The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-07-16
Officers Made the Raid On
Farm Near City g
K|ETzER UNDER ARREST
Residence of Colored Man En-.
tered, But No One Taken
Into Custody

Prohibition enforcement officers
yesterday afternoon about four
o'clock raided the residence occu-
pied by Ernest Kietzer living on the
farm Of Henry Theissen in Mankato
township about three miles out on
the Eagle Lake road, and seized a
whisky still" in operation. Kietzer
was placed under arrest and lodged
him in the county Jail yesterday
evening on the charge Of violating
the Volstead act. Later in the aft
ernoon the residence occupied by
James Boarman, (colored) at 121
West Vine street, was raided and a
still" and worm, or goose meek"
was seized, but no mash or finished
product being found no arrest was
made. Several other places under
suspicion were raided by the Off
GERS, who were armed with search
warrants, but no evidence of Illicit
liquor making was found. One Of
these places was On Rhine street and
another about two miles north OF
this city on the st. Peter road. At
the latter place the officers were in
formed by the present occupants of
the building, that they had suspicion
that the former occupants of the
place had been engaged in making
booze, but had gone away some two
months ago.
Fumes of the Mash.
When the officers arrived at the
Kietzer place, Ernest Kietzer was
out in the field, but soon came in and
admitted one of the officers to the
building. As soon as the door was
opened the officer stated that he
knew that he had hit booze manu-
featuring joint, for the fumes of the
mash We're SO strong that there was
no denying it. In a small room of
the dining room, was found light
ed old stove on top of which was a
milk can, which had been fashioned
into cooker of the mash. Leading
from the top of the can for short
distance was piece of rubber hose
connecting with copper coil OF
pipe which was placed In a candy
pail full OF water, and the end OF
the coil protnded at the bottom oil
the pail. When the officers arrived
the finished product was slowly drip
ping from the end of this coil into
a large glass water pitcher. Two
granite stew pans, a large glass fruit
jar and other vessels were STANDING
on the floor filled with the whiskey
1t is estimated that four gallons in
all of the finished product was thsls
found. In the same room just Il
one side of the stove was standing 6
barrel half full of mash. In pan.
try one of the officers found jal
containing burnt caramel used FOL
coloring the liquid to the right hue
to represent whisky.
Denial, But Finally Confessed.
When Kietzer was confronted witt
the making of the liquor by the of
ficers, he at first tried to state tina
1t was anoher man who had just lief
before the officers arrived, who wa!
operating the still, and who had JUS
left with a quantity of the liquid fol
Madelia. Later Kietzer admitted
that he was making the liquor him
self. He completely collapsed AMI
turned as white as a sheet, and for {
time 1t was thought that he woult
faint. After washing up, shaving
dAu uUllllllS lib pest ClOluSS, hl6L
Ger later accompanied the officers t
this city where he was lodged In thu
county Jail pending his hearing be
fore United States Commissioner
Temple.
A quantity of the finished product
some Of the mash, the still, etc, wal
seized by the officers to be used al
evidence. Kerosene was poured IL
the barrel of mash.
Henry Theissen, the owner of the
house where the Kietzer still wa:
found. was dumbfounded to thinl
that his Tenant was making booze
He stated to one of the officers tina
1t was only a few moments befort
their arrival that he remarked t.
Mr.. Kietzer as they were both en-.
gagged in putting up fence, that q;
good drink would not go bad" HI
smiled and said later that he little
dreamed that plenty of stout drink:
were so near by.