Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-10-18
TWO GAS CITY
OFFICIALS GET
JAIL SENTENCE
Mayor and Police Chief Draw
Four and Two Months in
Marion County Jail.

= Frank Lermineaux. mayor of Gas City.
and Enoch Burgoon, chief OF police OF
Gas City, were sentenced today by Fed
eral Judge 4. B. Anderson TO serve four
months and two months, respectively, in
the Marion County Jail. as a result Of de
Hberate failure to enforce a Federal In
junction order placed by Judge Anderson
against striking employees Of the Illinois
Glass Company at Gas City.
Nine defendants. besides Mayor Lermi-
neaux and Chief OF Police BurgOon,
pleaded guilty TO the charge Of violating
the restraining order, and were released
on good behavior. their cases being con-
tinued.
Testimony introduced during the trial
indicated that wholesale gambling IS
now going on in Gas City; the fact
being known TO both the mayor and
the chief of police. who admitted they
had taken no drastic steps to stop the
practice.
A letter from a citizen Of Gas City In
troduced in evidence, declares that Bert
Wingate conducts gambling house in
connection with his pool room at First
and Main streets: that William
(''Woody'0 Woodruff runs a gambling
place in the rooms above Jennie Feiock's
restaurant; and that Charles Hartman
conducts gambling games In the rear Of
John Webbs pool room. and charges
that both mayor and the chief of police
know of the games but have not caused
any arrests to be made.
MAYOR SAYS
RAIDS TIPPED OFF.
Mayor Lermineaux, In answer to the
charge, said he had ordered raids on
two occasions after many complaints had
been received. but the gamblers had been
tipped of"
He admitted having seen the games In
progress on visits to the place, but de
clared he had done all in his power &c
enforce the law
The letter also stated that Lermineaux
had at one time been on the pay roll
Of the Glass Bottle Blowers Association,
and inferred that he had received money
to protect the union
Lermineaux admitted that he had taken
an extensive trip in the East. was driv-
ing an automobile and was wearing a suit
of clothes OF excellent material, but
claimed that all Of his expenses were
paid for by the $50 be received monthly
as mayor of Gas City, and a little sup
port from his son. who was working~in
the glass factory. This would make a
good book.
When he declared he was able to keep
up with the rent and other factors IN the
cost OF living with $50 month. he was
sarcastlcally advised by the court to
write, as a financial genius, a recipe"
that others might learn.
The court declared during the trial
that he would Investigate the charges
that Lermineaux had received money from
the Glass Bottle Blowers Association. ..
To John s. Roberts, Of Terre Hnute, al
legged strike agitator, William tastes.
William Secor, Edward Kirby, David
Kirby, william Woodruff, Elcanah Sex
ton, Samuel Cox and William simmons
defendants who pleaded guilty, Judge
Anderson said:
II am inclined to show leniency toward
you"
William Hoover, employee of tie I'LL
nois Glass Company, testified that after
the restraining order had been issued a
group OF men threw stones against his
house
To protect himself and six children
from injury he loaded a pistol and stood
guard practically all night.
He was accosted the next day by Chief
Of Police Burroon. who arrested him
for carrying concealed weapons.
He related the experiences Of the night
before and declared that he had forgot
ten to remove the pistol from his pocket.
Burgoon refused to accept Hooven's
statement, and placed him In Jail.
The chief refused to let Hooven ar
range for a bondsman, according to the
testimony.
MAYOR ADMITS
HE Is POOR CITIZEN.
After Hoover was thrown in a cell
fire was lighted in a smoky stove.
The resulting smoke caused Hooven to
have violent coughing spells, he said.
Then Burgoon took him to the mayor,
who fined Hoover SIS.
Mayor Lermineaux admitted that he
was not born in America; that he was a
socialist and believed in Government
ownership of every mandatory of com
mon produce; that he was not educated
nor had found time to study the laws Of
the United States.
81 am just a follower" he told the
court.
"And yet you set yourself up as
model authority" replied Judge Ander-
son, shaking his head.