Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-09-08
sGOOSIE' LEE AND
16FOUND GUILTY
Conviction of Negro Political
1seader Causes Sensation.

II got no kick, don't care, my shout
ders are broad" declared Harry "Goosie"
Lee, negro, president of the Pioneer Re-
publics a club at 50815 Indiana avenue,
as he signed the appeal bonds Of sixteen
men convicted of visiting a gambling
house yesterday afternoon.
Lee had been convicted of being the
keeper Of a gambling house and Special
Judge Remister Bingham fined him 500
and costs and sentenced him to serve
thirty days on the penal farm.
Les appealed his case and his appeal
bond was signed by Allen Sims, negro,
republican political worker, and an en-
pioye In the county assessors Office.
SUSPEND JAIL
SENTENCES.
The sixteen negroes were fined $40 and
costs on charges of visiting and sentenced
to ten days IN Jail, but the Jail sentences
were suspended.
Following Lees boast to Daily Times
reporter some weeks ago that I'VE have
gambled, we were gambling and we will
gamble on Indiana avenue, no matter
what the police or newspapers do" the
case attracted considerable interest.
Three police officers, members of the
morals squad, described to the court
the raid made on the Pioneer club rooms
at 8 o'clock on the morning OF Aug. 10,
when they captured Lee and eighteen
other negroes.
The police watched the place until one
of the men started TO enter when they
grabbed him and the man, described as
sfhe watcher prevented them from
turning a switch connected with light
that was suspended over the pool table,
where the men were alleged to have been
shooting craps.
The police broke in second door. they
testified and there was a wild scramble,
one negro lesping through the front win
S dow of the second story room and es-
Gaping.
Lee the police testified, grabbed the
dice and threw them into safe and
slammed the door, but the police cap
tured the ssivories' and so cents.
"Goosie'' Lee, who is reputed to hold
the negro republican vote of the avenue
district ''in the palm Of his hand" told
the court the "boys" were playing pool,
checkers and cards and a few were
sleeping and that the dice were selected
by the police from a box containing
many pairs Of dice
"You see. Judge" explained Lee, 1--WE
never permit gambling in the elubrooms
and any man who brings dice to the
club is forced to place the dice in the
box in the safe"
Lee, well known as a professional
bondsman, denied on cross-examination
that he had boosted Of gambling on the
avenue TO a reporter. but Clih Keeling,
well known republican politician, who
was Lees attorney, prevented the re-
porter from testifying at the trial. as
the reporter had been In the room dur,
ing the trial and had not been requested
TO leave the courtroom at the time the
states witnesses were ordered to leave
EIGHT MISSING
WHEN CASE Is CALLED.
When the Lee trial was called eight Of
the ''club members" caught in the raiG
were missing, and the court threatened TO
forfeit ths bonds If the defendants failed
to appear.
There was a delay of an hour and then
Lees attorney announced that his clients
were ready for trial, that is, all except
two, who were sick.
These two cases were continued and
the charges against Lee and the other
sixteen were heard.
Charges of gaming were dismissed on
motion of the attorney for the defense