The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-11-02

that he naturally fingered behind In
the soft drink parlor and got into q
conversation with the defendant. He
wanted to know II he could get q
shot" He alleged that Lerchen SAID
that he did not know him. Olson
than said that he was q traveiin&
shoe salesman and that he had been
there q week previously ana mac
gotten o "jolt." Then Ole stated that
the coast was clear. Lerchen Wsnt
to Q two quart mason fruit jar wnic5
he had on the back bar ana poured
Mr.. Olson q drink from 1t, Ole says
fhat he took a near beer chaser with
Il and paid Lerchen rs cents for the
drink. After imbibing Of the moon
shine, Ole proceeded to the dining
room and psrtook Of o dinner. AFTER
the repast ne and Senator Knut-
son returned to the soft drink parlor
and each of them had q drink OF
moonshine. It had such kick that
the "Senator" also had to take q
near beer chaser.
Claim MoonsF1Ine Was Served
Later Mr.. Olson and Chief Har-
ney went into the soft drink parior
and were served with two drinks OF
moonshine. Later they purchased
a quart and paid $1.25 for 1t; .
In the testimony or Mr.. olson "
was brought out that Lerchen mao
his alleged customers. Olson says
that Lerchen made the remark:
This Is q one glass house, but the
glass is filed quite often"
On cross examination Mr.. Olson
said that he had tasted intoxtcants
upwards Of 500 times and thought
that he could distinguish between
the different kinds of intoxicants.
Agent Martin A. Knutson, who Is
Familiarity known among his asso::
ciates as the senator" when called
to the stand verified the statements
Of Agent Olson. and admitted that
such a mulish kick to 1t that he was
forced to take a chaser OF near
beer.
NJ. L. Haney, chief Of the field
forces Of the Minnesota division OF
the prohibition department, also
testified in confederation OF the for.
mer two witnesses. He and Agent
Olson had q drink of moonshine
which he alleged was purchased
from Mr.. Lerchen, and later that be
and Olson had purchased q quart Of
moonshine paying q $1.26 for It
Chief Harvey said that he went to
drew Christensen, who claimed to
have evidence of liquor violations at
Client.
Had Served In Marine Corps
On cross examination Chief Har-
ney stated that previous to entering
the service Of the government as a
prohibition agent, he was instruc-
tor in physics and chemistry ard
athletics at school in Superior,
Wis. Later he, served In the marine
corps in the United States navy.
Asked why he had not then and
there arrested Lerchen, Mr.. Harvey
evidence against the defendant 80
that he could not be prosecuted nm
der the abatement law.
Agent c. e. Warfield was called to
the stand to testify as to turning
over the bottles Of whiskey alleged
to have been obtained at Client TO
the government chemist.
Senator" Knutson was recalled
to the stand to testify In regard to
a search Of the Lerchen premises at
Client on August IL, 1923.
said that he had served the search
warrant on both Mr.. and Mrs. Ler-
chen and then proceeded with the
aid Of other agents to search the
place. He himself had found q bot
tie partly filled with moonshine in a
buffet In the living room and Agent
c. F. Kruse had found the Mason
jar on the soft drink parlor bar and
had filed two bottles from It and
destroyed the remainder OF the
moonshine.
At this point In the trial a recess
was taken until two o'clock this af-
ternoon.
Federal Agent Martin Simon IN a
statement to The Free Press said
that about the nastiest accusation
ever made against him was the
statement Of Hugo L. Houck as to
his stealing bottle of pop from his
place of business.
Il do not think that any one in
the court room believed Houck
when he made the statement. and
him guilty on both counts, shows
that that body did not swallow that
whopping lie," said Mr.. Simons.