The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-02-26
Fourteen Held Here Said to
Have Distributed Over
State.
STATE POLICE oOIzzED
Federal Authorities Probe in
Lake District.


today over the State as part of a
Federal prohibition department drive
to dry up Indiana and stop the in
flux of liquor into the State.
Fourteen local men, alleged to
have been responsible for the distri-
button of between $4,000 and $4,000
gallons of liquor a week from Indi-
annapolis, were arrested here in raids
late Friday and early today by local
police and Federal agents, accom-
panied by Deputy Prohibition Direc-
tor George L. Winkler.
And two State policemen were in
terviewed this morning by Winkler
and Albert S. Ward, United States
district attorney, in connection with
the Federal grand jury investigation
of an alleged huge liquor ring oper-
ating in northern Indiana.
Suspended Officers
The two, Charles W.. Butterfleld,
Valparaiso, and William Gardner,
Gary, were among the four State
policemen suspended by State Police
Robert Humes a month ago when 1t
was reported Federal authorities
were investigating the situation in
northern Indiana and Lake County.
The other two suspended were
Lieut.. Ralph White. Whiting, and
William Gardner, Gary.
Several county officials from the
northern part of the State are said
to be involved
The men, 1t is charged. are men,
bers of a number of rings, who have
been running" liquor. principally
alcohol, here from Chicago and other
northern points and Louisville.
Those arrested: Three Geisking
brothers, Theodore, 10, Alexander, 25
and Charles, 80, all of 1850 S. Bel
mont Ave; Patrick Butler, S5, of
1888 S. Belmont Ave; William
Kempe, &c, of 1870 S. Belmont Ave;
Lawrence Hyatt. 20, of 1852 S. Bel
mont Ave; Earl Riddles, 81. OF 1910
w. New York ST.; Albert Tyree, %,
of 906 Elm St; Joseph Morris. %,
of 1886 Hiatt St; Frank Minardo,
80, of SO Warsaw ST.: Gus Wink,
81, of 1902 S. Delaware ST.; Frank
Shearin, 40. of S46 Greer ST.; Gaylord
Harrod, rs, of Apt. 1 at 10 E. Twen-
ty-Fifth St, and Anthony N. La
Rosa, 90, of SIG Wright ST.
Conspiracy Charged
The men are charged with con-
spiracy to violate the national pro-
hibition act, and are held on evil
dence to be presented to the Federal
grand jury now in session, obtained
by under-cover men under Winkler's
direction, Winkler said. Hearings
before a United States Commissioner
will be held today.
1.-THE arrests were a move to get at
the source OF supply of the half
pint dealers in the city and over the
State" Winkler said.
I'VE are trying TO curb the activity
of these wholesale liquor importa-
lions that are the source of enforce.
ment trouble in Indiana"
An extensive drive against liquor
traffic in Vigo County was made at
the time Of the local arrests. Fifteen
Federal agents under Winkler's di-
rection raided five alleged liquor es-
adjustments at Terre Haute, making
sixteen arrests. Under-cover men
have bought liquor from each of
those arrested, Winkler said.
Terre Haute Raids
Frank Buster) Clark, a political
power in the old saloon days, and
his partner, Frank Meharry, oper-
ators of an alleged gambling house
on N. Second ST., headed the list of
Terre Haute arrests, which included
three women.
Others: George Harris, soft drink
parlor proprietor at 222 Wabash
Ave-, and his four bartenders,
Robert Hughes, John Boyd, Frank
Moray and Bert Fisk. James Locke,
a similar pwroprietor at 500 Wabash
Ave; Edith, his wife; May Harbaug,
waitress, and Jack Hurley. Lester
Mckinney, restaurateur at Ninth
and Mulberry SITS; Hazel, his wife.
Denny Shea, former Vigo County
sheriff, and George Nisbet and
Lawrence Snow of the Vandalia Inn,
at COZ n. Seventh st.