The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-04-23
JIM KNNANE,
BOOTLEG BOSS.
IN LAW TOLLS
Grand Jury IndiCtS Man Fur
niShing Brains and Money
for Vice Organized for FL
nanCiaI Gain.

IalIOidl UdlIIs
Jim Kinuane, political boss Of the
First ward for years, through his hold
upon the powers Of the underworld. the
free spending Of his money in the in
terest Of those political leaders who
happened from time to time TO be in
control Of the city administration, the
vast number Of fraudulent registration
papers that he c~arrolled from the ne
groes who hung around his dive and
his confessed payment Of thousands
upon thousands Of dollars for police
protection in his unlawful gambling and
liquor operations, is Under bond to an
swer TO an indictment charging him
with violation Of the state liquor laws.
kinnane was notified by a deputy,
and rode to the courthouse In his big
touring car, In company with his bonds
men, Frank Tucker and {. T. Cannon.
After signing the bond for $500, the
three re-entered the car and went their
way
The indictment against Knnane Is
based upon a raid by deputy United
states marshals two weeks ago, when
about 200 cases Of whisky were found
- WV AA'AN'H AhJblAllik NIlt DihNb on
North Front street, near Winchester
avenue, which has for 20 years been
known as Kinnane's place. II is osten-
sihly a soft drink n poolroom, run
for negroes, but is said to have CON
meeting passages leading to u half
dozen adjoining houses, In which, at
least In the past, there had been all
sorts Of cheap gambling carried on.
Confessed Buying Protection.
kinnane testified In the custer suit
against William J. Hayes. when Hayes
was chief OF police, that he had
throughout his whole career as a
caterer to the lower class Of negroes in
the sale Of liquor and beer and In the
conduct of his other operations. paid
heavily for official protection,
lie sWore on the witness stand that
he had paid Hayes, when he was chief
OF police, the sum of S22, 500 in cash
during one year and that he always
spent $4,000 or more In every election
IN buying poll tax receipts for the ne
gro voters In his ward, besides con-
trihuting sums TO the campaign fund
or those In power in the city hall or
IN the various county elections in which
he took a personal Interest
Suspicion has pointed to the place
run as "Kinnane's" frequently during
the past year, 1t was conducted BY
negroes, who were, however, supposed
to be employed by Klnnane. The Mace
was closed for a time while Harry
Litty was mayor, but has been running
merrily for the past year, Two negroes,
Lorenzo Dove and John Rhodes, were
arrested soon after the raid was made
and both have been indicted.
Has Escaped Law.
Kinnane's success In escaping any
connection with the liquor traffic. so
FAR as the law tsJ concerned, has been
because he has not dealt directly. but
has ~ostenSibly rented his various houses
lie owns many In North Memphis-to
others, h bore all the blame II they
got e%ntangled with the law. In politics
ne also worked through a half dozen
lieut. anantH.
Kinnane, who has been the boss Of
the First ward for more than rs years,
has always kept In the background
himself, He rides around in Ills Biz
car since automobiles have become the
common conveyance. In the old DAYS
ne used to have a horse and buggy.
Although the various places he owns
are supposed to be conducted by others,
he Keeps a close eye on them. Il is
seldom mat his big car does not stop
every night about midnight near kin
names place or drive by other houses
IN which he Is supposed TO have a pro-
prletRry interest, And every morning
about the time the banks open he de-
posts q big roll OF bills. Although the
liquor business is outlawed and gam
ping IL supposed to be under the ban.
hlhhane owns many houses, and he
evidently collects his rent promptly and
continues to prosper.
IL mas been common report In under
world circles for &C year past that the
cost OF protection to these various pro
teges OF kinnane ran up to $500 A
week, and that that sum was being
aid to some one regularly so long
as the negro dives In the first ward
were not molested In any way.
Best Negro Boss.
kinnane has a faculty for handling
ana controlling negroes that has never
cen surpassed by any delta planta-
tton owner, and a business capacity
which would have distinguished him In
legitimate channels, and In the end
probably yielded more money,
tie Is said nov to have q monopoly
on the pilots on the Mississippi river
who are both able and willing To oper-
ate whisky boats at night from Caruth-
efsVille down to Tennessee and North
Mississippi landings.
The present grand jury has been
working for WI months trying to un-
cover evidence that might Justify the
indictment Of some OF the men higher
up in the illegal liquor traffic, instead
of combining their efforts to finding true
bills against the men who bootleg half
pints, and have possibly now struck
a trail that may lead to further dis
CoVCries.
Whether the police and other agencies
have gathered enough proof to secure
n conviction Of Klnnane or simply
enough to secure an indictment and
hence allay Tor n time public zentl.