Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-07-12
ONE >SorF9cER INDICTED ON
CHANGE OF soorLEoolno.
I a. orHERs TO FOLLOW.
Tell How Police Department Protects
crims-etartlins Charges Filed With
Department Of Justice by state
Agents - Startling Developments
Forthcoming.

Des Moines. July 12-Sergeant
Charles Hall. s11s East Thirteenth
street. was indicted by the county
grand jury late yesterday charged with
owning and selling Intoxicating liquor.
The indictment OF the officer, 1t Is
bald. forecasts series Of sensational
exposures in the police department
which may lead to those higher up in
tho administration of police affairs.
! A search Of Halls home by agents
late yesterday afternoon resulted in
the finding OF quart and a half OF
whisky. It is reported
Agents assigned to the investigation
by Governor Harding working in con-
junction with agents Of the depart
ment of justice state that they have
unearthed corrupt practices which will
involve several other members of the
force with the gathering Of further
evidence.
One Case Two Months.
The investigation which led to the
indictment Of the officer began two
months ago. The military police at
that time found themselves unable to
cope with thugs. bootleggers and other
law breakers preying on soldiers and
men recently discharged from the SER
vice at Camp Dodge going thru Des
Moines on their way home.
War department officials appealed
to agents Of the department Of Justice
for assistance, at the same time ap-
pealing to the governor. The latter as
signed two men to work in conjunction
with the department of justice and the
military police. Since that time evil
dence has been obtained against nearly
100 persons selling Intoxicating liquor
to soldiers.
Vain Appeal For Aid.
Prior to that time Maj. w. E Per
Lee commanding the military police in
Des Moines. had appealed to the police
in vain for assistance.
Everywhere. the agents say, they
found bootlegxers and habitues Of the
underworld receiving police protection
and actually in fear for their lives
lest it be discovered they were in any
way connected With the state agents
or the department Of Justice.
With this. condition prevailing, the
investigators say, they met great difYf-
Guilty in obtaining any inside informa-
ton.
&. Taxi Drivers aPeaeh..
The circumstances which led up to
the indictment Of OFFICER Hall came
after two taxicab drivers had been
found by the agents who were willing
to tell what they claimed to know Of
certain transactions.
According to the statement Of one
Of them he was In the habit Of driving
his machine for bootlegger several
times week to the Rock Island rail-
road where it crosses East Eighteenth
street. On these occasions a man
would alight from the train with the
liquor in three suit cases.
The driver says he told OFFICER Hall
OF his trips and that the policeman
then arranged with him to go to the
place.
Met at Girls Room.
The taxi driver has told the agents
that he with the policeman were meet
Ing at rooms of two girls in the down
town section Of East Des Moines Beth
these women. 1t is said. have husbands
in the military service In France.
When the bootlegger stepped from
the train, the policeman pretended to
place him under arrest. The affair
ended by the officer taking two Of the
three suitcases and turning the boot
logger loose with the other.
The taxi driver says he then was In
stracted by Hall where to sell the
liquor and was given part oftthe pro-
ceeds. turning the remainder over to
the OFFICER.
Expose Forthcoming.
Startling evidence Of corrupt con-
ditions within the police department,
agents say will be Forthcoming soon.
They point to the alleged existing
conditions as possible reason for
laxity In law endorsement and the fail
ure of the military authorities to alb
tain the necessary cooperation in
preventing thugs and crooks from
preying on discharged soldiers.
As the investigation has proceeded.
denizens OF Des Moines underworld
have gradually como to realization
Of the fact that an upheaval in the
police department probably is due and
are leaning toward the investigators
rather than adhering to those whom
they say thus far have protected them.
Hall was placed under arrest late
yesterday by agents from Governor
HardinEs Office.