The Omaha morning bee., 1925-04-11
Shakeup Looms
in Ranks of Dry
: Forces of Cit,
Enforcement Conditions Here
Worst in Country, Opinion
of Agent From
Washington.

A startling story of connivance be-
tween government prohibition agents
and bootleggers facing trial; of agree.
ments to soften" court sentences
and other deals" to let the prohibi-
ton law violator down easy" will
DO told Roy A. Haynes, prohibition
director, by II. II. Lepper, special
Investigator, now enroute to Wash.
ington.
Lepper left for Washington via
Kansas City Thursday night after
having spent a week in Omaha con.
ducting an under-cover investigation
OF the Omaha unit of federal prohibi.
ton department.
The Omaha Bee learned from re-
liable sources Friday that Lepper was
astounded by the evidence he un.
covered. Before leaving he said, In
my so years Of government work
have never encountered such condi.
tions as exist here
His conclusions were reported to
be-
THAT the prohibition enforce
ment situation in Omaha Is among
the worst in the country.
THAT prohibition agents meet
with bcotleggers i'm the corridors Of
the federal building and agree on
sentence for the yiolators; the
<agents then appear before the
courts and make recommendations
which generally are followed.
His recommendation are expected
to include:
1-RemOval or transfer TO an
other district of Robert Samardick,
head of the Omaha office.
e-RemOval or transfer Of Elmer
Thomas, chief of the federal agents
In Nebraska.
1t was learned authoritatively that
f.epper met with evasive replies when
he sought information from certain
OF the federal officials here. and in at
least one instance fiat refusal even to
discuss the situation. Samardick, 1t
was learned. was the official who re-
fused a conference to the investigator.
Others placed he blame for the
wide open" conditions on a gang"
supported by politicians.
Il want statements. not = lot OF rot
about some so-called g rs was the
reply Lepper made to these officials.
Agents Attack C'icf.
Leaders of the so-cal,ea "sik-stock.
ing" element we're intery.e ed. while
others referred to as agsocia ted with
the political gang were given the
same opportunity To tell their story Of
what might be wrong. Business and
professional men also We're called into
conference by Lepper
His investigation took him to Coun-
ty Attorney Beal. who filed charges
OF assault and battery against Sannar-
dick. The complaint charged that
Samardicll had used rough tactics in
conducting raids in the county. Ar
others VINO had made complains
against Samsriicli also we're given an
opportunity 10 lnoprdsn.
Ii also was understood that agents
under Samardicl. attacked their chief
and his methods Of law enforcere mt
and urged that Lepper seek his re-
moval. While not impressed with
u
Lepper is thoroughly convinced that
graft has not entered into the Omaha
office so far as Samardick Is con.
cerned.
- Thomas Apologies.
Elmer Thomas. state prohibition di
rector. personally apologized Thurs
Gay afternoon 10 DR. Frederick
Wearre. prominent Omaha physician
for IN attsez which was made upor
Dr. Wcarne by Karl Schmidt anc
Luseae Baton. prohibition agents. al
he EIill hotel Tuesday night. ThoInas
also instructed the agents to apologize
TO the doctor.
The Two agents. according to DR.
Wearne, seized him as he was leav
ing tho elevator on the 18th floor OF
he Hill hotel, where he lives, Tues
day night. They manhandled him, he
asserts, and searched him, but found
no liquor.
- Matter Not Closed.
Prohibition Agents Karl Schmidt
and Eugene Baton also apologized tc
Or. Wesrne.
C'pf'ihe a't hpViObirt VI IHVlIldr
and the two agents, DR.. Wearne saio
the matter was not closed yet and ht
expected an apology from Rober
Samardick, s-chief of the field forces
who ordered the search.
Robert Samardick said Friday h.
refused to apologize to DIR. Wearnt
and would not do so.
DIR. Wearne Is no better than any
of the other hundreds of people W.
search every day and we do not apollo
gize to them" said Samardick.
Ordered Search.
When I ordered the search OF DIR
Wearne I did not know him from an,
other person. but thought he wa,
carrying liquor under his arm anf
ordered my men to search him." sale
Bob.
1.-THE men followed him 10 the foo
OF his room I'm order not to embarrasI
him in the lobby. II he had acte,
like a gentleman and allowed th'
men to search him there would hav'
been no trouble" said Bob.
Bob Samnrdick has the TOUCHES
Job In Omaha and, from much obser
vution, think he handles 1t remark
ably we'll" said Public Defender Johr
n. Baldwin Friday. II don't know
the merits of the DIR. Wearne case
but Samardick, for ability, honest,
and energy, Is not surpassed any
where, and the prohibition depart
ment is lucky TO have him filling l
position that no one else In the cit.
co1ld fill half so we'll"
Judge Woodrough In his question:
to prospective jurymen Friday aske'
II they had read the daily papers re
zarding the attacks OF prohibition
agents during raids.