The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-06-22
ONE CLOSED INCIDENT

What the Federal judge of this district called "a
most shameful incident" Of local history has now
been closed with the sentencing of four Negroes and
one white man.
The law, apparently, has been satisfied by giving
punishment to these men for stealing and sending
back to drinkers whisky which had been confscated
by the Government and which in the custody OF
the Government.
One of the Negroes will spend four months in
JAIL Another will remain there for year and day
third will be back in six months.
Thus the law Furnishes those who STOLE or ad-
mitted they stole whisky estimated to be worth
$4,000 at bootleg prices
OF the two other who we're convicted, al
though protesting their Of buying this con-
fscated whisky, more punishment will be demanded.
They will spend eighteen months in prison.
These punishments should deter any employe Of
the Federal Government from embarking in crime of
this Sort crime which, has been said was de-
nounced by the court constituting most shameful
incident
The history of the and of this punishment
should be told again and again in order that
may be tempted to repeat it.
The Government of the United States, using its
great powers and determined that whisky should not
be Sold swooped down upon distillery which was
suspected of selling its store of goods in illegal
manner
There was then $500, 900 worth of whisky and this
was taken in order that it might not be sold to Grim
inally-minded citizens who would drink it.
The whisky stored in the Federal building,
there to be held until a court should order 1t
destroyed and taken forever from the possibility of
tempting the weak corrupting the already corrupt
That whisky was presumably to be there until
New York Congressman arose in Washington and
declared that $50 cases Of the 400 longer
in the Federal building.
at once the United States marshal, in whose
custody the whisky was, declared that whisky
missing. The next statement he made that it
was impossible for anyone to tell how much whisky
gone because 1t had never been counted He made
no statement In explanation later when it dis
covered that he had given receipt to the court for
very exact amount.
The marshal was mistaken in his denial that
whisky missing for a check by an official from
Washington revealed the fact that approximately the
number of cases which the New York Congressman
said were missing really gone.
The arrest of the three Negro janitors was very
swift sequence to confirmation of the charge that
this vast amount Of whisky had been taken from the
custody Of Federal officials.
It is a matter Of congratulation that on the last
day before trial. one of the men, the one who will
spend year and day in prison, made supplement-
al confession which accounted for all the whisky for
up to that time the other had been that they
had stolen only small amount and such condi-
ton might have left the public mind open to the
thought that there was still some mystery
But the confession did come. Every one of the
missing $50 cases accounted for.
The swift punishment of these three Negro jani-
tors for this shameful incident carries it's warn
ing of the terrible fate of those who make mockery
of law and especially of the court.
You can't steal $50 cases Of confscated whisky
he nd IN boot
and not suffer.
If you do, you may count on spending the next
four months six months year behind prison
bars
Unquestionably these sentences will have most
salutary effect upon all Federal employees. They
should terrify any others who may have large quan
ties Of confscated whisky In their custody. They
should be sufficient to safeguard the stores stocks
which held here In the future.
The old adage rings true still. You can't com
NIT crime and get away with it. Murder will always
out