Evening star., 1925-09-30
SHERIFF PUTS ALL
BLAME ON WARDEN
Denies knowledge of Spe-
CiaI Favors Granted to Rich
Young Beer Runners.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO. September 3o.-Peter NJ
Hoffman took the witness stand late
yesterday and pleaded that the I'm
mensity Of the job Of being sheriff OF
Cook County (Chicaso) had kept hin,
from knowing that Terrence Druggan
and Frank Lake, rich young beer
runners. had paid thousands OF dollars
to numerous county Jail officials for
unusual privileges and releases before
expiration of their one year sentences
for contempt of Federal Court.
Hoffman, with Wesley Westbrook,
former warden of the jail. and a half
dozen other former officials are
respondents in a contempt of court
hearing before Federal Judge James
H. Wilkerson for interfering with
execution of sentences. Druggan and
Lake operated one of their brewertes
after he had ordered 1t padlocked.
Faith in Westbrook.
The sheriff repeated many times
that until the present hearing brought
testimony that Westbrook had ac-
cepted thousands of dollars in bribes
from Druggan and Lake he had i'm
plicit faith in the man who for %
years was known as the honest cop"
Judge Wilkerson asked Hoffman II
the law did not make him solely re-
sponsible for the conduct OF the
official. and the sheriff. visibly dis.
concerted by the Interrogation. ex.
claimed:
God help the sheriff's ONCE If
there is such a law. I have not been
aware of it,
Why there are 1000, 900 people in
Cook County" the sheriff started to
explain. but was cut off by a ruling
from the bench.
Ignorant Of Bribery.
Sheriff Hoffman testified that he
learned only during the hearing that
Druggan had been out Of Jail 80 or
80 days to a dentist. had been at his
apartment in an exclusive reside ntial
section many nights. and Of the al
legations of bribery amounting to ap-
proximately $4,000.
The sheriff testified that his office
had 567 employees, and that Of neces-
sity many duties were delegated. and
that 10 men were employed at the
county jail.
cells to hospital wards or other favors.
excepting passes to friends and per.
mission to visit a dentist, had been
granted Druggan or Lake at his in.
stance.
Westbrook, the sheriff reiterated.
was solely responsible by virtue Of his
trusted Office as warden.
Has Charged Frame.Up.
westbrook previously testified that
he never accepted bribes. and char
acterized the charges against him as
part Of a political "frame-up."
B. J. Bowman. president OF the Stand.
ard Beverage Co., Of which Druggan
was identified by Bowman as general
sales manager. testified that Druggan
had not carried on brewery business
during his Jail sentence, excepting to
sign contract for some motor trucks.
Bowman testified that once he gave
Druggan in Jail $4,000. which repre-
sented a return of Federal ball.
That brought the amount definitely
accounted for as in the possession OF
Lake and Druggan while they were
in Jail to sal. 900.
The sheriff learned Druggan was
out, then Druggan was returned and
Lake got out.
And while was investigating
Lakes release. I found out Druggan
was out again." testified the sheriff
Frank Horace Fox, chauffeur for
Druggan and former jail guard. tes-
tilted that he had driven Druggan
away from the jail about Is times In
Drugean's motor car. Each time. said
Fox. he would drive Druggan to the
exclusive apartment where DruRgan
and the young woman with whom he
lived were known as the Edward Null
vihills.''