davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31
HEINLINE GETS 80 DAYS
Garage Owner Fined $100-AmOs Hub
bard Charges Dropped.

John Helnline, owner Of garage at
1926 Shelby ST., was fined 500 and
costs and sentenced to thirty days in
jail when convicted OF operating a
blind tiger by City Judge Delbert o.
Wilmeth today Blind tiger charges
against Amos Hubbard, 2O01R Shelby
St, were discharged.
Lieutenant Jones and squad arrest
ed the men March s after they al1ege
they found four half pints of whisky
in an automobile in Heinline's gar
age. Both Heinline and Hubbard de-
MED all knowledge Of the liquor. Helm
line Is a former saloon keeper.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31
Rats, Replies County Official
to Arguments of Pied Piper

Recent revivals in keeping official
records at the courthouse, following
charges that various transactions
We're not "a mater Of record" prob
ably saved the life of many rats that
overturn chairs in cOurtrooms and
otherwise carry on after judges have
departed.
\ persistent salesman beseeched the
board Of county commissioners to buy
some of his rat poison.
I'VE don't know there are any rats
here" said Harry Tutewiler, member
of the board.
Rats? lIve seen some around here
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31
Average Tax Values

BIZ Times Special
NEWCASTLE, Ind, March 31.-
County Assessor Kern has compiled
the first months returns made by
township assessors, showing averages
rs follows: Automobiles, $247; horses,
s75: mules. SIS; milk cows, S45; sheep,
IS: brood sows, $25; diamonds and
iewelry, so: household goods, $179;
farm implements, $I04.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31
SHOPLIFTING is ALLEGED
Three COlored Women Held While
Police InVestigate.

Detectives today attempted to as
certain the value Of goods alleged to
have been stolen from downtown
stores by three young colored women
arrested Friday night.
Those arrested gave names as fol
lows: Oxie HartwelL 713 y. Senate
Ave; Matte Douglass, 20, Of 712 n.
Senate Ave. and Lois Villains %,
of 713 n. Senate Ave.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31
RAIL MEN INCORPORATE
Association VIII Protect Interests of
Working Men.

Incorporation in Indiana of the
United Association of Railway EN-
ployes, an organization to protect in
terests of railway working men, was
filed today at offices of Ed Jackson,
secretary of State Directors are Rob
ert s Baldwin. St Louis; Henry A.
Beck of Chicago, Arthur Henry of De
troit, Louis c. Johnson of Toledo and
Clyde Christ of indianapolis.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31
Beginnings in 1921

The case had it's beginnings in 1921
during the trial Of the South Bend
Gary liquor conspiracy case involving
twenty-six defendants. Dan Melloy, a
defendant in that case and star Gov
ernment witness in the case just
ended told a story involving Gary
officials.
Frederick Van Nuys. then United
States district attorney, went out of
Office before the Federal grand jury
reconvened. Homer Elliott succeeded
him.
Last summer Federal prohibition
agents, directed by Bert c. Morgan,
prohibition director for Indiana, car
ried on an extensive investigation of
liquor law violations in Gary and Lake
County. Many arrests were made.
The Federal grand jury indicted sew
enty-flve defendants in January, 1928.
L. =. Witness Slain
A dramatic feature Of the case was
the murder of Gaspere Monte, an i'm
portant Government witness, at Gary
two days before the trial began. He
was shot from an automobile. No
arrests in the case have been made.
Melloy and Philip Ukman, a Serb
ian, were the star witnesses for the
Government. Melloy repeated the
story he told in the South Bend-Gary
case in 1921. Ukman said he had
been arrested, beaten and blackjacked
by Gary officials for refusing to sign a
statement against Morgan and George
Winkler. group chief of prohibition
agents.
Ukman said today he intended TO
live In Indianapolis. Il never will
go back to Gary. 1t would not be
safe there" ne said.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31
CARY MAYOR AND 81 OTHERS
CONVICTED OF CONSPIRACY
Seven Minor Defendants Acquitted in Federal Court
Judge Not Expected to Impose Sentence for Several
Weeks-Wife Of Clyde Hunter COIapSeS.

Fftyve defendants in the Gary liquor conspiracy IN
Guiding Roswell Johnson of Gary; Dwight NJ Kinder
prosecutor of Lake County William H. Olds sheriff. William NJ
Dunn city judge Clyde Hunter former prosecutor and Lewis
Barnes sheriff. found guilty by jury Federal
Court today
Seven minor defendants acquitted.
probably will be imposed by Judge Ferdinand
Geger until late in April or early in May
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31
Egg Scramble

BIZ United Press
MUNCIE, Ind. March 81
Thousands gathered at McCul-
Ioch Park today as 5000 kiddies
joined in a mad search for eggs.
Thirteen hundred prizes were
given in exchange for eggs
found. The hunt was the third
annual affair Of the kind held
here.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31
MOTHER SAYS DAUGHTER
DID NOT KILL MAN
Police Hold to Theory That Girl Shot
Contractor Then Self.

