Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-09-19
ACCUSATIONS MADE
BY BROTHER OF Man
WOUNDED BY POLICE
Sensational developments, coming in the wake
of Friday nights attempted burglary of the Den-
son store and resultant shooting of two alleged

'noOtlng or TWO alleged
thieves, today threatened
a general expose of con-
ditions in the Ottawa
police department. Charges and coun.
ter charges piled up in quick success
sion after the woundng of Joe Farrell
and William Fox, now under guard at
the hospital, where they are recovering
from wounds received In a volley of
shots fired at them by officers James
Fox, Edgar Huston and Ben Ford, who
interrupted them while they were in
the act Of robbing the store.
Developments today indicate a
thoro sitting of police department af-
fairs and the release of one, or pos
sibly two members Of the law enforce
ment body.
Wounded Man First To Accuse.
The first hint of the scandal came
early Saturday morning, when Far
rell, after being taken to the hospital,
made an allegation that he had "pur-
chased booze from a member Of the
police force" naming Potrolman Jesse
Holmes as the man who had sold him
hootch. This was followed later in
the day with a warrant being sworn
to by Peter Farrell brother of the
wounded man. charging Patrolman
Holmes with the unlawful manufac-
ture and sale of liquor. Then came a
general demand for shake up of the
department.
When they were taken to the hospi-
tai both Fox and Farrell bore indica-
tion of being intoxicated. Asked
where they obtained their booze Far.
rell is reported to have mumbled that
booze wasn't hard to get" and to
have accused Holmes of selling it to
him on different occasions, but did
not say that the whiskey, or hootch,
he had secured the night of the rob-
berry was purchased from the patrol
man.
Palmer Orders Two Arrests.
When the investigation began to
warm up" Commissioner Palmer Sc
cured warrants for James Kerrigan,
so years old who resides on Canal
avenue and Edward Warner, 80,
marble cutter. whose home is also
on Canal Avenue. The two men are
held for violation Of Section w of the
search and seizure act. The warrant
sworn to by Peter Farrell, was ser
we'd on officer Holmes in Justice Of
the Peace Koenigs court, where the
patrolman had been summoned by
Sheriff Ayers.
Saturday. thruout the day Commits
sioner Palmer, head of the depart
ment of public health and safety. in
augurated a thoro investigation into
the case He says he discovered that
Warner and Kerrigan were mixed up
in the booze case. Warner admitted
that he had purchased moonshine
from Kerrigan, who resides in the
rear of Patrolman Holmes home, at
$500 a pint After getting state
ments from Warner, Farrell and Fox.
Commissioner Palmer went before
Judge Koenig and swore to warrants
against Warner and Kerrigan. Sheriff
Ayers accompanied the party to the
Justice court while Farrell made the
formal accusation of selling liquor
Tell Story To States Attorney.
Farrell and Fox left the Court
House. and then returned to the office
OF States Attorney II, f. Kelly, whera
Fox is said to have Come Clean"
and told a story that charged Patrol.
man Holmes with the manufacture
and sale of moonshine He alleged
that it was purchased at $500 a pint
from the officer.
Kelly telephOned over to Justice
Koenig's court, informing the officers
there that Fox had Come Clean" and
asking that warrant be secured for
policeman Holmes Dr. Palmer, re-
fused to sign the warrant, claiming
that he had no information against
Holmes that would uphold such a
charge. He asked Sheriff Ayers to
sign the warrant. Ayers stated that
he had not made the investigation,
and had no information on the case.
and it was up to Palmer to sign all
the warrants
in the meantime Farrell and Fox
reached the Office of Judge Koeng,
Farrell stated that he would sign the
warrant making the formal charge
against Holmes
Holmes Denies Guilt.
Holmes who was on duty at the
police station was called over to the
court. where the paper was served on
him by Sheriff Ayers He insisted
that he was innocent of the charge.
The statements that passed back
and forth between Farrell, Fox and
Holmes, grew to a heated argument
and for time chaos reigned in the
court room. Justice Koenig. who
thought that some valuable informa-
tion might slip out unawares during a
quarrel. simply adjourned court and
allowed the men to indulge in all
the loud talk they wished. Charges