Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-09-26
BOOTLEGG|NG COPS
Of CHICAGO FACE.
GOVERNMENT QUIZ.
CHIEF FlTzMORRlS' n A 4 q +
THAT "HALF OF FORCE is m
BOOZE RING WILL BE INVEST
GATED BY FEDERAL AUTHOR
TIES.

Chicago Sept. 2G.-Federal officials
promised complete cooperation yes
to-day with Chief OF Police Fitzmorri+
in his drive to clear the police de
partment Of bootleggers.
The first step may be the early in
dictment of seven policemen, four or
whom are reported to be captains,
The first evidence probably Will be
presented against them today by AS
sistant United States District Attor
ney Harry l., Brin,
The men are alleged to have been
involved with Detective Sergeants
Edward Smale, Edward Mitchell an
Thomas Carlisle of the Deering street
station. all of whom are now at Nv
erty on bonds charged with conspiracy
to violate the Volstead act following
an alleged $4,000 liquor robbery
United States District Attorney
Clyne stated that federal men are IN
possession of evidence inyolyin1
scores of policemen in illegal liquo.
transactions and that the evidence
will be turned over to the CHIEF today.
He said:
'We have evidence against scores,
which we are getting into shape TO-
the grand jury.
81 cannot say how many policemen
are involved in liquor deals. but tn"
number Is large-pCssibly as large as
Grief Fitzmorris' estimate.
Chief Fitzmorris may be better
able to judge the extent OF the liquor
traffic within the department than we
are.
IN return for information we fur
nish him we shall expect that he WIZ
in turn. cooperate with us. Police
mon caught in the liquor traffic VIII
be punished just the same as othe'
citizens"
Chief Fitzmorris, in simplifying MS
statements of Saturday, admitted that
at least one captain was transferred
because CT alleged bootlegging opera
tions. and that many policemen were
transferred Lecause they belonged 70
booze clidues. He said:
prohibition enforcement in Chicago
is a joke That statement not on!$
goes for the police department bu.
for the citizenry. Thousands OF Chr
cagoans are interested in violating
the prohibition laws every day
Chicago is like dry farm needing
water, and the prohibition enforce
ment office is as futile as any group
Of men would be who tried to stop
the rain and prevent the ground from
soaking up the moisture.
The only way to make prohibition
an actually here or any place else Isl
to stop the liquor at its source.
Fifty per cent of the men in the
department know about this liquor
traffic but how many are actually in
volved | can't say. have a list oil
men now under investigation in my
pocket. The moment sufficient eyl
dence is found against any one oil
them charges will be fled
IF large part of the force should
he suspended in a group their places
would be filled in a moment from a.
large eligible list which has been pre-
pared.
THE department is doing well in is
war en- crime. Despite present.day
conditions, crime in Chicago is on the
decrease. The police are to be com
plmented on their work in this re
spect, but they won't be efficient un
til they have been separated from
booze
'Ill go the limit to do that
Chief Fitzmorris announced Other
transfers will follow IN rapid success.
sion. One order, which may come to-
day, will be concerned with changes
in the personnel of the detective bu-
reau.
The official promotion of acting cap
tpincv OF Lieutenant James Y. Bit }
I.arkin, transferred to the Rogers
Park station, where he will be in com
mand. is in the nature OF a reward
for years of distinguished service.
Acting Captain Larkin is the depart
ment's principal expert on explosives
and aafeblowing and long has been
known as the greatest thief catcher
in the department.
He has been unofiicially in COM
mand of the Summerdalc station TO"
some months.
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