NEW YORK. March 31.--"IIelen
didn't do it. My girl never had gun
and she wouldn't have known how
to shoot Burnham."
Mrs. Harry l.. Zeigler. 53S 1ilver-
side DR., today persisted I'm her state
ment that her daughter Helena. 20,
did not kill Frederick W. Burnham.
contractor, and herself at the Grand
Central Terminal Thursday.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31

big enough to carry away a calf"
said the salesman.
We'll, it's not on record that there
are any" replied Tutewiler. IF some
taxpayer will lodge an affidavit with
the county auditor that there are rats
around here we Will hold an investi-
cation to find out why, and what We
can do about it,
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31
COLD SWEEPS EAST

Frigid Weather VIII Continue Over
Easter Sunday.
BV United Press
WASHINGTON. March 31-An
Easter cold wave swept across the
eastern part OF the country today.
Unusually low temperatures were re-
ported from many cities and the
weather experts predicted II would
continue cold throughout Easter Sun
day.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31
VOLIVA FINED A PENNY
Overseer of Zion Convicted on Grim
inaI Libel Charge.

By United Press
CHICAGO, March 81. - Wilbur
Glenn Voliva, overseer Of Zion, was
fined one cent today by Judge Jacob
Hopkins following conviction on
charges of criminal libel.
The fine was imposed after the court
overruled motions for a new trial.
The charge was brought by Rev.
George Nelson. pastor of an 'inde-
pendent" church at Zion. He claimed
Voliva had called him an "old goat
and other such names.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31

Cold weather ngain prevented
the opening Of The Times marble
tournament today.
Scores of boys and girls at
tending Schools Nos. Al. AZ and "A
were disappointed when they
awoke this morning to find the
ground covered with snow. There
was no possibility of marble play
ers being at their best with the
temperature down in the direction
of zero.
The opening elimination game.
called off today, will be played at
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31
COLD PREVENTS OPENING
OF CITY MARBLE TOURNEY

School No. A, Sugar Grove Ave.
and Twenty First ST, at 10 o'clock
next Saturday morning, if the
weather permits.
The winners of the elimination
games Will meet in the city cham
pionship games and the city Cham
pion with his or her father or
mother will be sent to Atlantic
City for the national tournament
with all expenses paid by The
Times.
Besides, the winner will be given
a fine bicycle.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31
1. L. Alumni to Hear Alley

DR.. Robert j. Alley. president of
Butler University, will speak at the
Indiana University alumni luncheon at
the Chamber of Commerce Monday
noon
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31
Mrs. Hunter COllapses

After the verdict Mrs. Clyde Hunter
collapsed. It was half an hour before
She was able to leave the courtroom.
There was an air Of tenseness
throughout the corridors long before
the courtroom opened Defendants
who had laughed and jolled through
out the trial wore worried expressions
as they stood in little groups convers-
ing in low tones.
When word went around that no
verdict had been reached by s o'clock
an air Of hopefulness became appar-
eat. but it died away when the rumor
began 10 circulate that the jury was
o1 the verge of agreement. The best
majority Of the defendants hoped
for was a disagreement.
Larry Makes Statement
Mayor johnson refused to make a
statement after the trial, and slipped
away as soon as possible.
NJ. 3. Larry. attorney for Johnson
said:
At the time Of my employment and
ever since. I have felt that Mayor
Johnson tltU IlldNc 4 EtoU AeAiLiA CAACA 1
to enforce the law against the manu-
facture and sale Of intoxicating liquor
in Gary. and that he was in no way
in Connivance or collusion with any
of the other defendants by which the
law could in any way be violated or
avoided
Naturally, I am disappointed
The trial lasted seventeen days and
was one OF the hardest fought case
ever tried in Federal Court. Original
ly there We're seventy-five defendants.
OF these five pleaded guilty, seven
never were arrested. and the case
against one. Stanley Kosowski, was
nolled by the Government at the com
pletion Of it's evidence. This left
sixtv-two to face the jury, the largest
number in the history Of the local Fed
eral Court In the Terre Haute cleo
ton fraud case more than 100 de-
PENDANTS were named in the indict-
ment. but vast majority Of these
pleaded guilty.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31
WAR FRAUD RECORDS
DESTROYED BY FIRE
Two Buildings Burned at Boiling Air
Station.

