The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-10-11
BIG SUPPLY
HOOCH MADE
BY TWO men
Officers Seize Booze and
Stills at Residences in
the Hill District.

Sixty gallons Of freshly made
hoOch, the largest amount ever
brought into the Rock Island po-
lice station, were confiscated to-
gether with a SO and a 25-gallon
still and As barrels, Of mash by
police raids on two residences at
Thirty-third street and Twenty
second avenue, this morning. The
houses were opposite each other ON
the street.
The operators Of the stills were
Frank Delforge and CAMEL Braem.
They were arraigned before Magis-
trate d. J. Cleland this morning In
police court on a charge Of manu-
featuring and having liquor In
their possession for sale and fined
$500 each. Louis Ortell paid Del
forge's fine.
The raids were conducted by
Officers Harry Fftzsimmons. Dem
mis- Bennett and Earl Shannon. The
surrounding conditions where the
stills were located were ideal, the
officers said, after pressing trucks
into the service and bringing the
large supply of raw liquor to the
station.
Had Ideal Surroundings.
At the Delforge residence was
found the 50-gallon still, neatly
hidden in the basement of a ga
rage which had the appearance OF
being especially built for the busi-
ness. On the floor above, where
the still rested, was the corn room,
and a large amount of corn was
spread out to dry ready to be en-
ployed In the making of the mash.
Delforge had 20 barrels of mash
already made up, and stored In his
residence at various places were
large quantities of empty barrels
numbering rs or more.
The manufacturing plant did not
look as il the hooch was being
made as side issue, the officers
stated. Everything was conven-
lent and in tip-top shape for the
turning out of ten or more gallons
each day. Indications were that at
various times 40 barrels for mash
were pressed into service. Del.
forge's supply of liquor. which was
brought to the police station, was
in nine large jugs.
The 50-gallon still was rtIt,ng
on top of two large Oil stoves OF
three burners each. The coils were
imbedded in concrete.
Still in Blind Cellar.
Braem also had a neat layout In
his residence. He had a still with
a volume of 25 gallons and had
IA barrels of mash ready for manu-
featuring the liquor. Braem's
manufacturing apparatus was Sc
curely hidden in a blind cellar.
Officers Fitzsimmons, Bennett and
Shannon when first entering the
cellar were unable to discover
anything. Finally slide door
was noticed and in the adjacent
room was found the evidence. Be-
sides the still at this residence four
10O-pound sacks of sugar and ten
gallons of hooch were taken and
brought on the truck to the police
station.
Delforge and Braem were warn
ed that the next time they were
caught manufacturing liquor would
mean penitentiary sentence. Del
forge claimed in police court that
he had just started the manufac-
ture OF liquor about a week ago.
This statement was doubted by Of
ficers owing to the immense guam
tity Of supplies that he had at his
place. He paid his fine with COM
posure and avowed that this would
be his last attempt.
The amount Of liquor confiscat-
ed in the raid this morning was the
largest that has been taken in Rock
Island for many years. Amounts
equal to this have been brought in
from neighboring cities but never
before from Rock Island, police Of
ficers said.
"Cleaning Everything"-Chief.
I'VE are cleaning up everything
possible in these raids" Acting
Chief Of Police w. II. Fitzsim-
mons said this morning. Il am
sending the officers all over the
city and wherever there is any evi-
! dence Of law violation or any pos
sible indications that there might
be liquor made or sold, l have told
them to act"
This mornings raid will go down
in the history Of the police station
as netting one of the largest
amounts Of liquor ever confiscated
in the city Of Rock Island.
Another still and eight gallons
of hooch were taken at 2 O'Clock
this afternoon at the home Of
Charles Osborne. 317 Sixth street
The still had capacity Of Is gal
Ions and two barrels of mash were
near by. This raid was made BY
Officers Dennis Bennett, Harry
Fitzsimmons and Orville Bragg
Osborne was not at home when the