The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1921-03-11
Verdict Great Victory for Government in First Biz Jury
Trial Under National Prohibition
"MIILION DOLLAR DEFENSE" LAWYERS FAILED
TO SECURE VERDICT OF ACQUTTTAL BY JURY
Planned Hard Slap at Prohibition But Government Lawyers Won Big
Victory For Law
THE GUILTY MEN FACE $4,000 FINE AND TWO YEARS IN JAIL

On March Federal jury in Jul
verdict OF guilty against six OF twelve
violate the Prohibition laws. The res
mcnt in the first big jury trial for vi
The number OF men involved in the all
handled by the alleged conspirators, ii
number and prominence OF the lawy'
most notable thus far anywhere in tn
of Prohibition laws have been brough
The purpose OF the defense was
expressed by one OF the defendants,
Jim O'Leary, who was not found
guilty. He said in commenting upon
the verdict, Il am sorry that the other
boys did not get out, too. That
would have been hard slap at Pro-
hibition.' The Importance OF the
case to the government forces was ex-
pressed in a statement by Assistant
District Attorney John Kelly COM
menting on the verdict:
This is the first big liquor case
tried in the United States. 1t is re-
ally test of the enforcement of the
National Prohibition law. The cffec-
tiveness OF the verdict means the
Eighteenth Amendment will be en-
forced. 1t is message and warning
to Chicago's booze ring. They can
not go out boldly, now and violate the
federal laws. Had there been no con-
viction in this case Prohibition in Chi
.cago. would have been dead issue.
I / is-ss, Great rlsral victory. for tic
upholding of the laws.
This verdict shows that the gov
ernment can get a jury i'll Chicago
which will uphold the Prohibition
laws" he said. at shows that the
people want the law enforced and the
Heitler case will be the foundation on
which the government can rest i'll
future prosecutions"
The following were found guilty by
the federal jury:
Michael ("Mike dc Pikc") Heitler.
saloon-owner and "brains" of what
Was known as the greatest whisky
ring in Chicago.
Nathaniel Perlman, first lieutenant
and partner of Heitler, and owner OF
the saloon at Washington and Wells
streets, where the conspiracy is said
to have been planned.
Mandel Greenburg, an agent for a
man and agent for the whisky ring.
George f. Quinn, owner of saloon
at Van Buren and Halsted street, who
helped plan the conspiracy.
William J. Trudel, former aid at
Righeimer's bar who acted as free
lance booze agent" and helped dis
pose OF the 100000 worth of whisky
for the ring.
Frank M'Gann, partner of Trudei
at Righeimer's and agent for the ring
Face Prison Sentences
These men face maximum sem
tence OF two years in federal prison
and $4,000 fine.
Those acquitted are James O'Leary,
gambler and owner of the famous
Stockyard Exchange; VIM. German,
railroad employe, who is said to have
made the whisky shipment possible;
George Callahan, satoon owner; John
McGovern, surviving owner of the
Liberty Inn at Clark and Erie streets,
which recently was closed by Judge
Landis, and already under one years
sentence to prison; George Hans, de-
tective sergeant OF the Chicago police
force, and Nick Ambrose, saloon
owner.
Shock to Defense
The verdict was shock to the de-
fcnse. After the jury had been out
for more than twenty hours the at
torneys and the accused men were
certain that the deadlock could not be
broken and that all would be acquitted
or tried again.
Immediately following the verdict
Weymouth Kirkland chief of the
million dollar defense" battery of
lawyers moved for a new trial.
Judge Evans took the plea under
consideration and suspended sentence
for two weeks.
Attorney Kirkland declared that in
the event new trial is denied them
the defense would not take the case
auto the Circuit Court of Appeals, but