BE Jntfed PTeS8
WASHINGTON, March 31.-War
contract records Of vital importance
in connection with Federal investiga
tions of alleged war frauds now in
progress were destroyed by a fire
which burned two buildings at Boiling
field air station here today.
Evidence in these records will be
impossible to duplicate. air service Of
ficers said.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31
Help. Cop is Robbed

a thief entered the garage of Pa.
trolnan Forest Swank, 1926 Standard
Ave, and took the license plates off
his automobile.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31
Hourly Temperature

Forecast for indianapolis and Vi
cinity is fair tonight and probably
Sunday. Rising temperature Low
est tonight % TO 30 degrees.
HOURLY TEMPERATURE.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31
Eight Days for Motions

Attorneys for the defense were
given eight days in which to file mo-
tions in arrest Of judgment. for new
trials, etc. These motions will be ruled
on April 90, Judge Geiger announced
The jury reached a verdict at 9:2S
a m. after being out sixteen hours. It
was said the jury was unanimous from
the start as to the existence Of a con-
spiracy, the greater part Of the time
being taken up in considering the
guilty or innocence Of individual de-
FauJap+g
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31
FOSTER TRIAL RECESS
Arguments TO Michigan Jury VIII
Be Started Tuesday.

By United Press
ST. JOSEPH, Mich, March 31.-Ar-
guments 10 the jury in the William
Z. Foster trial viii be started Tuesday
Court recessed over the Easter hOli-
day upon completion of cross-examina-
don Of the defendant.
On the verdict in this case, hinges
the fate OF thirty-two others, accused
with Foster of violating the Michigan
syndicalist law.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31
THREE DIE IN BLIZZARD
ON NEW F0UNDLAND
Terrific Storm Sweeps IsIand-NO
Trains Are Running.

BIZ United Press
ST. JOHNS, n. F., March 31.-At
least three persons lost their lives in
a blizzard that has been sweeping this
island for the last three days, and it is
feared the death toll may be increased.
No trains are running and no mail
vessels have reached the island for
several days.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31
Trunk Opened S1gO Gone

A thief broke open a trunk in the
home of Granville Dawson, 1497
Massachusetts, Ave, and took s120,
police were told
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31

in prison and fine Of SO, 600 on each
of the four counts Of the Indictment.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31
LAUNDRY BILL OF
CITY BOOSTED BY
SMOKE NUISANCE
Dr. !, H, Derby Tells Engi-
neer8 Extra Cost Is ST.
100000 a Year.

indianapolis laundry bin is in.
creased 81 500 900 yearly by the smoke
nuisance.
That is what Dr. l. II. Derby, Of the
Republic Creosoting Company, told
the Indianapolis branch Of the Ameri-
can Society Of Mechanical Engineers.
Friday night at the University Club.
Cites Health Figures
Dr. Derby said there are twenty
six cases Of respiratory diseases TO
900 persons. in a smoky atmosphere
and only sixteen to 1000 in "A non
smoky atmosphere.
Thomas A Marsh combustion en-
gineer. Chicago. said furnaces with
large combustion spaces under the
boilers must be used to allow the
gases to unite with the air, TO prevent
smoke.
A ". Cole. professor Of steam en-
sineering at Purdue University. esti-
mated that production Of smoke costs
indianapolis 81 500 600 annually
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31
,brnne Edition

- services of United Press,
Eited News, United Finan-
fEA and Scripps Alliance.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31
Forecast

EA1R tonight and probably
1 Sunday. Rising temperature.
Lowest tonight % to 30.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-03-31

Geiger until late in April or early
, 1923-06-25
Unruly Spectators
Mar Tennis Play

PARIS. June 25.-The French have
still much to learn in the matter OF
proper behavior at tennis matches.
The recent international hard court
contests here showed the spectators
as unruly. ~boisterous and rvo
They did not restrain their emotions.
and applauded and shouted while
rallies were still in progress. They
resembled the assemblies of bowling
baseball fans in America or Shrieking
bul fight enthusiasts In Spain. rather
than the orderly gatherings Of Forest
Hills and Wimbledon.
French crowds are also very par
tial: Their champion right or wrong.
first. last and all h time" appears
to be their motto. They %app!auded the
lucky shots of Lacoste when he man
aged TO drop the ball on the other
side of the net for n point which
should have gone against him. with as
much gusto Is they cheered the
double faults OF Little Bill Johnston
which gave a point to a countryman.
, 1923-06-25
ITALIAN ATHLETES WORK
OUT FOR NEXT OLYMP|AD

