The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-12-02
DENY THREATS
made Harm,
MRS. REMUS
Extortion Of $4,000 Tried
in st. Louis, Says
Prosecutor. 4
KIDNAP PLOT CHARGED
Berger, Boyhood Friend of
Ex-Booze Car, Is
Witness.
KIDNAP PLOT CHARGED
BY PAUL w. WHITE

COUR TR 90 M, CINCINNATI,
Nov. 2.-ChargeS that he had
threatened Mrs. Imogene Remus
with bodily harm in attempt to ex-
tort $4,000 for her husband from
her at meeting in st. Louis in
1925, were denied today by John S.
Berger, who went to school with
George Remus, forty years ago.
Denies Demand Of $4,000
In questioning Berger, Taft de-
manded
Prosecutor Taft, in cross s-exani1la-
ton, intimated that Berger threat
ened Mrs. Remus with kidnapping,
mutilation of her body and worse
treatment to Franklin L. Dodge Jr.,
who Remus claims was his wife's
"paramcur."
Berger testified that his own wife
and Mrs. Remus' mother and daugh-
ter were at the meeting.
John T. Rogers, ST. Louis repor-
ter, also called to the stand for
cross s-examination described an
other incident producing his pre-
vious1y expressed opinion that the
former bootleg czar was insane be-
fore he killed his wife in Eden Park
on Oct. 6.
Cleveland Incident Told
In the summer of 1925, Rogers
said, he called at the Price Hill pal
ace which Remus bought from his
enormous bootlegging profits.
After breakfast George ConnerS,
the defendants lieutenant" came
in and said he had more news link
ing Mrs. Remus with Franklin
Dodge Jr., former Department Of
Justice operative.
Conners ssid he had proof that
Mrs. Itemus and Dodge were found
together one night in the room OF
a Cleveland hotel and that Dodge
was elected by the management.
"Remus became furiouSly angry,
Rogers related. "He worked him
self up to great pitch Of excite
ment and was quite beside himself
with rage. His face was horid."
'Now isn't it a fact that you told
Mrs. Remus that her husband was
in a shabby, emaciated condition
and had sent you for $25,OOO|'
Taft asked.
absolutely no." Berger stormed.
"N-o, no! On the contrary told
her he would give her a few hum
dred thousand dollars If only she
would refund the bulk Of his prop
erty to him."
sand when your wife interrupted
you during the conference, didn't
you tell her to shut up?"
at never talked that way to my
wife. I have too much respect for
her"
Denies Kidnap Threat
aDidn't you tell Mrs. Remus that
unless she gave you the money she
would be kidnapped and her arms
and legs broken and her body mutt
lated?"
Berger leaned forward.
"That's a manufactured lie," be
cried.
sand didn't you say Dodge would
be treated even worse"
"N-o."
"Then when you were leaving
didn't you say to Mrs. Remus that
the terrible tragedy would be on heS
own head?"
II said no such thing" protested
ehe witness.
The prosecution then wanted to
know when Berger had seen Dodge
and Mrs. Remus.
Cured by Killing Wife
The witness mentioned instances
ut the Statler Hotel, st. Louis, in
November, 1925, and the Claypool
Hotel, Indianapolis, in December
1925.
"They had liquor parties and car
ried on scandalous," Berger said.
,''Do you consider MIR. Remus
sane now?"
"I do. see him and talk with him
every day and he's as sane as you
and I are"
''Do you consider that he was
cured by killing his wife?"
eyes. I think So"
"Even though Dodge is still alive?'
"He ought to be where she is"
Answer my question"
''Yes, even though he Is still
alive"
The witness testified yesterday he
told RemuS in st. Louis that his
wife was "madly in love" with
Dodge and had refused all offers Of
. financial settlement. Berger and
Remus. had met for the first time
In eighteen years after Remus' re-
lease from prison.