The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-01-29
BOOZE CHARGES
COME after A
LONG U.S.PROBE

ln.y are the direct result or
fight wagcd by the nillingsley
brothers against former Patrolman
T.. J. Margett because they felt he
was getting az much police protec'
ton for nothing AS they were for
money they say they paid Mayor
GIN and Chief Rockingham
The now famous compromise by
Mayor GIN with the Billingsleys on
Aug 20 formed the heart OF the
Grand jury's investigation. Tho
i'illingsley.M argett feud merely
furnished the opening for the
wedge with which the mass OF cir.
cumstances surrounding the booze.
graft probe was pried open for pub.
lie inspection
Probe Goes Far Back
II Ia In that light that the feud
Is important In making for a clear
understanding OF tho way in which
the federal Investigators uncovered
the Information upon which the
rrand jury based It's action
/ Tho story. from It's inception Az
pieced together by all tho wit
t''f+''"s ''f'fh w EFH'fhl NuF ioll'"
administration since prohibition
became effective. and particularly
the last six months of Chief Beck.
lnghams administration.
II opens with Sergt Putnam and
his dry squad receiving encourage.
Went In tho most spectacular fight
against bootleggers in general and
The hiilingsleys in particular that
any city ever Witnessed.
The climax OF that part OF the
tale Was reached when Sergt John
Weedln was Killed IN gun battle
with japanese night Waterman AT
the Billingsiey warehouse late in
July. Then the Billingsleys we're
arrested on murder charges, since
since dismissed. the dry squad
smashed the Billingsley Night and
Day drug store. on Pike st.. and
seized documentary evidence which.
IL has since developed. would have
resulted In a much earlier indict.
ment OF them for violations OF the
federal statutes. II II had not been
returned.
Gill Denounced BlIIinesleys
During that time Mayor GIN had
overlooked no fair opportunity TO
dcnouncc with Characteristic vigor
and EXPERIENCES these former OKLA
homa City bOolleEgors. whose rec.
ords we're known 20 the police here.
Repeatedly he announced that he
and the police would make the
town too hot for the BillingsleyS."
Headed By Logan. tho elder
brother. tho Billingsleya had come
here 20 engage in tho hazardous
bu, profitable business of selling
whisky. They had acquired expert.
eneo in that traffic in Oklahoma
City. Their associates had been
the cieycreAt OF the gambling and
whisky selling element and Logan
made no bones about his past con.
ncctions.
compromise Is Sudden
Money and the excitement ( tho
occupation appealed TO him.
With more than 100000 In cash
deposited with the city aud state
as bond money TO secure the free
dom OF himself and his brothers
on various charges after the
Weedin shooting and the raid on
the Night and Day Drug store. |
Logan BlllIngsley and his brothers /
appeared 10 be due for tho discard |
so far "a Seattle was concerned.
Then suddenly. and without any |
warning to the public Mayor Gill /
announced. on tho night OF August |
80. that all the city cases against
the Billlngslcys had been dis
missed. all the evidence against /
them seized at the Night and Day 1
Drug store returned and In return /
the Billingsleys had promised not
TO sue the city for damages done
To their property In the various
dry squad raids. The mayor made
70 clear that the BlllinEsleys were
not 10 leave town or quit boot.
Logging.
Didn't Fear Damage Suits
Prior to that announcement |
Mayor Gil had repeatedly assured
bodies OF citizens that there was
no danger OF the city being sued
az a result Of the dry squad smash
ing crusade. that he alone was
liable II anyone was. and that his
bondsmen didn't feel that there
was any risk.
The states wiped clean 80 far
as tho city is concerned" he said
the next day. In explaining his &C.
ton TO The Star
And he added that the arrange
ments for the compromise we're
made by George Vandeveer. attor.
ney for the Billingsleys.
Prosecutor Lundin protested
loudly. however. over the surrender
of all the Billingsley correspond.
ence upon which he had counted
to secure conviction in state
charges he had filed against them.
He announced that the evidence
given up by the mayor was under
subpoena.
Star Editorial
And The Star at that time called
attention cditorially to the fact that
the mayor had adopted strange
method Of making the town too hot
for the Billingsleys.
Turnout September and early
October the Billingsleys and other
bootleggers piled their Illegal trade
with greater openess and success
than ever.
The Billingsleys got their first
carload shipment September 10. the
day Sergt Putnam charged in The
Star that they were again heading
n bigger Bookkeeping ring than ever.
Reports that Chief Rockingham
and the Billingsleys were frequent.
ly seen together were common.
Rockingham Names Margett
Chief Rockingham gave ont an