San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-21
FILE CHARGES
IN NEW YEAR,
LIQUOR PROBE
One Arraigned for Partici-
patton in Wine Party
at Downtown Hotel.
LISTS NOT in YET
Prohibition Officers Say
They Are Taking Time
to Be Sure of Case.

Continued investigation of the New
Years celebrations in San Antonio when
alleged violations of the national prohl-
bition laws were noted by federal Of
ficers at downtown hotels, resulted IN
the filing of complaints against two
prominent citizens of San Antonio al
leging possession of liquor on New
Years Day. Three complaints have al
ready been filed by prohibition agents
and it is reported that others will be
filed within the next few days.
Although two complaints were filed,
only one arraignment was held before
United States Commissioner II. i. Ed
wards Saturday afternoon. A young
man. a member of an old and ver5 prom
inent family in San Antonio, waived
preliminary examination before Com
missioner Edwards on the charge OF
possession of liquor. His bond was fixed
at $500. The other against whom Il
complaint had been filed, could not be
found.
The first arraignmcnt in connection
with the New Years celebration was
held during the first part of January.
The officers alleged that they had found
the defendant in room at a promi-
nent hotel at o'clock in the morning
of New Years Day, standing with a
bottle of wine in his hand.
Are Sure OF Ground.
Prohibition agents were active but
unwelcome participants in the New
Years celebrations at downtown ho-
tells. Private and public parties were
visited, and, the names of seven oil
eight men. high in the business and
professional life of San Antonio were
taken by the agents. Due to the con-
fusion that existed, no attempt was
made at the time TO arrest those who
were engaged in alleged violations OF
the prohibition laws, nor could all oil
the names of those who were detected
in alleged violations be ascertained by
the agents.
Delay in filing the complaints, Group
| head Harry Hamilton said. was moi
caused by reluctance upon the part Of
the officers to file charges against lead
ing citizens Of San Antonio, but was
due to the fact that the prohibition of
fcials were determined TO be sure o.
their ground before they took further
measures. The fact developed thai
many Of the private parties were giveI
in hotel rooms that might be classeC
ms homes. Since the agents held NJ
search warrants, it was explained, evi
dence secured from room that wa
occupied as a home by n member o
the party. would be of 40 value whel
the case came to trial before the fedora
court.
Have Not Received List.
Before filing complaints the fedora
agents made Investigations to dctermIn
whether or not the evidence in thei
possession had beer. obtained under cir
cumstanccs that would prevent dis
missal of tile cases on grounds tina
the liquor seized by the agents coul
not be introduced as evidence becaus
of the manner of seizure.
Although request was sent to lead
ing hotels of San Antonio that the
cooperate in the enforcement of the pre-
hibition laws By turning over to Group
head Harry Hamilton. the lists Q
New Years reservations has n
yet been received at the proh
bition enforcement office. 1t is be
leved that the lists were destroye
before the erquest was made by GrauI
head Hamilton.
In the letter to the hotels where res
crvationS were made. Hamilton assertc
that the request of the prohibitio
agents for the lists of New Year
reservations was not prompted by til
desire to use the list as basis 70
filing complaints, but for future refer
cnce in case the enforcement office d.
sired to summon those who were see
with liQour in their possession and oil
tain from them information leading
the sources of supply in San Antoni,