Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-02-17
CHARGES BROWN
M|SUSED PORTION
OF SEIZED LIQUOR
Report of Court Investiga-
tors Declares Dry
Agent Guilty"
HOBSON is DIRECTED TO
DRAW UP A TRUE BILL
Many Witnesses Testify at Cir
cult Court Hearing in
Chesterfield.
SMITH MA KES STATEMENT
Commissioner Believes Representa-
tive OF Department Will
BE EXoncratcd.
SMITH MAKES STATEMENT
Commissioner Believes Representa-
tive of Department Will
BE EXOncratcd.

y true bin is expected to be re-
turned against II. l.. Brown. State
prohibition agent, when the grand
jury OF the Circuit Court of Chester
Held County convcncs at IL o'clock
.omoirow morning. Inspector Browu
and his companions are charged with
having forcibly entered th, homes of
y. ittner and Pete Ittncr on the New
isoad in Chesterfield County, with
out proper authority and in the night
time. and with having been unneccs-
sartly rough and profane with the
inmates OF the house; with Offering
immunity from arrest il the hiding
place OF the liquor was tivuiCed. and
with having seized and misappropr:-
ated contrabrand liquor. They are
also charged with conilscatiur II,
quarts of whlshky, Of which only
nineteen quarts were turned over to
the police and with rcturning thirty
nine quarts to obtain the silence of
boot!cEEers.
Adjournment was taken from Ties
"'E AFTERNOON in order to allow
C"nmonwcalth's Attorney Haskins
robson sufficient time to study the
i'W aAi 10 draw up the Indictments.
Cnsc Aroused Great Interest.
ihe case against Inspector Brown
mas aroused Sta;e-wide interest aris-
ihS out O: tho confession of David
Ilaymon TO Mr.. llobson tha, ha was
'he owner OF the stolen liuuor and
MS charges that Brown haa turned
over part OF the confiscated LIQUOR
10 hoot!cgScrS who peddled il on
Eroad Street.
There was some doubt rs TO
whether true bills would be returned
aSninst Harry Sweet, Sr.. Harry
Sweet. Jr., and Julian Planz who arc
alleged 20 ave accompanied Brown
on the raid on the ground that they
We're acting under Rrowr's instruc-
'i"as. AS Brown and Sweet have al
ready hccn fined $50 ANA costs on
the charge OF trespassins on the
pr"pert! OF y. 1ttncr there was some
question rs to whether n true hill
cohid be returned on this count. al
'h"eeh II was pointed out that a like
""c"Se was alleged 10 have been
committed NJ the home OF Pete
''ther. In an informal report to the
court uesdaS the grand jury held
hrown and his companions to be
guilty OF the charges made agaiust
them.
tIaymon was the first witness
cahed by the grand jury. He stated
'h'ii there were l13 quarts of LIQUOR
III all and that Inspector Brown and
sweet and Planze connscated II at
ifinsr's home. The next day. ho
stated thirty-nine quarts and s245
III money were returned to him.
which lot would have ncttcd $2.1Oo at
The prices current among bootleg
gers. He further stated that sew
eral days later the remainder of the
liquor was peddlcd on Broad Street.
Ittner Family Testify.
Following Q. B. Camp. who was cx-
amincd briefly. the Ittner family.
Mike. Pete and his wife. John and 4
testified that Brown and his COM
pahsons had raided their houses, treat
ing them roughly and using pro-
fanity. They also testified that the
raiding party had no search warrants.
Eugene Paul. who says that members
OF the Brown party offered to return
MIN thirty-nine quarts OF the liuuor
and $24o. also testified.
state Prohibition Commissioner
Harry b. Smith. who believes that In
spector Brown and his companions
VIII be acquitted. stated yesterday
that. In his opinion. the liquor claimed
by Ciaymon to have been seized by
the agents was actually taken by
bootlegGcrs who knew OF its hiding
place. He calls attention TO the fact
that when the Brown party arrived an
automobile was seen disappearing
through ncighboring field.