Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-09-24

the liquor frog Gk MA
After meeting Warner, Fox testi-
fed, he saw Warner before getting
the booze cross the street and walked
a block west on Superior street Here
the testimony was concluded on the
claim of the defense that the charge
against officer Holmes was not on
trial.
Joe Farrell followed with story
similar in substance to that told by
William Fox. He said the three, Pete
Joe and Bill, Clipped in to buy
booze of Ed. Warner. each buying the
equivalent of a pint at the rate OF
So pint.
Pete Farrell the fourth witness cor
roborated the stories told by the
others He bought moonshine from
Warner on the Friday night III
question and two weeks ago, when he
purchased a bottle from Warner at
the interurban station. A third time
he bought liquor from Warner at
pool room. Like the Others he agreed
the scheduled price was $500 pint
Court Room Filled.
As was expected, in view OF the
sensational features connected with
the case, the court room was packed
with men in all stations Of life. Ihey
we're on hand to get first Information
of one of the biggest police scandals
in Ottawa's history. Every available
chair was occupied long before the
proceedings were gotten under way.
Every inch of standing room had
some open-eared auditor claiming II
for the trial.
Wild, tho persistent rumors were a.
float during the morning, ana last
night, that the case against Patrol
man Holmes had fallen thru. IL
was openly limited that the complain
ing witness had experienced change
Of heart and was on the point or dls-
missing the warrant and permitting
the accused officer to go untired.
All these rumors gained no substan-
tiation in quarters close to the prose
cution.
The most optimistic hangers on IN
Judge Koenig's court, however, were
not expecting Holmes to be very
severely punished, if punished at all.
They pointed out that the evidence
would produce only two main witness
es for the state-Farrell and Mike
Fox-whose word would be pitted a
gainst that of officer Holmes, always
steadfast in his denials OF having
sold moonshine whskey in defiance OF
the law. and Edward Warner. who
denied at the time of his preliminary
hearing, that he had ever purchased
any hootch or intoxicating liquors
from the patrolman
Warner, it was intimated, would
stick close to the story told after ms
arrest-that whiskey which made Joe
Farrell and William Fox intoxicated
was purchased from James Kerrigan,
and not from Holmes. He has always
maintained that he never served as
agent for Holmes alleged moonshln-
ery He admitted selling liquor TO the
two men, both of whom were wound
ed when police interrupted them in
the act of robbing the Denison gro
Gerry store on East Superior street,
and when they refused to halt, the OF
fcers opened fire on them with revol-
vers.
Joe Farrell, one of the wounded
robbers, was the first to allege that
he had secured his booze from mem
Der of the police department. This
was followed the next day by an open
charge by his brother, that Patrolman
Holmes was the man from whom the
booze was purchased. Todays trial
was the elimination of those ailega'
tons.
Clear Court Room Of Crowds.
J. ]. Conway was retained by Pc
liceman Holmes to represent him at
the trial, while States Attorney Harry
Kelly prosecuted the charge.
Early in the afternoon, long before
the case was set to begin, Officer
Holmes had taken his place at the
! table in Judge Koenig's court. Pete
Farrell. the complaining witness, NOV
ed about the hall and down on the
walk, collecting his witnesses.
At 1870 Judge koenig appealed to
Sheriff Ayers for deputy to guard
the doors of his court room. When
Deputy Campbell took command OF
the scene a general clearing was or.
dered. Men who had obtained chairs
in the court were permitted to remain,
while all those standing in the room
or in the hallway were made to leave
| the building.