South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-15
POLICE NAB FOUR
IN LIQUOR RAIDS,
RUSE GETS PROKAY
Wife of Alleged "Bootlegger''
Trifle Slow in Disposing
of Evidence.

Capt Horace Hamilton and his
detail OF police officers. including
Sergt Delinsld and Detectives PIN
ter, Winters and Kish, were Just one
step ahead Of Steve Prokay last
night when they made a successful
raid on his home. efe5 Mary av. A
FIVE gallon jug. half full Of moon
shine" was seized as evidence as q
result Of the clever ruse used by the
officers
Prokay's residence was rafded
earlier in the week and small
quantity Of mule" was found. Pro
kay receiving a 500 fine and a so
day suspended sentence in court.
Fl evil face Judge DuComb again
Monday morning, and the officers
are hoping that he IS given the
limit
When the detail arrived at the
Prokay home last night. the house
was dark and efforts 10 get ANYBODY
10 answer the door bell proved
fruitless. Capt. Hamilton deternin-
ed that the Prokays had anticipated
raid and were hiding, so he de-
tailed two Of the detectives 10 visf
a neighbours house TO see If Mrs.
Prokay was there. She was. but
quickly admitted TO the officers that
her husband was not at home and
that sho did not have any keys t.
the house.
Hide in Yard.
They told her 70 call her husband.
who she said was at Paul Sinko's.
S. Chaplin St, and tell him to come
home. This she did. but Mr.. Pro-
kay did not come home. Capt Ham
ilton, growing tired Of waiting for
Prokay's arrival, detailed Detect
ives Winters and Kish TO hide IN
the rear of the yard, while the Cad
lilac car containing the rest Of the
officers in the detail sped away from
the house.
NO sooner had the machine dis
appeared when Mrs. Prokay skipped
from the neighbours house, slipped
a key in the door and started to get
rid Of the evidence. She was just a
little bit late as the two detectives
rushed into the house and grabbed
the jug before she had a chance to
destroy it's contents.
The officers took the evidence to
the police station. and informed Mrs.
Prokay 10 have her husband report
TO headquarters.
He reported a short time after
and produced $500 in cash as
bond for his appearance in court
Monday morning.
Two other Raids.
The same detail also met with
success in two other raids. At the
home CT Mrs Jennie NIolnar. 2124
Kimball av., after a battle" with
Mrs. Molnar. they succeeded in OBJ
tanning three quarts of liquor. Mrs.
Molnar had locked herself in the
house and would not open the door
for the officers She, at the same
time, proceeded to dispose of the
evidence. Capt Hamilton, seeing
her actions, thrust his fist through
the window OF the door. and then
unlocked IL from the inside.
Just as the officers entered, Mrs.
Molnar tossed a pint Of mule" into
a pan Of dishwater, while another
pint was dashed against red hot
stove. The bottle that crashed
against the stove caused a small
explosion" and the flames leaped
to the ceiling as the whisky burn
ed The officers managed to put out
the fire, and then secured the evil
denCe. Mrs. Molnar was booked on
a charge of unlawful possession Of
intoxicating liquor. She viii be
given a hearing in police court
Monday morning.
Isidor Buzolitz and Steve Petsow-
itz, both Of 712 w. Indiana a.v., were
the next victims of the officers. A
small quantity of mule" was found
at this address after the officers had
conducted a thorough search Of the
premises. In false bottom Of a
baby carriage IN the hear Of the
house they located more evidence.
They were both charged with un-
lawful possession CT Intoxicating
liquor. They will be tried IN city
court Monday.