ROME. June 25.-Ita,y will be a
factor to be reckoned with in the
1924 Olympics at Paris, IL the pre-.
parations OF the Italian Olympic com.
mittee are an indication. Italy. since
a has taken an enormous brace
In athletics. and in many branches of
sport is developing material certain
to compete strongly against the older
sport nations. Each city and village
has its own sports organization. and
every vacant lot is being commander.
ed by aspiring athletes for their in.
cipient training. Football is espec,.
ally popular.
In h field and track events n
arse number of strong athletes have
come to the front. yucca does the
loV meter run in 10 As. Giorgio
a make the 200 meters I'm % Ak
Cominotto is Italy's soo.meter man
doing the distance in 1, 54,,. The
marathon is done by Speroni ana
eenedetti. Frigerio. winner of both
walking features in the last olymnics
Is now 1taly's sporting hero. bavin.
seceatiy beaten the Olympic record
Ihe best pentathlon man ia Conto,,
, 1923-06-25
Refund Ordered
When Babe Ruth
Fails to Show

NEW HAVEN. Conn. June ga
cash refund of the difference between
the price paid and the price Of an ad.
mission to regular eastern league
games. amounting to about $4,000,
which the Yankee management il ex-
pected to meet. will be paid to pat.
rons Of yesterdays game because
Babe Ruth did not line up with the
New York Americans in an exhibition
game against New Haven. The crowd
Insisted they mad paid the advanced
price to see the homerun king in &c.
ton. Ruth failed to show UP although
It WINS said he had started from Bos.
ton by automobile.
, 1923-06-25

gloves yesterday when he stepped 10
furious rounds with five sparring
partners. He is satisfied with his hit.
ting power and so are the men work
ing with him. When he
training tomorrow he will devote at.
tention to increasing his speed, meet
ing the lighter men in camp, which
means that Billy Wells, the British
welterweight. Joe Benjamin Herman
A~uerbach, Lee Moore and Dandy Dill.
Ion. all scaling from the welterweirht
to the featherweight division, win
tax over the brunt of the attack
Dempsey is going into the nnsl
stretch of his training in a happy.
carefree frame of mind, showing
none OF the irritableness which was
characteristic of him 10 days in ad.
Of other championship contests.
After his rub down yesterday. the
champion was as happy as a boy.
with no apparent ~uneasiness over his
impending battle.
We'll, in Just ten days moro ri
he doing my stuff he said. with n
smile. which plainly indicated to
those closest to him thai he is not
worrying.
Sunday dinner was almost the onIv
visible evidence that the champion
was celebrating his twenty.eighth
birthday. Bill Mathes. the negro chef
at the camp. prepared n meal of
chicken and all the side dishes that
made for proper establishment. ton.
ping the menu with a birthday cnka
with rs candles and strawberry short.
cake Swnafa rNgt,aIr,. - T-tH
on the camp table. but even a boxing
champion breaks over the traces a bit
when his birthday rolls around.
Dempsey today plans to visit big
Ben Wray, of Sayre. Okla. a giant
who is confined to a hospital suffer.
Ing from n broken Jaw received when
he was knocked out in less than n
minute by Dempsey Friday. Demp.
sey expressed genuine regret over the
accident and wants to personally tell
Wray that he's sorry 1t all happened.
II didn't mean to hurt him.
Dempsey said. II only wanted to
fool around with him for n while. I
didn't think the punch was hard
enough to knock him over, much less
crack his jaw"
Wray is not the only invalid on
the hospital list. George godfrey.
the 225 pound negro, who has given
Dempsey some of his hardest work.
outs, is suffering from a fractured rib
As a result of Dempsey's smashing
blows.
Godfrey may not be able 4 do any
moro boxing with Dempsey. because
he has been matched to box Jack
Thompson. negro heavyweight, in
one Of the preliminaries July 4. and
does not want to risk the danger of
having his sides further Damaged.
, 1923-06-25
Sport Calendar

fRacing-Meeting OF Queens County
Jockey club. at Aqueduct-
Meeting of kentucky Jockey club.
n Latonia.
Golf Trans Mississippi champion.
ship tournament opens n Mimi
sapolls.
sTri.State women's championship
Armament opens at Kansas City.
Tennis - Worlds champion $ h 1 p
,ournament opens at Wimbledon.
England.
National intercollegiate champion.
ihip opens at Philadelphia
Western Ontario champion 5 h p
opens at Windsor. Ont.
South Atlantic States championship
ybens at Augusta.
Maryland States champion 5 h p
,pons at Baltimore.
Connecticut women'a championship
,penH at New Canaan.
Shooting-New Hampshire State
irapshooting tournament at Goffs.
own.
BoIing-Mlke McTigue vs.. Tommy
soughran. s rounds. at Philadelphia.
Jack Bernstein VS.. Freddie Jacks, S
'ounds, at Philadelphia.
Elmo Flores vs.. Kid Wagner, s
'ounds, at Philadelphia.
, 1923-06-25
Declares Tanlac RestOr-
ed Health, Strength
and Weight When He
Was On Verge of
Complete Breakdown
Feels Fine Now.

