Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-06-30
OFFICERS HARDY and |.
BLAKE DENY CHARGE
OF LIQUOR HOLD-Up
Welcome Inquiry. They De-
CIare--ReIate Movements.

ne aupChutd Joiht oS1NSiAStt~
from officers Hardy and Blake.
whose connection with an alleged
hold.up of casgo of whiskey on
the streets of the city ten days ago,
as to be investigated by Chief Lick.
lider at the instance Of the Council,
is published at the request OF the
officers in explanation OF their move.
ment on the night in question:
Since there has been so much
talk and publicity, by reason of GER
tain newspaper articles published
which have been spread broadcast
over thu country, relative to an al
legged hold-up of certain parties, not
residents of the state, by the police
men of the City of Martinsburg,
and as there are no grounds for
such statements other than mere
who have been named in the news.
papers. desire to make a statement
of the facts just as they occurred.
THE first of last week we learn
ed that there would probably be
some illegal traffic in moonshine
liquor, and about eleven o'clock left
the police station and on Maple
avenue at the bridge across Tus-
carora, we found two men standing
between the bridge and Grozinger's
shop. When the men saw us they
ran; and at the point where they
were standing there was Il package
containing some moonshine liquoA.
The men ran out the street around
Grozinger's shop and we loaded tho
package in our car, and no one be.
ing at the mayors office. we took
the package containing the moon
shine and put 1t in the garage OF
G. II. Blake. leaving the automobile
in which we were in the garage and
the liquor in it. We then started
back to hunt the parties. We went
out the Williamsport pike or North
Queen street, and turned in Will
Transport avenue, and across what
is known as Tebo's crossing, and
as we crossed the crossing there
was a street light and we heard the
engines of cars running. We kept
on going towards Bishops freight
house and when we got ito Bishops
siding one or two autos ran to-
wards the Miller warehouse. When
we came within Is feet of the end
Of the freight house we saw two
cars still standing there and iive
men in conversation. We stopped
and asked them what they were do
ing there, and they replied they
were talking. We took our flash
light and looked in tho two cars,
and In one car there was an empty
bottle lying on the hack seat. They
we're asked why they did not get
out on the main street and do their
talking, that it did not look good for
them to be at that point at that
hour They got in their cars, turn
ed them around and came up Queen
street, and we came back to the po-
lice station.
"The next day we brought all the
moonshine that we had captured, as
first stated, to the mayors office
and turned it over to Mr.. Oscar
Miller, the city sergeant. Mr.. Zirkle.
at that time, not being in the office,
and so far as we know 1t Is still
held there by Mr.. Miller.
I'VE saw no other liquor OF any
kind or character other than above
stated, and we made no arrests for
the reason that we found nothing
to cause an arrest. We never de-
manded any money and were offer
ed none, and the above is all the
conversation we had with the par
ties, and so far as we know the
parties who left the package where
we found 1t are still at large. As
stated above, they ran and we fol.
lowed them until they disappeared,
and in the dark we could not iden-
tify them.
We thought we were in the line
Of our duty in making the search for
the parties whom we first saw run.
ming, and leaving the package, and
we thought we were doing our duty
as policemen in advising the par.
ties whom we saw at the automo-
biles at Bishops warehouse to get
away from there. And so far as wa
are concerned the reports publish.
ed are false as to our conduct, and
we ask hat our statements he ia.
ken and considered. And further.
We defy successful contradiction of
the proceedings and facts stated.
And we welcome an Investigation of
cur conduct.
Respectfully,
- " BI.AIfE