The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-12-24
SHERIFF IN CLEANUP
Raids Were Carried Out
On Saturday Night
GATHERS SLOT DEVICES
Several Arrests Made; Accused
Boot!eggers Rounded Up
BY Officers

Raiding the city hall barber shop, d.
rectly under the Mankato police sta
ton, where he placed Joseph Hot
finger. proprietor, under arrest
charged with selling moonshine.
Sheriff Anton Osten late Saturday
afternoon started a cleanup drive
against law violations in this city.
The result of the nights raids Is:
Two alleged beot-legeers. Two
alleged booze manufacturing
plants.
Three men arrested for being
implicated in gambling.
When the reid started Saturday
evening the slot machines along
Front street were reported as plen-
tiful as the flowers in May, but to-
day they have vanished like the
SHOWS of last year, nobody knows
where.
The Fred Polchow soft drink par
Tor, rs. South Front street. was
raided about six o'clock Saturday
evening. and three Slot machines
were seized Ben Holmichael of this
city was caught right in the act 90
plsying one-of the machines and
he was taken into\ custody. Later
upon his plea Of guilty to gambling
he was sentenced by Judge Con TO
pay fine of SIS and costs.
Fred Polchow and Edward Trotske,
Two proprietors of the place, were
arrested on the charge Of keeping
devices designed to be used In
gambling. When arraigned before
Judge Golf at 1880 o'clock both men
asked for hearing, WHICH was sci
for Thursday morning at ten O'CLOCK
Each man was required TO put UP a
cash bond Of $500 for his appearance
on that date. .....
Federal Warrant Later
Earlier in the evening Joseph Hot
finger was arrested on the charge o.
selling moonshine in the barber SHOP
in the basement of the city hal
beneath the police headquarters. he
was arraigned before Judge Con. anc
later was permitted TO go TO nj:
home on his own recognizance. Ac'
cording TO the statement OF federa
officer to The Free Press, fedora
warrant viii be sworn out later 10
Mr. Hottinger.
G. IT. Powell. who claims that III
came to this city from Sioux Cit.
three months ago, but has not peel
engaged in any occupation since
fhen, was also arrested on the charg
of bootleggins.
According to the statement or !
federal officer TO the Free Press Il
The presence of Edward Ario, Deput
Sheriff Malcolm Simonds, Georg
E-ost. Jr., in the city engineers Oh
fee at the city hau Saturday nign'
Powell sold moonshine WHISKY 10 IN
stcret service man on two diHeren
occasions.
Arrangement of Trio.
Immediately following the arraign
rrent ,of Messrs. Polchow. Trotsk
II nho al affAnf10n
officers was turned TO the three SIC
machines which were standing Sc
cureiy locked on the court room Ia
bic. Mr.. Polchow was asked to un
lock them. but stated that the ma
who placed them in his place OF BUS
mess had the key and he was the
in Minneapolis Mr.. Polchow wa
Willing but but could not help the OF
icers to secure the CHIPS and T mon,1;
: Sheriff Klugherz the United state
official Edward Ario, w. w. Welie
DEPUTY Sheriff Simonds. and sever'
other gentlemen tried their keys Q
the slot machines, but they could M
unlock them.
Judge Golf ruled that it would
within the law" to play the blame
things" and see if the machlns
could not be made to disgorge u
wealth stored in them The cou
risked a nickle and the machine wa
winner. Deputy Sheriff Kughel
said that he was game. and he &c
would put a jitney in the macnln
The result was that the deputy shel
IN got two chips, and for time I
had the luck of drunken sallo
Keep IL up" said the prohlpltlc
officer, II may be able to get 6a'
the two dollars ! lost in the d
In, fhn
made the pull" But Ellis luck chant
ed and he lost all that he had wo
w. w. Weller became very much II
terested in the game" but state
that he was broke and did not III
to borrow even a nickel.
Sheriff Quit Bucking Tiger :,
Sheriff Osten at last decided tn
A. Was no use to" buck the tiger
and sent down stairs to the pole
headquarters for the jimmy wnle
had been taken from Edward Katie
John, who had jimmied the doors
several business places. Chief Jace
Fingers brought the jimmy up stair
and Judge Hiram Goff did not hes
tate 20 use the instrument on Il
locks of one of the slot machine
which was soon opened. The ca:
drawer was taken out and the VI
CLERK Bates called in to tally up u
cash and chips. In the nrst 81
machine $6e,25 in cash was secure
and 1925 cents in chips. The re-
enue officer forced another OF u
machines in which there was S64
cash and 1877 twenty five cent chip
in the third machine which W;
forced by Sheriff Osten there WI
1920 in cash. This, according
the statement OF the officers, was
gum machine which did not pay
That is. a piece of gum did not drt
when the machine was played.
of the money and chips togeth
with the machines were turned ov
10 the custody of City Clerk Bate
The United States officer stated
TO those assembled that he saw
mar lose 81 in one of the three mi
rhi-r~ confscated in less than twel
ty minutes. !,
Following the disposition of u
slot machines, Sheriff Osten and q
OFFICERS aiding him proceeded to Il
"Ol6 Corner" or North Front stree
conducted by George Grabowinsl
for which they helda search wa
rant. This place was thorouen
.oorcboo hut the strongest tnli