San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-01
GREATEST DRY
RAID CARRIED
OUT by COPS
Get Whiskey, Beer and
Manufacturing Outfits
on Burleson.
TWO ARE ARRESTED
Proprietor Said He Had
Done Good Business But
Got Careless.
San Antonio's greatest moonshin

San Antonio's greatest moonshins
= distillery and brewery was captured
Rty city detectives Tuesday night.
Raids recently staged by prohibition
officers md state rangers pale into
insiguificance by comparison.
Two mammoth whiskey stills: hun
dreds Of gallons of whiskey and beer,
half a hundred 50-gallon kegs of IL
quOr and lecr mash and complete
equipment in every detail all Of which
il var.ously estimated Mt pres ,lt maj
.ket quotations from $1,000 - ST.
0G0. were ccIfiscated.
The seizure was made at q mod It
little cottage, situated, police say. at
1415 Burleson street. in the vicinity
of Fort Sam Houston.
The plant, detectives charge, was
manned and operated by John Gill
AZ. The Illicit distillery and brewery,
detectives are confident. has been in
operation for months. during which
time the output of liquor is said to
have reached enormous figures and is
thought to have amassed the lone OPP
orator a fortune.
Youth Is Also Held.
Gill is in the. city Jail awaiting
transfer to local prohibition officers
on n charge Of manufacturing. pos
session and the distribution of intoxi-
cants. i. Fl. Tanner. a 19-year-old
youth. employed at the combination
? distillery and brewery. is also held a
prisoner. He declares he came here
four days ago from Oklahoma and
landed the job at the place where he
was arrested. He will probably be used
as a material witness against the al
legged manufacturer Of moonshine
products.
The discovery of the plant was
made by City Detectives Albert Kohr,
Vogler and Hopkins. The raid was
executed by Police Chief Van Ripper,
Sam Street, chief Of the detective de-
partment and Detectiyes bill" Carver
and Joe Ruhnke. Prohibition Agents
Schroeder and Mckay also took part
in the seizure.
Say Place Was Noisy.
Running wide open" it is said, is
what eliminated in the detection Of
Ixhe huge plant. Men and women fire.
duenting the place during the night
and early morning hours, it was di-
yulged, led TO the ultimate capture and
arrests. Complaint by. persons, be-
lieved to be nearby residents, whose
identity they concealed reached the
!. detective department for several nights
past. Noisy, boisterous conduct caus-
ed the complaint. Until Tuesday
night. plain clothes men found all
quiet in the vicinity when they visited
the neighborhood.
That an illegal distillery' and brew
cry was being operated in their midst
,police believe, was even 4 mystery TO
neighbors notwithstanding the steady
appearance of scores of patrons
/. throughout the nights. But for the
boisterous conduct of couples, most
of whom appeared in automobiles the
place might yet be in operation, police
say.
Place Looked Quiet.
( Detectives Kohr. Vogler and Hop
kins were persistent in their efforts
TO apnrehend those responsible for the
reported disturbances i'll the neishDor-
hood, 1t was this fact that ultimately
brought down the big plant and the
apprehension of the operator.
The plain clothes men CHANGED to
visit the house in question. They were
met by the youth now held. No one
| selse appeared at the place. All
seemed quiet and orderly and the Of
Ulcers departed under the impression
he place was an ordinary residence.
Not satisfied, however. the detec-
ives, after returning to their car de-
.ided TO maintain watch. They
irove away. but quickly returned and
.tationed themselves in the dark a
hort distance from the place. From
his point they observed the youth. He
|lappeared nervous and continued to
peer nervously through the window
llinds. He was dressing and appeared
be preparing to flee. The officers
eturned to the house and began talk
ng to him.. He invited them into the
lace which was in absolute dark
ess.
House Filled With Liquor.
The officers switched on their flash
ghts and found liquor all over the
lace. 1t was in every direction and
very room was practically filled.
John Gill put in his appearance
aortly after the detectives had enter
i the place. He at first denied knowl-
Ice of the plant, but later admitted
is identity and that he was in
barge.
Il guess you have got me right. :"
pleasantly remarked, when he real
ed he was powerless to continue the
ibterfuge. ~Yes," he added, Il
i've run this place for some time.
has done n good business. I guess
got careless. / did some business.
LII "a l. Aha bolf mint hv tha oal-