The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1921-02-24
Bert Smith of Kenosha
and John Daley of La
Crosse Arrested.
CAUGHT NEAR RACINE
Sheriff and His Posse Overhaul
Two Driving Truck Loaded
with A Per Cent. Beer.

Kenosha got back into the limelight
as a center of the illegal booze traffic
in Wisconsin on Saturday night when
Bert Smith, who gave his home as Ke-
nosha, and John Daley, said to be
resort owner in Lacrosse, were arrest
cd late Saturday afternoon as they
were slipping across the border of Mil
waukee county into Racine county
with a truck load of what IS alleged
to be more than four per cent beer
The truck and its cargo were confscat-
ed and the men were taken to Racine
where they gave bonds for $500 each
and were released. The arrests were
made by Sheriff James of Racine and
Undersheriffs Heeter and Miller
In the truck were found eight bar
rels of alleged four per cent beer and
thirty eases Of the same liquid. 1t is
said that the wet goods is the Port
Washington product, the same kind
which featured in the disappearance of
a beer truck several months ago in
Milwaukee when the motor stalled in
the downtown district of that city.
Were Out After Still.
Sheriff James and his posse were
out after a still which was said to be
located near the county line. They
had crossed over into Milwaukee coun-
ty and were returning to Racine when
they sighted the big truck. From the
rear they could see beer cases stick
ing suspiciously out from under the
canvas. The driver of the truck also
acted suspiciously and for these rea-
til it got across the border into Racine
county.
AS soon as the truck had crossed
the line, the sheriff halted it and
started an investigation. What he
found made his eyes open wide. 1t is
declared that the amber fluid is real
beer and that there is no doubt but
what it has at least four per cent
kick.
Going to Kenosha.
Daley appeared to be in charge of
the cargo while Smith seemed only to
be tagging after and apparently had
little to do with the transaction, what
ever it is, Daley told the officers that
he was transporting the cargo from
Port Washington to Kenosha and de-
elared that it was only near beer and
entirely within the law. The officials
held that it was "too near" and told
hem they could explain the difference
between it and the genuine article to
the Judge and to the federal officials.
When the men reached the sheriff's
office in Racine they were hailed be-
fore Judge Burgess in the Municipal
court bonds of $500 each We're set and
the case continued for week pend
ing investigation. Daley pulled a roll
Of bills out Of his pocket large enough
to choke the proverbial OK and pealed
off 1898 and told them ito keep the
truck for the remainder of the bail.
Handed Over to Federal Officials.
The eonfscated liquor and truck
were handed over to federal officials
this morning and it is believed that
the men will be called to Milwaukee
later, Prohibition enforcement offic-
ers in Milwaukee are said to have
gotten on the trail of the truck early
Saturday afternoon but it eluded them
and escaped to fall into the hands of
the waiting Racine. officials.
Daley declared that he had formerly
lived in Kenosha but that his real
home now was Lacrosse. Smith could
answer no questions regarding the IL
auor and it is not believed that he is as
deeply implicated in the affair as the
Lacrosse nlan.
The only person listed in the di-
rectory under the name of Bert Smith
is bartender but he could not be To-
Gated to ascertain whether or not he
was the person arrested in Racine.
The story of the captured truck fits
in nicely with the rumors Of the Ke-
nosha beer ring which was unearthed
several weeks ago when the beer truck
was captured in Milwaukee. While the
men arrested Saturday refused to give
the name of the dealer to whom they
were carrying the liquer, it appears
to be scheduled to go to the same
dealer who fell under suspicion when
the other truck was cantured