New Ulm review., 1920-10-06
ALCOHOL i. TAKEN
FROM DRUG STORE
VICTOR BERNDT AND FRFD
BoERGER CHARGED WITH
BURGLARY
CONFESS GUILT BUT PLEAD
NOT GUILTY BEFORE
JUSTICE HOGEN

An occurrence, which should be a
lesson to many people who believe in
shady transactions as furtherance
towards making money, occurred last
week, when two New Ulm boys broke
into the basement of the Pioneer
Drug Store and stole approximately
six gallons of alcohol. The theft took
place Tuesday evening.
knowledge of the theft was obtained
early Wednesday morning when Jos.
Faas, an employee at the Pioneer
Drug Store noticed that the lock in
the basement door Of the drug store
was forced open. A search developed
that 10-gallon alcohol container was
missing. Somewhere between three
to four gallons had been used for
medicinal purposes thus leaving ap-
proximately six to seven gallons in the
can. Mr.. Alvin of the Pioneer Drug
Store Immediately notified the local
authorities and also J. G. Steenson,
Federal Prohibition director at Mime
apolis.
Police Get Busy.
The local police force Immediately
got on the job. Names Of fellows, who
have not been working lately and who
always had plenty of spending money
were Immediately brought to mind.
Rumors of an alcohol spree came to
the attention of Policeman Ed. Wagner
! and while in search of the guilty
parties he ran across Kurt Mueller,
who was found in an Intoxicating con-
tion. Several other clues led the
police into Frank SchelPs place where
the evidence of s.spree" was opened
before them. Investigation soon un-
covered the alcohol which had been
poured into gallon jugs and is said to
have been found in the living apart
ments above the Schleif saloon.
Young Lad Confesses.
Fred Boerger had been seen in
Pfeifers restaurant on North Broad
way on Tuesday night in company
with some other might owls" Being
under suspicion he was taken into
custody Wednesday noon, upon his
return from Comfrey, where he had
gone early in the morning with Frank
Schleif. Altho unwilling to talk at
first he finally confessed the whole
matter and told how he and Victor
Berndt had broken into the Pioneer
Drug Store and taken it out. They
took it over to Schleifs restaurant
where it is alleged they were going
to sell it to Frank Schleif for 5000.
Schleif is said to have admitted pay
ing them $40, stating that he must get
the remaining $3.50 from the bank
the next morning. The alcohol had
been poured into gallon jugs. and the
container was taken along and
"ditched" on the road towards Com
frey. Policeman Wagner took Boerger
| along the Sleepy Eye road and found
the missing receptacle near Sleepy Eye.
Boerger also confessed that he and
4 Berndt had broken into Backer's
Pharmacy few weeks ago and taken
|some Sunny Brook whiskey from
that place.
i Close towards six o'clock that even
: ing the police also apprehended Victor
!. Berndt who had been hunting since
early in the morning. He also con-
r fessed his part to the burglary and
) both young boys were put in Jail
J Thursday they appeared before Justice
) Hogen, Henry N. Somsen appearing
{ as their attorney. A continuance OF
| the case till Monday morning was
: asked and granted. At the hearing
{ Monday the boys pleaded mot guilty
3 and were bound over to the grand
/ jury" Bail in the sum of $500 each
s wasset and furnished by Messrs Boergel
r Stolz, Liesch and Berndt It is sup
posed that the boys will soon ask fol
Il la hearing before Judge Olsen wher
they will plead guilty and take theil
sentence.
/, Federal Agents Take Hand?
r The stoIen alcohol was taken to the
Y police station where it will be hell
E until the proper authorities take i
e over. A rumor has started that ;
n federal agent will soon come to New
{ Ulm to get the alcohol. Whether o
d not the federal government will bottle
!. themselves about the case is no
d known, but it is said that thorough
investigation will throw quite ligh