Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-06-05
ADAMS GIVES @. K;
JAIL CASE WATTS
Continued From Page one.)

Continued From Page One.)
States marshals were visiting the Jail too
often and that he was afraid of the fed
eral officials.
In the course of his general denial of
the states evidence, Meinert testified that
he gave Hampton the entire "rakeon"
from the poker games and that Hampton
gave Meinert the loose change to buy
fruit tobacco and other things for the
boys"
The former assistant cell boss denied
that he started the poker games but that
he acted under orders of his superior"
Jack Hampton, the cell boss.
Meinert claimed that the "rakeof'
never aggregated as much as $40 in &
single night, but he failed to fix the
amount of the "rakeof" for any one night
! that the games were In operation.
In an answer to question put by the
state, Meinert denied that he kept one
third of the 'rakeoff" and gave Hampton
two-thirds Of the money from the games.
Meinert admitted that he has served
sentence in the Marion county Jail fol
lowing a conviction in federal court for
violating the Reed amendment and Is
now under indictment in that court for
another alleged offeBse of the same ma
ture
The witness also denied that he had
urged other prisoners to play poker but
contended that the prisoners invited him
to sit in and take the "rakeoff."
number Of witnesses were introduced
in behalf'of Meinert, the most important
being Charles Whltsell former chief
jailer.
Whitsell, who is known ms Uncle
Charlie" told of appointing Meinert as
sistant cell boss on the recommendations
of Jack Hampton and maintained that
the ceremony of presenting Meinert with
a big six inch star was only in 'fun."
and that the star carried no authority.
According to whitsell. the only duty
that the assistant cell boss had was to
see that the men did their part In keep
ing the cellroom clean.
SUFFERS CONVENIENT
LOSS OF MEMORY.
/ He suffered a lapse Of memory when
/ the sIato attempted to compel Whitseli
to admit that one Of the chief duties Of
the cell boss and the assistant was TO
maintain law and order
/ He quietly stated that he would have
4 appreciated Il II ne had been informed
Of any violations Of the rules Of the Jail.
but stated he would not hold the cell
I
! He admitted that neither Hampton or
| Melnert were removed from their posi-
| tlons after the deputies discovered two
decks Of cards In the big celroom.
James r. Boner. an Evansville pol
1 itlcian. who was summoned as q witness
/ for the state, but not used appeared rs a
witness for the defense
Robert Brown. a federal prisoner Us the
/ jail awaiting trial, testified that Melnert
| and Albert Moore. n former federal pris-
oner and n former policeman Of Terre
[ Haute took the "rakeoffs from the
/ games and that the "rakeoT" takers kept
/ 20 cents on the dollar and gave the re
+ mainder 10 Hampton. the cell boss.
ANOTHER PRISONER
/ TEsTIFIEs FOR MEINERT.
/ Brown admitted Oh cross examination
| that Melnert gave hiA 80 cents to act as
/ a lookout" 10 give signals when the
/ Jail deputies appeared
/ Fred Heler, proprietor Of the Heller
/ hotel 1918 South New Jersey street, a
/ prisoner In the jail on conviction for
violating the liquor laws, testified IN be
/ half Of Melnert
| Heller Is at present cell boss az the
/ inii and testified Of the former existence
| OF poker games at the Jail and malu-
/ tanned that Meinert and former Patrol
man Albert Moore took the "raknoirs"
/ from the games and gave the money 10
| Hampton.
| Heller Is former saloon keeper and APP
/ peared to be the happiest Of all the pris