Omaha daily bee., 1918-01-15

GARAGE UNDER BUNGALOW.
The bungalow stands in Linden
Acres, on the bluffs, far enough from
other houses to be free from prying
eyes of neighbors.eA A garage is located
underneath the bungalow and is
formed by an excavation in the bluff.
The booze-laden automobiles drove
direct into this garage, the door was
closed and the liquor unloaded with
perfect secrecy.
Eckford Out on Bond. +, r,
The raid was made following the
wreck of one of feet of seven big
automobiles Saturday near Shenan-
doah, la. The machine is alleged to
have belonged to Jeff Eckford of
Omaha. He was arrested by police
Sunday and is out on $3.50 bond pend
lngsfederal investigation. He was at
the office of the United States attor-
ney Monday, but no federal complaint
has been filed against him and he is
still held under bond. He asserts he
does not own the n.-chine.
Two Trips Weekly.
"These fellows were running gi.
gantic bootlegging business between
st. Joseph and Council Bluffs" said
Officer Buell.. "They made an aver
age of twC trips a week with each ma.
chine, bringing about 500 pint bottles
each trip. This would make about
1000 pints week brought Up BY the
gang In week.
They had arranged II so that ces-
tain chauffeurs would pilot the booze
cars to within two or three miles of
the Iowa line, and there would be
met by others. who brought the booze
across. They were members of the
old Billingsley gang, which is said
to have operated all over the coun-
try. We had them spotted and would
have captured several even if the ac-
cident hadn't happened to the car at
Shenandoah.
Resort to Taxis.
after they had the stuff safely in
the bungalow in Council Bluffs they
brought quantities across to Omaha
in taxicabs, giving the taxi drivers $40
a trip for the job.
May Mace, pretty l8-year-oid
Omaha girl, had a narrow escape
from death in the overturned car at
Shenandoah She is at the home of
her parents, 24l3 South Eighteenth
street. She related her story to Of
hcer Buell.. -
She said Earl Beavers, step-son of
a St. Joseph liquor dealer, was the
driver OF the booze-laden car in which
she was riding at the time of the acci-.
dent. Beavers was thrown clear of
the machine, but Miss Mace was
pinned underneath and lay there for
some minutes before she was released
and taken to hospital near Shen-
andoah. Her parents brought her
back to Omaha.
Police Trail Beavers.
Officers are on the trail of Beavers,
but ne has not been captured. 1t is
said he came to, Council Bluffs after
the accident.
we Will also have two or three
others of the gang under arrest in a
few days." said Officer Buell..
The state officers found bank books
of Beavers in the Council Bluffs
bungalow showing that he has 81 900
on deposit in the United States Ma
tional bank, Omaha, and 5000 in St.
Joseph bank.
May Have Stolen Cars.
Federal officers suspect that the
bootlegging gang also were involved
in the theft of automobiles. The num-
Der on the engine of the Cadillac car
wrecked at Shenandoah was found to
have been mutilated so that it could
not be read. n,...
Beavers. is said to have come to
Council Bluffs after the accident. It
is also stated that he left there Sun
day night in such hurry that he left
his shoes behind.
When he is captured federal infor-
nation will be filed against him in the
federal court for the southern district
of Iowa. -,