South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-26
SAFETY BOARD
FAILS To FIND
BOOZE THIEVES
Officers Case Taken Under
Amusement for One Week
Following Testimony.

The mystery stH remains a mys-
terry, tho person or persons who
took the booze from the bull pen at
the city hall are still unknown. de
spite the grilIing cross examination
given OfCer Bert Miller. who is
charged with being implicated n
Its di,appc His case was
taken under adviscment by the
safety board FOR one week. and h
was suspended until n ,erdict is
reached ATTY. John O.. Yeagley APP
pcared for Miller.
Seven men were put under oath
al Fridays nights meeting. and all
were questioned by City Attv.
Thomas vs.. Slick and officer Mil
lers attorney. The facts OF the
case are that a large amount OF
liquor was taken from tho bull pen.
evidently with the aid OF a large
suction pipe. and that neither ofn-
Gers or civitiars who were exam
incd have any tangible knowledge
Of the person or persons who tool;
The booze. although William +.
Bcecher. OF $50 y. Main St. pro-
puetor Of the Brotherhood grocery.
admitted that the pump was III his
possession about seven or eight
weeks ago.
AR. Beecher was the first man
called 20 testify. He stated that
he had borrowed the pump from
James y. Luther, ST. perintendent %
the water works. 10 clean out a els
tern in his home. After finishing
;he work On his cistern he brought
the pump 10 his store, where ne
placed II in the back room and for
got about it until Mr. Luther re-
quested him TO return IT, When he
came 20 look for tho pump 1t vas
gone, so he questioned his delivery
man, Robert Swope. regarding the
disappearance Of the plmp. Swope
told him that he had delivered il
10 the city hall, as he knew the
pump belonged 10 the water works.
The city attorney then dismissed
Bcecher and called Swope in.
story of Pump.
Swopc told hay story OF clean
ing the back room OF the grocery
store. where he found the pump.
and. wishing 70 rid the room Of all
unnecessary articles. ne delivered
the pump TO the city hall. PLACING
10 inside the east entrance near
some bicycles. and telling no one
that nc left II there
Dr Louis J. Smith. president of
The safety board. evidently was an
gry at tho testimony being given.
Said The doctor. You have been
delivering in South Bend for five
yearS-you know where the water
works are-you knew the pump be-
Ionged there, yet you deliver II to
the city hall VIII you kindly tell
this board what person or what ac-
tion prompted YOU 10 do that?"
Il was making my south trip, .
explained Swope. and didn't want
To go out OF my way
Swope also testified that he made
a north trip ca delivery through the
northern section of the city, the
Sane afternoon that he left tho sue
uon pump at the city hall.
Sergeant Finds Pump.
Serrt Charles Eemerley. who
found the pump in Officer Mi!ler's
locker. told the board that while
ne was ENGAGED in pourinS five gal
Ions of gas I'm the Cadillac touring
car. he noticed that Millev's locker
was ooen Going over 10 IT, ne
opened the door and discovered a
suction pump which weighs ABOUT
40 pounds. He Immediately nOti-
ned chief Kline. who cane down
stairs and looked at the pump, after
which ne ordered Asst Chief Gas.
sidv 10 summon Miller TO the city
hail and explain hcw the pump
happened TO Ice IN his locker Cas-
stay and kemcrley took the pump
from the locker. worked the handle
and squirted some whisky out the
nozzle Sergt. l[emcrley stated
that ne did not taste the booze, but
dipped his finger ia II, and was sat
i-hed that it was whisky. Re also
stated that q was Mlller's habit TO
keep his locker locked.
Asst Chief Cassidy testified that
his attention was called TO the
pu.np by chief OF Police Kline. who
told him 70 get hold of Miller and
and out what that pump was doinE
in his locker Cassidy called Mil
Ter and told him mat a pump was