Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-02-13

In one OF the most spectacular T
United States, forty officers of the
swooped down on this district, supp
traffic III Indiana
The leaders in the raid first visited
-BIanford. Speeding here from Paris, Ill,
where they had gathered, the town in
few minutes was in the hands OF the
officers.
simultaneously agents were on the
ground in GasytOwn Centenary Universal
and Shirkieville. When the work was
completed here and those guilty of booze
violations were placed under arrest, au-
tomobiles barked and the party was Oh
it's It's way to the next town to aid in
the cleanup.
ALL TELEPHONE
COMMUNICATION CUT.
Before reaching B1anford the federal
agents ordered all telephone communtca-
ton suspended. This was done in order
that the other towns could not be mott
fed of the raid Service was not re-
sumed until after the five towns were
cleaned up.
Since a short time after Charles ].
Orbison of indianapolis, federal enforce,
ment officer for Indiana, took office this
district has been under observation.
Agents have been working out Of Terre
Haute for many days, obtaining evil
dence against alleged vioIotor0
The five towns are in the bituminous
coal pocket of western Indiana. They
have long been known for their al
legged lawlessness.
All but Shirkieville are in Nermihon
county Shirkieville being In Vigo
county. These counties are on the Hi
nOis border.
WILD SCENES
FOLLOW RAID.
Phe arrival of the raiders was the
siuuoi for a Wild scene here. AS the
automobiles sped up the main street and
the officers unloaded and took charge or
The buildings rs instructed men, women
ana children rushed out of little houses
and from over stores
Men scattered in the places raided.
They rushed pell-mell to the streets
then stood watching in awe as the raid
ers went through the premises.
The Indiana officers gathered IN Terre
Haute this morning and later drove to
Paris. H.. where they were Joined by
sixteen agents from Chicago.
Edward p Brennan. Mai. Pearl Davis
and Abraham Feinberg assisted OrDlsoh
and the agents.
been recognized as a "booze" center
for some time. the greater part OF the
s1pplv coming apparently from sur
rounding small towns
Police court records in Terre Haute
also indicated that there were plenty
Of damp spots in the vicinity and 1t
Is said that cases Of intoxication tried
before the city judge have furnished ex-
celIent clews by which to trace the
source Of supply.
MURDER CASE
Is RECALLED.
sensational murder of the under
world type In Terre Haute a few months
ago as the result Of liquor transactions
brought to light supply Of moonshine
whisky of such excellent quality as to
indicate that the makers were well
versed in the art Of distilling.
A raid made by the Terre Haute police
on soft drink shop conducted by Elmer
May and Frank Fields in Terre Haute
led to the discovery Of several quarts OF
rafsin whisky. said to have been made
near Terre IIaute. This whisky tested 81
per cent alcohol according to police. The
test was made by a representative Of the
revenue department. May was later
found guilty Of violating the state liquor
laws and fined. Fields was not tried on
the charge.
Not long afterward Fields was found
murdered in his soft drink place. May
was arrested and is now being held In
jail charged with murder in the first
degree. Fields was stabbed to death with
q cheese knife Investigations revealed
that his real name was Eugene Beebe
and that he came from a prominent fam
ilv in Cleveland, 0. 1t was said that
the murder resulted from a quarrel be-
tween May and Beebe over bootlegging
transactions.
novel advertisement for an alleged
bootleggiug establishment was used IN
Universal, according to information OBJ
tained in Terre Haute.
STUFF WITH
KICK LIKE MULE.
1t was said that some foreigners pro-
cured a dilapidated gray mule and placed
him in barn on which a huge sign was
painted. reading, "White Mule for Sale"
Those who were attracted by the sign
were first carefully sized up" by the
owners. and If they looked thirsty were
Informed that another mule with more
deadly kick was available, but If they
appeared to be bona fide mule buyers or,
suspicious individuals, they were shown
the four-footed mule and asked an ex-
Orbitant price, 1t was said.
1t is known that large quantities of
wine were made during the summer near
Terre Haute, and it is said that much Of
it has not yet been disposed Of Red
and white wine was selling in Terre
Haute at $50 a quart few weeks ago
and did not appear hard to procure.
1t is said that real whisky has been
scarce since the eighteenth amendment
went into effect, but there seems to he
fairly stable supply of white mule"
and moonshine on tap. The regular mar
ket price on whisky was futuating be-
tween $25 and $50 a quart a few weeks
ago, 1t is said, while moonshine has been
selling from So to SIS per quart
Harry Crossley, who was at one time
candidate for the nomination of mayor
of Terre Hauts. and Harry Barker, an
\ alleged character of the old redlight
sAiistrict there were arrested a few days
go on charge of violating the liquor
Tvs. 1t was said that several quarts
'kz smoonshine whisky was found in their
session.
it &lst on the eve of the federal raids
s& opposition" broke into the lime
E4SzsA in Terre Haute by staging mid
z*A raid on federal liquor cache.
"a g PIE hounds broke into a garage
l2 rear of the home Of Earl Houck,
mfxaanR gtnwnn.a &xxzan