South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-12-18
FEDERAL AGENTS
SHOW TEETH IN
MOONSHINE CASE
Mathers Scores Deputy for
City Court Action in
Pending Case.

A "shake-up' in the personnel Of
local federal prohibition forces was
forthcoming Saturday. following al
legged presumption OF authority by
Melvin J. Menzie. one OF Harry
Mather's agents. IN recommending
Ieniency be shown 20 Joe Torok and
Mike Kormendy, two alleged moon
sinners" on trial tn city court
Menzie was charged by Mathers
with presumption half an hour after
charges OF unlawful manufacture
against Kormendy. said 70 be the
real offender. had been dismissed
on motion Of the state. MenZie has
been working out Of Sheriff Lew
Ducks office under the local pro-
hibition agent
Torok and Kormendy were ar
rested December 9 while they were
working over two 4O-gallon stills.
running hot at the time OF the raid.
Eighteen gallons OF "120-prOOf'
moonshine. LOCO gallons of mash.
more than 500 empty sugar sacks
were seized in addition 20 the stills.
IL was the largest seizure Of Its
kind SINCE the VoIstead act was put
into effect.
Menzle. appearing az prosecuting
witness in the governments case
against Torok and Kormendy. de-
clared 10 Judge Omacht that TorolS
was the father OF small children and
explained 10 the court that the evil
dence zgainst him was OF a negli-
gible character. He then recon-
mended 10 Deputy Pros. Coughlih.
that Kormendy was innocent. On
pleas Of guilty entered by TOrcA 81
his counsel Atty. Joseph KOvacs,
the defendant was fined $50 and
costs and a Jail sentence OF 30 days
was suspended. Kormendys case
was then dismissed on motion OF
the state
AIathers Hits MenzIe.
within a half hour after the
court had disposed OF the cases, the
federal agent appeared and de-
nounced the course taken by his dep
uty
"I never recommend dismissal OF
CAGES" declared Mathers, appearing
n1ch incensed over the action.
hich he termed a gross presump-
ton OF authority on Menzie's part.
He then told Deputy Pros. Cough
lin the details connected with the
arrest OF the two men. showing the
mammoth operations in whisky
making.
The prosecutor was angry at what
he termed was a trick" played on
him Coughlin without hesitation
drew up q second affidavit against
Kormendy which was signed b.
Mathers. a warrant was then sworn
out Cor his arrest.
Real offender Escapes?
According 10 Mathers, Kormendy
was the real offender. The federal
agent, who obtained his tip" on
the operations OF the two men.
through wholesale sales OF sugar
made locally, declared Kormendy
was the owner OF the 'mOonshine
rendezvous" and business while
TOrok was merely a helper. Mathers
had traced the shipment Of the sugar
20 the Pine Knoll farm, three miles
north on the Eddy st. I'd. and play
ed his cards for a raid upon the
place while Kormendy had the
stoves distilling the whisky.
The outcome OF the MenZie- Ma
Tiers light IS problematical. In
city court the latter showed the
prosecutor and the court that Men
zie had exceeded his authority in
dismissing the case against Kor-
mCndy.
And he had no night to recon-
mend lenieucy be shown a bootleg
ger" continued Mathers.
Following these remarks. Mather:
requested the court and the deputy
prosecutor that henceforth Menzie''
recommendations be not followed IN
the prosecution OF liquor cases
brought Into the court through th'
activities OF himself and agents.