The Indianapolis times., 1927-11-14
REMUS Wins
FIRST PLEA IN
DEATH TRIAL
Ex-BootIeg King Acts as
Own Attorney; Life Is
at Stake,
JURY BEING SELECTED
Sole Defense Is Insanity;
Quiz Jurors on Taking
Law in Hands,
BY PAUL w. WHITE
United Press Staff Corresnondant


United Press staff Correspondent
COURTROOM, CINCINNATI,
Nov. 14.-George Remus, once the
king of bootleggers," opened his
own trial for the alleged murder of
his wife today, pleading his own
case and winning the first skirmish
against those who would send him
to death.
Hardly had court opened than
Remus took up actively his own
defense. His first move made GER
tain his foster daughter, Miss Ruth
Holmes Remus, and Franklin Dodge
Jr., who, RemuS alleges, stole Mrs.
Remus affection, would appear as
witnesses.
Remus, his voice at times ex-
pressing indignation, said that
Dodge, Miss Remus, Mrs. Grace
Campbell and Harry F. Brown were
"confederates of the deceased" and
possessed important papers taken
from his (Remus) house while he
was at Atlanta penitentiary serving
a sentence for violation of the pro-
hihition laws.
Wins His First Plea
Dodge is former Department of
Justice operative who unearthed
much of the evidence against "The
King Of Bootleggers.'"
Mrs. Campbell is Mrs. Remus'
sister and Brown is her brother.
Miss Remus is the slain woman's
l9-year-old daughter by previous
marriage.
Remus asked that the four bring
with them to court business papers
and records vital to the defense in
this case"
Charles P. Taft, Jr., prosecuting,
objected with vigor.
But the court ruled in favor of
Remus.
Selection of q jury then be-
gan-a slow, tedious process which
may consume a week.
Start Jury Selection
1t promised to be long hunt.
Here in Cincinnati, George Remus
is as well known as the products
he sold to make millions.
But State and defense started out
on lists of seventy-five men and
women and when the morning ses-
sion adjourned two persons had
been accepted tentatively.
They were F. H Oberschmidt, SO,
retired baker, and Mrs. Anna Rick
ing, SO, housewife.
During the questioning of tales
men, Judge Shook said that the
sole defence is insanity" and hence
ruled that Charles P. Taft, II, might
question prospective jurors regard
ing men who take the law into
their own hands"
Attired In Business Suit
Remus was attired in a blue busi-
ness suit, black shoes and sox, cream
silk shirt and black four finland
tie, from which glistened a solitary
pearl
Remus celebrated his flftieth
birthday today. He pridefully
showed newspaper men a birthday
card sent him by Romola, his 23-
year-old daughter, who has been
appearing in a Chicago cabaret.
Judge Chester r. Shook, who, like
Remus was once newsboy, is pre-
siding. He is slight man of grave
demeanor and is quiet spoken.
At 1925 Judge Shook looked up
and said: 1.-THE State of Ohio
against George Remus."
The panel of seventy-f1ve venire-
men then was called off.
Remus arose to make a motion in
his own behalf.
His home had been "ravaged and
robbed" he said, and the loot Is
''very material and relevant in eth
er establishing his Remus) guilt or
innocence"
Seldom has a man with such a
colorful past stepped into a court
room to face a charge of murder.
Millions as Bootlegger
More than a score of years in legal
practice lay behind him before the
contrasting phenomena of national
prohibition and national thirst pre-
sented themselves for his talents.
George Remus, son of German
Jewish immigrant, earned the title
of "King of Bootleggers. Not even
he knows how many millions he
made in illegal liquor traffic.
Since 1923, he has served
thirty months in nine different pris-
ons. His wife, Imogene, who once
loved him SO much that she came to
his cell and scrubbed the floor, is
dead, shot by her husband while she
was on her way to a divorce hearing