The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-07-31
DRY SPONGE
MOPS UP Joy
ON BROADWAY
Federal Indictments Hit 26
Night Clubs; Name
1873 Operators.
FEW ESCAPE ROUNDUP
Tex Guinan, Helen Morgan,
Famed Radio Announcer
Face Laws Wrath.
BIZ United Press

By United Press
NEW YORK. July 31.-Thirty
more names were added today to the
growing list Of Broadway night club
proprietors, hostesses and walters
under indictment for violating the
prohibition laws.
One hundred thirty eight persons
now have been indicted within
twenty-four hours as a part Of the
drive by Federal authorities to dry
up the gay spots on Broadway.
Eight clubs were named in the new
indictments, bringing the total
clubs and speakeasies which have
been indicted to twenty-six.
Today's indictments were returned
by the Federal grand jury on evil
dence gathered by prohibition agents
who have been patronizing the
Broadway resorts since last January.
No raids were made, but in each in
stance the agent reported that he
had been served with liquor by the
persons named in the true bills.
Tommy Guinan Indicted
Among those indicted today was
Tommy Guinan of the Chez Florenz,
whose sister, Texas Guinan, with
Helen Morgan, was indicted Mon
day.
The big Government dry machine
is rolling down that avenue Of
gaiety at such an alarming rate that
the streets habitues are beginning
to wonder where they are going to
get their highballs to celebrate the
election of new President in No
vember.
Drying up Broadway long has
been major challenge to the Fed
eral authorities. Now they appear
to have accepted the challenge and
are out not only to sop up the stuff
that bubbles to the surface in the
night clubs, but to tap and drain
the reserve supply as well.
There is probably no one area in
the whole world where liquor is so
expensive as in a Broadway night
club. The big profits do not all go
to the booUlegger, but to the support
of the club itself.
Must Have Liquor
A night club cannot support itself
without liquor. without alcohol, the
night club industry Vithers on the
New York amusmept tree and
drops off.
The bootleggers, then, are not the
only losers. Even moe money may
be lost by the owners Of the clubs,
who have spent hundreds OF thou.
sands of dollars on decorations and
entertainment.
The big drive started the night
that Governor Alfred Z. Smith was
nominated for President, although
there is no implication that Gov
ernor Smiths nomination had any
thing to do with it.
1t was just one of those nights
in New York when a lot of people
we're out celebrating, and Mrs. Ma
bel Walker Willebrandt. assistant
Attorney General, hit upon it as d
good time to send her agents into
the good time belt"
Ever since that night the hand
OF Federal authorities has been
pressing down heavier and heavier
on the gay spots.
New Paddock Used
A new type of paddock was intro
duced against thirty-six night clubs
and speakeasies, providing an III
junction against the sale Of liquor
by the place Of business or any OF
its employees. Violations thereafter
would be regarded as contempt OF
court, with summary sentence with
out trial by jury.
Not many night club hostesses,
walters or proprietors wanted to go
up against hazard like that. The
result was widespread aridity.
Among those indicted are:
Texas Guinan and Helen Morgan.
the country's best-known hostess.
Miss Morgan works as hostess in
the night club which bears her name
after she finishes her oct in Show
Boat ziegfeld's musical show.
Another famous defendant is Nils
T. Granlund, radio announcer, bet
ter known through station WIN as
IN. T. c."
Will Face Court Monday
Neither Miss Guinan nor Miss
Morgan owns her own club. They
merely are employees and in their
previous engagements with the law
they have been cleared because of
their status as employees instead of
owners.
Whether they can maintain their
innocence under the new paddock
provisions remains to be decided,
when their respective Broadway at
fractions are transferred to Fed
eral Court. They probably will be
arraigned on Monday.
Tex Guinan said she learned in a
spiritualist seance on Sunday night
that bad news was on the way
Tire ExpIodes; Skaters Car Window
HACKENSACK, N. j.. July 81