The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1922-03-11
ACTION TO CLOSE
SOFT DRINK PLACE
Alleged Bribery Charges Against
Nash Denied by Landlord;
Troubles Follow Raid ON
Reno Establishment

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H. P. Brown, federal prohibition
enforcement officer, in an affidavit
now on file in the office of the clerk
Of the United States district court,
swears that on March Ben Bar
bash declared that Officer Percival
Nash had been accepting $500 per
month from George Wharton, pro-
prietor of the Grand Buffet in Reno
and that when the money was no
longer Forthcoming Nash "got sore"
and knocked it over" Barbash in
a signed statement which appeared
in the Reno Gazette denied having
made any such charges against
Nash.
The affidavit of Brown to the eff
feet that Barbash had made bribe
acceptance charges against Nash is
coupled with proceedings instituted
by William Woodburn, United States
district attorney, to have closed as
common nuisance the Grand Buffet
of Reno. Brown further alleges
that Barbash asserted that Captain
Donnelly had not ordered the raid
Of last Saturday and when assured
that the captain had done SO in
sisted that "the wires were crossed
somewhere"
The defendants named in the
papers filed by Mr.. Woodburn are
George Wharton, proprietor Of the
Grand Buffet; Charles Evans, bar
tender, and Ben Barbash, owner of
the building. Woodburn seeks to
have the place enjoined as a COM
mon nuisance as defined by Section
Fl of Title II of the national pro-
hibition act.
According to the papers the Grand
Buffet is licensed as a soft drink
parlor, and equipped with "bar and
fixtures, cash register, back bar, mir
ror, sink, glassware and other SINH
lar accessories commonly incidental
to barroom or saloon as it existed
before the advent of prohibition.
Last Saturday Officer P. Nash, under
authority of search warrant, raid
ed the place. He ascertained that
the man behind the bar was Charles
Evans, who claimed to be the bar
tender in the employ of George
Wharton. Nash jumped over the
cigar case and attempted to gain
possession of the quart copper con-
tainer which was about three-quar-
ters full. Evans knocked the con-
tainer into the sink, but Nash res
cued the upset container after it
was immersed in the sink and had
the contents analyzed by Prof. Dins-
more. The tests showed 1.81 alco-
holic content by volume. Water
flowed constantly from a spigot
through a piece of hose into the
sink. Woodburn also sets out the
raid on the second of last May on
the Grand Buffet by Nash, Brown,
Smith and Charlton, who found and
seized liquor, and makes mention of
purchase by Smith and Charlton,
on three days. Wharton was in
dicted October and on October 81
pleaded guilty and was sentenced to
serve forty days in Jail in Churchill
county and to pay fine of 5000.
After his release Wharton again
assumed proprietorship and super
intendence, it is alleged.
On the showing made Judge Far
rington granted temporary order
restraining the defendants from SELL
ing or permitting the sale of liquor
in or on the premises.
The Reno Gazette stated that
Captain Donnelly characterized the
alleged charges of Barbash as alb
surd and declared that he would re-
quire the fullest investigation.
Mr.. Barbash authorized the pub
lication of the following signed
statement this morning, says the
Gazette.
81 made no such statement to
Brown or anyone else. They did
not need to institute the abatement
proceedings to have the place closed
as | have already notified the pro-
prietors Of the place to vacate on
April /.
"The only discussion had on the
subject with Capt. Donnelley was