The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-15
AirpIanes Said to Have Been
Used in Importing Liquor.
Motor Cars Also Used in Bring
ing BOose to Kansas.
WICHITA MAN UNDER ARREST
Government Had Been Work
ing for Months on the Case.
Made More Than S25O,OOO Profit
on Booze, Officers Declare.

While all eyes were fixed on the
gay lights of New York and the rum
runners of the Atlantic, it remained
for bone-dry Kansas to unearth
giant whisky ring within her own
borders, according to Al F. Williams.
United States district attorney. Otto
Humid, a wealthy citizen of Wichita,
is now under arrest in onnection with
the breaking up of the ring, which is
alleged to have used airplanes in the
importation of whisky from Canada,
and high powered motor cars for
bringing booze from Mexico
The capture of Hund and also a
man named Bennett, alleged to have
been Hunds chief lieutenant, fol-
lowed months of hard work by gov
ernment officers working out of the
office of George H. Wark, federal pro-
hibitlon director for Kansas. accord
ing to Williams. The booze runners
are said to have used two late type
airplanes in importing the whisky
from Canada. They made regular
trips, according to Williams, bringing
in seventy-five cases at a time. The
airplanes landed on Hund's farm near
Wichita, it was said, where the booze
was distributed to Wichita and south
ern Kansas oil towns.
Made Huge Profit.
Humid is alleged to have made more
than a quarter of a million dollars
profit in the business, and to have ac-
cumulated not only a farm and fine
residence in Wichita, but also other
property. The brand of whisky i'm
ported was usually Canadian Club, ac-
cording to Williams, which was sold
for SIS a quart.
The profusion of Canadian Club
whisky in southern Kansas was an
enigma to officers for months. Then
came rumors that an airplane was
frequently seen to land on certain
farm a few miles from town. Work
ing on the theory of the airplanes as
a medium of transportation, the Of
ficers attempted to connect up the
missing links Bootleggers frequently
We're arrested but did not themselves
know who was the man higher up"
who made 1t possible for them to sell
such quality goods.
Maintained Several Depots.
The officers at length got a tip that
Bennett was going to deliver six
quarts of the famous liquor to a social
function. The place was raided and
Bennett and the six quarts were
captured. Humid was then connected
with the deal thru a telephone con-
versation, according to the district at
torney, The smugglers are said to
have had two or three depOts uptown
and to have employed about thirty
bootleggers in delivering the liquor.
Several automobiles were also used in
relaying liquor from Mexico, it was
said.
1t is related that one time one of
the airplanes broke down while cross
ing Nebraska and it was necessary for
the smuggIers to abandon the seventy
five cases of liquor they were then
bringing to Kansas.
Prosecute in state Courts.
District Attorney Williams said his
office is merely watching the progress
of the case and will not interfere so
long as the state courts function
in the prosecution of the
The state law in Kansas is /
so much more stringent than the Vol
stead act. he said that the govern !
ment prefers that prosecutions be /
made in the state courts. Only in I
cases where the ma achinery of the state /
court breaks down does the govern !
ment take up the case and bring (
under the Volstead act, /
it was stated.