi
Gill, Chief of Police Charles L. Beck
ingham and former Sheriff Robert T.
Hodge, for an alleged conspiracy
with the Billingsley bootlegging ring,
the largest illegal whisky-peddling
gang in Americas largest dry" city.
All of the officials pleaded not guilty
when arraigned. Trials will start
the latter part of this month, 1t is
expected.
Prominent people have been rally
ing to Mayor Gill since his indictment
and it is reported that the Seattle
"dry" committee, which led the fight
in that city against the "wet" bills
the mayors defense. The latter de-
clares his innocence, asserts the boot
leggers are trying to "get" him for
breaking them up in business, and is
demanding an immediate trial. He
also says he will run again for mayor
of Seattle In March, 1918.
Thirteen indictments altogether
were returned in the bootlegging
conspiracy cases, four members of
the Seattle police force also being
named. Among them also were two
against E. J. Baker. manager of the
Jesse Hunt-Moore company, big
Wholesale liquor dealers Of San
Francisco. from whom, 1t il charged.
the bootleggers bought their booze.
Claim tiiI Got $4,000.
The indictments were returned
after the Billingsleys charged that
they had paid Mayor Gill $4,000,
August 20, to dismiss q number Of
city cases against them. return docu-
mentary evidence Of their violations
Of federal law and agree to protect
them in plying their bootlegging
business.
The charges were filed after q
probe lasting more than two months
during which scores of witnesses
were called. first to indict the Bill
Kingsley brothers. Logan, Fred and
Ora, and then to substantiate their
charges Of corruption. made against
the city and county oficials.
The Billingsleys also charged that
they paid substantial sums of money
to Chief Rockingham and ex-Sheriff
Hodge. The latter's term of ONCE
expired early in January. These
men, they charge, in carrying on the
alleged conspiracy, helped them get
in whisky shipments, and steal booze
from rival bootleggers.
Mayor Gill has been storm center
in Seattle politics In recent years. He
was recalled as mayor in 1911. as the
result Of graft charges against his
police department. He had been
elected on an "open town" platform.
Later the then chief of police, Charles
Wappenstein, was indicted and sent
to the penitentiary for accepting
protection" money from gamblers
and the vice ring.
Elected in 1914 and 1919.
Gill tried to come back in 1912 as
mayor, but failed. Two Years later
he appealed to the people "for a
chance to make good for the sake of
his boys" and was reelected. He
promised not to run again. Last
spring he did run again. however.
after another scandal over his chief
of police, and was elected.
He gained national fame by direct
ing his dry squad to put the axe to
all bootlegging joints that could be
found. These tactics, he claims. SO
provoked bootleggers that they set,
out to get" him.
Former Sheriff Hodge has figured
in the politics Of the state AZ well as
King county. In 1912 he was the
Progressive party nominee for gov
ernor and last summer he was one of
the seven aspirants for the Repub-
ncan nomination.