The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-09-16


forcement officers in quest Of S
On the floor of the office and in
cabinets were found hundreds of
search warrants, signed by Federal
State and city prohibition officers
scores of them bearing the name
John Doe" and many of them lack.
ing one of the three qualifications
designated by Bosson as affording
legality as follows: The warrant
must bear the name Of the person,
his address and the object of the
search.
To find the copy of the warrant
for the Gill raid, Bosson, Spiher and
the reporter scanned scores Of war
rants, lying in piles on the floor.
No Docket Kept
Their efforts were delayed by the
fact that Spiher keeps no docket of
the affdavits he issues.
Bosson expressed surprise at the
fact that no records are made by
Spiher, but the latter offered no ex-
such a docket be kept.
On Spiher's desk was a pad of
blank search warrants, bearing the
printed name of City Judge Delbert
o. Wilmeth.
Wilmeth said he was unaware that
the blanks were in possession Of
Spiher and said they had been taken
to the office without his knowledge
They're not legal without a writ.
ten signature" he said.
Spiher said he was called upon to
issue the warrants because city
judges do not.
II do the work they're paid IS. 900
a year TO perform and don't get a
cent for it," he stated
Judges White and Wilmeth have
been refusing to issue search war.
rants unless officers convince them
there are proper grounds for invad.
ing homes.
Spiher said dry officers patronize
his place because of the system of
espionage maintained at the police
station by bootleggers.
After the judge signs the war.
rant and during its progress there s
a leak" he asserted. when the
raiding officers arrive at the home
Of the bootlegger, they find him
awaiting them at the doorsteps. with
a smiling welcome and a house from
which all traces Of intoxicants have
been removed"
After examining the search war
rant for the raid at the home Of Gill,
found after a laborious search
through the piles of warrants. Bos-
son expressed the opinion that it is
absolutely illegal"
Issuance of the warrant Aug. 20
preceded a search of the Gill prem
ises early Aug. 30, by State Police
men Carl Losey and Charles d.
Bridges, and members Of the Horse
Thief Detective Association. The
raiders peered into the window
knocked at the door and aroused
Gill. his wife and child. They ran
sacked the house, but found moth.
ing. Bosson said.
Discharge Of Losey and Bridges
will be requested, Bosson said today.
To Request Schortemeier
Bosson said he would request Sec
retary of State Frederick E. Schorte.
meier. commander Of the State po-
lice, to dismiss the men because he
believed their actions were illegal,
and were inspired by personal NAL.
ice toward himself.
Bosom said that the fact that his
name was written on the back of
the warrant indicated to him that
he was the real target Of the dry
officers attack.
The city attorney will obtain af.
fidavits from Gill and his wife con-
cerning the raid.
State Police Chief Robert T.
Humes said that Losey would be dis
charged Oct. 1. when seven mem.
bers of the force will be released
insufficient funds were allowed in
the years appropriation to maintain
the present force. The dismissals
will be made on the seniority basis.
Humes said. and have nothing to do
with the Gill raid.
John Doe Variety
The warrant for the raid was Of
the John Doe variety.
In the blank designating the per.
son charged with liquor law violation
was the following:
John Doe, whose Christian name
and surname are to the affiant un.
known
Premises were described as:
The southwest ", Section 20,