Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-02-16
Law AND ORDER
SPUR BY
BOOZE RAIDS
Dry Reign Comes in Reality to
VermiliOn and VigO
Counties.
IANY TAKE FIJI
BY RAYMOND wERNEKE,
Times staff Correspondent.

Times staff Correspondent.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind, Feb. 1s.-sev-
eral towns In western Indiana were to-
day beginning to grasp the meaning of
Law and Order
The raids of last week staged by fed
eral authorities on Illicit stills In Blan-
ford and Jacksonville produced moral
sensation in several mining camps In
vermilion and Vigo counties said to be
,ioted for their lawlessness.
The prohibition squad visited Blanford.
Jacksonville, Universal and Centenary
during the crusade against booze facto-
ries, and as n result there was great
shortage in the liquor supply Of Indi-
ana and eastern Illinois.
When the raids were first started FRI
day IL was predicted that trouble would
result especially in Blanford. Federal
agents, however, were well prepared for
any outbreak on the part or clCzehs
opposed to law and authority.
Every one of the forty men In the
raiding party was well armed with heavy
caliber revolvers. Hand grenades, SINH
lar to those used during the war were
also carried by Chicago operatives and
the raen were ready for any hostihties
TINT might have developed.
Rcputed gunner failed to show In
BIanfcrd, however, or any Of the other
cities visited and the raids were carried
or with little interference and no serious
gun play. Not one shot was fired during
the proceedings of Friday and Saturday.
BLANFORD DESERTED
AFTER THE RAIDS.
After capturing fifteen stills and some
$500 gallons of moonshine whisky Fri
day, dry agents returned to Blanford and
Jacksonville Saturday in search of those
alleged to own the stills. Blanford
locked like deserted village, however,
after the Friday raids, and only three Of
tenders were apprehended. Most of the
homes wherein stills were discovered
were found closed and without caretak-
ers. Federal men, however, have infor-
nation on activities of the booze manu-
|, facturers and it is only a question Of
tine until arrests will be made.
Sheriff Morton Hollingsworth of Yer
million county, accompanied federal men
Saturday and took the three arrested
into custody. Those taken were Pete
Gellee 10, Tony Trotsick sc and Nike
MelssnorYich 81. Gellee was captured
after an exciting chase Of about half a
Smile. When arrested he admitted hav
ing assisted his father in the manufac-
ture of booze. The father disappeared
when authorities entered the town and
could not De found.
Nick Drijock, deputy sheriff, on whose
premises the biggest outlay for the
manufacture of moOnshine whisky was
found during the raids, was also among
those missing Saturday. His house ap
peared to be deserted and he left no
trace as to his whereabouts. 1t was said
he and another man spent Friday night
in a deserted cabin on the edge of the
mining camp, but when searched the
place was found empty.
In addition TO the arrests made on Sat
urdRy the dry squad uncovered one
more still and several barrels OF grape
''mash." The still was confscated and
the mash destroyed. No search was
made for stills during the day, however,
as it was said practically all Of them
had either been captured or spirited
away.
STILLS DESTROYED
OR WELL HIDDEN.
The news of the federal raids caused
a general suspension OF liquor manu-
facturing in the mining towns Of Yer
million and Vigo counties, IL was said
It is known that liquor has been shipped
in large quantities from the vicinity
wherein the raids took place. but few
law violators cared to take a chance with
government officials and stills were de-
stroyed or we'll hidden.
Blanford, where the big haul was made,
is typical mining camp Of the middle
west. Its population totals about 300,
the larger part being of foreign origin.
It is said that nearly all Of the male
citizens went armed and that gun play
on the streets was a frequent occurrence
during the play hours of the village.
According to evidence gathered,
saloons appeared to be wide open, With
a complete equipment of booze, gambling
paraphernalia, disreputable women and
music. Large liquor supplies were found
in some saloons and the owners did not
appear to have made the slightest effort
to conceal their wares.
There seemed to be general under
standing among a certain element in
Blanford that there would be no inter
ference with bootlegging operations on
the part Of officials. 1t was said that
many threats were made against county
officials and that boasts were made that
no one dared to enter the places to make
arrests. A party OF revenue collectors
were at one time surrounded In the
village and made to leave at the point OF
guns, it was said here.
MOoNSHINERS FREELY
SUPPLIED WITH FIREARMS.
The number OF Illicit stills and the au-
dacity with which they were operated
overshadowed any of the romantic tales
Of moonshine operations in the Kentucky
mountain district. The modern moon
sinners were well supplied with firearms
and were apparently well prepared to
guard their property.
The stills, instead of being hidden IN
mountain caves, were operated at full
blast in kitchens and Easements and
there was little fear Of raids or arrests.
The descent of the prohibition agents
came as a complete surprise to the towns
visited, and the searchers were half I'm
ished with their work before the resi-
dents realized what was up.
The raids were the start of what will
probably develop into an extended cru
SADIE against violators of the prohibition
amendment in Indiana and 1t is expected
the governmental sponge Will quickly be
applied to several other reputed damp
spots in the state.
Prohibition officials gave out no infor-