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

been turned over to him for ana
lysis. He found that it contained
44h percent Of alcohol by volumr
and was eighty nine proof. At this
point the government rested its case
Hugo L. Houck, the defendant in
the case was the first witness called
by the defense. Mr.. Houck said
that he had been operating his pool
hall since 1922. He admitted that
Agent Frank C. Otto had gone to his
place on the evening OF February %
1928, between eight and nine o'clock
and that Otto had been introduced
to him by Arthur Beverly of Water
PRODUCTION Beverley said. "How's the
chance of getting little shot"
Houck said that he replied Moth
ing doing.
Houck said that Otto did not ask
about booze, but wanted to interest
him in punch boards. Houck said
that he was not interesting owing
to the fact that the city council OF
Waterville had placed q ban on
punch boards.
Questioned further, the defendant
said that Otto was never in the back
room Of his place on the night in
question, he never had booze in his
place of business, and had never
On March, defendant admitted
that the federal officers had raided
his place and searched 1t. When
shown the bottle of whiskey alleged
to have been found in his back room
Houck failed to recognize his sigma
ture on it.
"sloped" Bottle Of Pop.
Quite a stir was created among
stated that on the day of the raid,
March 9, Agent Simons "sloped''
one bottle of pop beneath his coat
and never. paid for 1t. Houck said
that the agents took three bottles
in all but only paid him for two. He
did not call Simon's attention to the
bottle, he alleged the agent had hid.
den beneath his coat, for thought
that It might come in handy as evil
dence against him." said the defen-
dant. On cross examination Houck
admitted that there were some corks
in an old box in the back room, but
that there was no bag full of them
there.
He said that he recognized Agent
Otto and knew his name from the
fact that he had been introduced as
Otto by Beverley.
Sheridan T. Bruce, former chief
Of police Of Waterville, testified as
to being in the Houck pool hall on
the evening Of February %, 1928. He
saw Otto come in with Beverley,
but says that Otto at no time be-
fore he left the pool hall went into
the back room.
UUiIIano uavas fo,-,,or roovor -
Waterville, when called to the stand
by the defense, testified as to the
good character of the defendant.
Adam Buck of Waterville also
testified as to the good character Of
Mr.. Houck.
At this point the defense rested.
United States Attorney Anderson
called Agent Simons and Agent Of
to in rebuttal.
Simons emphatically denied tax
ing 2 bottle Of pop without paying
Frank c. Otto said that he was
not introduced by Beverley as Otto.
He was introduced as "Mr. Whit
man."
After the closing arguments on
both sides the case was turned over
to the jury.
- TOUCH = Oun0 SUIlIYs
Hugo l.. Houck was found guilty
by jury in the federal court in
this city at 1880 today Of the Of
Tense OF possession and sale of IN
toxicating liquor. Sentence was de-
fered until tomorrow afternoon, ow-
ing to the fact that the trial OF the
case Of Fred F. Lerchen of Client
was then In progress.
The case Of Fred F. Lerchen Of
Client went to trial about the middle
Of the forenoon, with Regain & Gro
gan appearing as attorneys for the
defendant, and George H. Kelsey,
assistant United States attorney
prosecuting for the government.
In the complaint made by the gov
eminent, Fred F. Lerchen. a soft
drink parlor proprietor at Client, Is
accused OF possession and sale Of
intoxicants.
Federal Agent Ole P. Olson, who
by the way was a member Of the
Minneapolis police force for nine
years and one time the head OF the
purity squad of that city, was the
first witness called by the govern
ment. -.
Mr.. Olson testified that he in
company with Federal Agent Mar
tin (Senator) Knutson and M. L.
Harvey, chief of the field forces of
the prohibition department of Min
nesota, drove from Marshall, MINI,
to Client on the forenoon of July z,
1928. Chief Harvey, his wife and
Senator" Knutson proceeded to the
dining rom NJ fha nlaro and sat