Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-06-15
INSIDE Adm
WHISKY RING is
AIREDIN COURT
Testimony Reveals Naming Of
Friendly Workers to Po-
lice Berths.
BUY BOATS FOR WORK

l.
Revelations concerning the power Of
James Boner, a gambler and politician
in Evansville, to- have a confessed
"booze runner" appointed to the Evans
vile police force to aid Chief of Police
Edgar Shmitt In operating a police boat
for the alleged transportation of whisky,
were made in the Evansville whisky ring
cases in the federal court today.
Eugene Mckinney, who admitted in
the federal court that he aided In trans
porting liquor both in boats and auto
mobiles, testified today that Jim"
Boner, for years known as a gambler
and the ring leader of the game sue
ceeded in having Chief of Police Schmitt
appoint Mckinney as member OF the
police department
LIQUOR DEALER
MADE OFFICER.
Prior to McKinney's elevation to a po-
lice officer, he told Judge Anderson, he
was employed in transporting large
quantities of liquor to the Lottie hotel
on the solicitation of Charles Sihler, who
is a defendant to the alleged whisky con-
spiracy and has pleaded guilty.
After making many successful trips for
Sihler from Kentucky to Evansville, Nc
Kinney testified that Boner came To
him and asked him If he wanted 70 get
on the police department.
Mckinney testified that Boner at that
time was operating a gambling house
in Evansville. and that Boner had Chief
Schmitt to appoint him to the force.
Mckinney maintained that Sehnlitt or
dered him sworn IN as a policeman about
Jan. u, 1919, but was not assigned to
active duty for several days.
Mckinney testified that on the orders
krA
defendant who has pleaded guilty, were
placed In charge of "The Fanolia," a
Sigh powered motor boat, which is said
10 have been used under the direction
Of Chief Schmitt to transport whisky
into Evansville.
FIFTY CASES
ON FIRST TRIP.
According to Mckinney, he and Ave
Lamb operated the boat on the hrst
night and that, under the directions OF
Harvey Boyd, another defendant. who
has pleaded guilty. about fifty cases OF
whisky were successfully brought 10 Ev-
ansvllle.
Mckinney said that John W. Miller,
a former roadhouse keeper, and Harry
Heinrich aided in transferring the liquor
from the boat to a vacant house near
Aiiller's roadhouse
sAALEE the MAl1hF was Rta|tA III AAC
vacant house. Mckinney related how
Chief Schmtt took him to task because
twelve cases were missing and declared
THAT Mckinney had to make the loss
good"
On the evening of that conversation
Mckinney testified that he and Jim Boz
ner, on the chiefs orders. moved the
whisky from the vacant house TO McKlnf
neys home.
"oLD LADY
CALLED HALT.
my wife was not at home when we
put the whisky In the house." testified
Mckinney. THAT evening ] called Bo-
ner up and told him that my old lady
wouldn't stand for II, and that we had
TO move the whisky again"
Judge Anderson said And you
were a member OF the police department
at that time because Of Chief schmitt
appointing you"
Mckinney answered in the affirmative
and then related Of aiding in bringing
two boat loads Of whisky TO Evansville
for Fred Schroeder, Jr, OF Evansville
and for Boner.
According to Mckinney, Ell Harp.
defendant, aided in bringing the whisky
to Evansville and after landing In
Evansville. sheriff Herbert Males and
Deputy Charles J. Ruhi arrested them
and took them to jail.
Mckinney claimed that when Boner
came to the jail to give bond for Nc
Kinney and the rest Of the boys" that
Boner was arrested.
Mckinney claimed that Sheriff Males
told him that he hated to make the ar
rest. but that he wanted to get Boner."
Mckinney testified that he and Ell
Harp served time on the penal farm after
being convicted in the Vanderburg cir
cult court for bringing in liquor.
CITY PAID
EXTRA HELP"
Mckinney testified that Chief schmitt
paid him once personality for his work"
on the force and that the city controller
made the other payments.
On cross examination, Mckinney tes-
tilted that Captain of Police Andy
Freddie operated the police motor boat
and while engaged in bringing whisky
TO Evansville his machine broke down
and was overtaken by Officers James
Trautwein and Herbert Evans. who did
not see the whisky but advised him
to have his tire fixed.
In answer TO a question put to Nc
Kinney by Trautwein, the witness de-
MED that he was fired" by Chief
Schmitt for bringing whisky into the
state after being seen by Trautwein
in the act.
DENIES HE SAW
Freddie WITH BOOZE.
In answer TO question Of Capt.
Freddie, the right hand man Of Chief
Schmitt at Evansville, Mckinney stated
he never saw Freddie in charge of the
police boat when whisky was being
transported.
John w. Miller, defendant who has
pleaded guilty and today gave evidence
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