The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-05-18
WHO GOT IT?

Let it be hoped that the failure Of Federal Dis
trict Attorney Ward to bring Congressman La
ordia n this city as witness will not seriously
ntorfere with thorough probe of the disappearance
of the squibb whisky from the Federal Building.
The confession of three Negro custodians that
they stole thirty cases of this whisky leaves open
the greater mystery as to what became of 300 other
cases worth at bootleg prices rather stable for
tune.
II also leaves even more of mystery some OF
the statements and incidents which followed the
official exposure Of the disappearance Of this WHISKY
In what the Federal judge called, rightly the
"most shameful" incident in Indiana it remained Tor
a New York Congressman to disclose tho shame
of the incident.
g This State has Senators and congressman, They
are presumed to have an important voice IN the
naming of Federal officers. They might be expected
to he in position to know better than men elected
from other States what is going on in Indiana.
But none Of them ever whispered of this scandal.
But while their silence may be understood there
stand on record certain statements that cannot be
understood and will not be understood until those 500
cases are traced and the blame fixed
The people remember that when the charge was
first made that United States Marshal Linus Mere
dith denied to the newspapers that any whisky had
disappeared and that later he stated not once, but
often that it would be impossible to tell whether any
had been taken, because no check had ever been
made
The people remember, too, that after this state
ment by this officer, it was disclosed that he had
signed on the court docket for specified number
of cases and parts Of cases.
The people remember, too, that when the La
Guardia charge was made, Bert Morgan, former pro-
hibiton agent declared that two years ago an Off
caI from Washington had made an investigation
and reported to some one in Washington that 220
cases had disappeared.
The people do not remember of any explanation
as to what became Of that report They have been
told that the officer who made it, lost his position
and is no longer with the Government.
The people remember, very distinctly, that an
agent from Washington substantiated the charge
made by La Guarda and found $50 cases gone
about $4,000 worth of liquor which the Government
had seized and then, through some unexplained man
ner permitted to get back into drinkable channels.
If the probers unable to get information
from New York Socialist might it be suggested
that here are other sources of information?
Why was a denial made that any check had ever
been made Of this whisky?
Was there a report made two years ago that
22O cases had then been stolen and if such report
was made, who got it, what done with it, why
it not reported to the court which had the whisky
in it's custody?
If it be grave crime, punishable with prison,
for some poor devil to sell few drinks of moon
shine, what shall be said Of the position of the
United States Government which sezes whisky and
them for any reason, permits it to go in great guam
titles back to drinkers?
Incidentally, the people of Indiana still lis
tening for the voice of Watson booming in the Sen
ate denouncing this shame and crime. Endorsed and
recommended by the professional dry leaders of the
State ardent dry, he might be expected to
voice protest against this incident which the
Federal judge calls shameful. Why his silence?