'"T.anlac can't be beat. for II actual.
ly built me up twenty pounds in
weight and brought back nil my
strength and energy after I was al.
most down and out" said Charlie
David Cole. n fireman on tho Colo.
RADIO and Wyoming railroad, living at
1888 Spruce St, Pueblo. Col.
Along about january OF last year
l just about broke down completely.
had no appetite and was about
, 1923-06-25
ELGIN PLAYER
FATALLY HURT

ELGIN, Ill, Tune Is. - Herman
Sulau. %. shortstop on h Algonquin
Semi-Professional baseball team. was
fatally injured yesterday when n bal
thrown by the first baseman to the
catcher hit home owe the heart when
he was stealing home. Sulau had
tripled prior to the play that re-
suited in his death.
Manager. Otto Pelican, of Algon-
quin. announced today that his team
would disband for the remainder OF
the season. out Of respect to their
teammate.
, 1923-06-25
RICH PURSES WILL GO TO
GRAND CIRCUIT WINNERS

CLEVELAND. June 25.-A grand
total OF s35. 900 will be distributed
among the horsemen at the first
Grand Circuit 1923 meeting at North
Randall track. July 2 to I, according
TO announcement by Secretary Win
Kinnan. OF this s16.500 is to 20
to h stake horses. which will race
in the Edwards, Ohio. Fasig. Tavern,
Experiment and Free for All events,
which closed last winter The balance
is to go for the purse races. entries
to which closed June IS.
The purpose program is. as usual.
divided equally among the trotters
and PAGERS. with seven races each.
All events will be on the popular
three-heat plan. The colt events.
which heretofore have been two in
three heat affairs. are now also on
The three heat plan.
, 1923-06-25
TOURNEY
OPENED TODAY
Trans Mississippi Title al
Stake in Play at
Minneapolis.

MINNEAPOLIS. June 25.-Golfers
from virtually every state in the
Mississippi river valley and from
other states in the south and south
west, teed off at the Minnikahda club
here today for tho first qualifying
round Of the 23rd championship
tournament OF the Trans Mississippi
golf association.
One hundred and fifty entries had
entered the competition when the
drawings were completed yesterday.
The tournament closes Saturday.
, 1923-06-25
ut Actually Built Me Up
20 POunds," Says Cole

twenty pounds under my norma,
weight and couldn't even sleep when
! lay down at night. I barely could
drag myself to work and back home
again and II looked like / would have
to give up completely.
But Tanlac sharpened up my mp.
petite right away and in n little while
got back my lost weight ana
strength. I can work all day with.
out EVERYTHING now. sleep like n lor
and feel lively and full of
energy than I have In years. There's
nothing too good I could say for
Tanlac.'
Tanlac is for sale by all good drug.
glsts. Accept no substitute, over 81
million bottles sold.
Tanlac Vegetable Pills are Natures
own remedy for constipation. For
sale Observation-Disclosures
, 1923-06-25
SPORT BRIEFS

The first big race rowed over the
famous Henley course was that be.
tween Oxford and Cambridge, in the
year 1929.
The Fulton team of the Kitty
league has n valuable asset in Man
ager Dan Griner, whose pitching has
resulted in several victories fay his
crew.
Mel Coogan. who now calls Brook.
lyn his home. has been matched for
a 12-round contest with Young Jacket.
the Toledo Lightweight. to take place
June 20 at Dayton, o.
A string Of ten straight victories
served to boost the st. Paul team in
the American association column, but
Kansas City still continues to lead
the race by n good margin.
II h pitching and fielding Of the
Cleveland Indians were on a par with
their heavy hitting. Speakers tribe
would soon lessen the distance be.
tween them n the Mackmen and
Yankees.
With scarcely 200 points separating
the first and last teams. the Three.I
league has been staging one of the
prettiest pennant races to be found
anywhere on the minor circuit. fhi,
season.
, 1923-06-25

Adolf Luque. who led the National
league pitchers until defeated by the
Cubs, had hurled 20 consecutive
seoreless innings, and had amasscd a
string OF even straight victories.