White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1923-12-09

Especial to the White Pine News)
Carson City, New, Dec. Ely
had a day in court last Monday
when the United States government
opened a broadside on six Ely resi-
dents with more or .css disastrous re-
suits.
When tho federal court opened
Monday morning, with Judge E. S.
Harrington presiding, the first case
called was that of the United States
against John Krahenbuhl. The de-
fendant in an information filed
on behalf of the government was
charged with three separate counts
First, the sale of Intoxicating liquor
second, the illegal possession of the
beverage, and third, maintaining a
nuisance.
A remarkably short space of time
was required within which to Sc
lect the jury, and when the noon
hour arrived the taking of evidence
In the case was practically completed.
After the noon hour two witnesses
were called ny the prosecution and
asked only few questions. This
testimony was directed principally to
Offset statements made by the de-
fendant by showing that he had sold
liquor on more than one occasion de-
spite the fact that his contention was
in effect that the principal witness
for the government Ca man named
Rankin) had procured q small guam
tity of liquor on the plea that he de-
sired it for his wife, who was ill.
Krahenbuhl contended that his SYM
pathy was aroused by the plea of
Rankin and upon that basis he pro,
cured the liquor for him. The gov
ernment witnesses who followed tes-
tilted that they had been in Ely
subsequent to the time of the visit
made by Rankin and had made pur-
chases of liquor from the defendant.
One witness, named Carr, stated that
his business was that of a detective
in the employ of an agency In San
Francisco. He said his salary was
paid by the detective agency, but on
the occasion in question he was per.
forming such duties as were assign
I'D to him by Mr.. Springmeyer.
While his testimony indicated that
he was not regularly employed by the
government and that his salary was
paid by the detective agency, it was
not made clear from what source the
money to pay his salary for this par
ticular work was obtained. He put
in evidence, merely as affecting the
credibility of the defendant. small
bottle of moonshine which he testi.
fed he procured from Krahenbuhl
in the back room of the Capitol in
Ely on the occasion of his visit there
during the summer and after he had
generally surveyed the place and
made himself acquainted by playing
pool and the like in the establish
nent
Mr.. Jurich, representing the de
fendant, contended for certain legal
instructions which he asked the court
to give to the jury and cited authori-
ties in support of his contention. The
court, however, refused the request
ed instructions. The arguments Of
counsel were brief and the court
then instructed the jury. The twelve
jurors were out for deliberation only
about ten minutes when they return
ed with verdict finding the de-
fendant guilty of all three counts
charged in the information.
The defendant waived time for
passing sentence and the court or
dered that he pay fine of $500 and
in addition thereto that he be con-
fined in the Washoe county Jail for a
period of seventy days.
w. L. Tuck was next called and he
elected to withdraw his former plea
of not guilty and enter plea of
guilty to the charge lodged against
him on evidence procured last year.
United States District Attorney
Springmeyer then filed another in
formation against Tuck, based on
the more recent raid made in Ely
when the Western club, owned by
Tuck, was visited by federal officers
To this information Tuck likewise
entered plea of guilty.
1t was shown to the court that the
defendant was in poor health and
that his ailment was OF such ma
ture that unless immediate treatment
is applied which may prevent the
further spread of cancer his life. ac-
cording to the doctors who have
been attending him. will be Of short
duration.
Judge harrington sentenced Tuck
to pay fine of s375 and costs In
each case. making the total fine $3.50.
to which costs were added and the
grand total of approximately 1920
reached.
Chris Hansen and Roy Richards
We're next arrairned and both with.