New Britain herald., 1928-12-19
JAW ENFORCEMENT
 STARTS IN TEXAS
30 Resorts Closed in Wink in
 Big Drive

Wink, Tex. Dec. 1s R>-Thirty re- sorts were closed here today and scores of citizens and transients were held for law violations, or for questioning. following the greatest drive on lawlessness this turbulent oil-boom town has known. The al- legged violations embrace liquor, Eambling, narcotic and auto theft laws
 Attracted by the commotion which private feud between rum runners and hijackers aroused here this week, federal and state officers de- scended on the town in force last night and proceeded to a swift and business like cleanup.
 Close Resorts
 While the federal dry agents and customs and narcotic inspectors and Dyer act investigators sought viola tors of national laws, Texas rangers enforced the state gaming laws by ralding and closing II alleged gam bling resorts. Three of the casinos "Vto 0aAN NV UC CStd Wltu no limit on betting.
 Tho dry agents made 25 arrests on liquor charges in IS resorts and the narcotic inspectors reaped a good harvest of suspects. No an- nouncement was made of results of investigations by the Dyer act and customs inspectors. but 1t was re- ported tho former has found several automobiles which were believed to bs stolen cars.
 Caught By Surprise
 The raids came with such start ling audiences that all the towns resorts were caught by surprise and officers were handicapped for time with handling prisoners in wholesale lots.
 The concerted drive was precipi- tated by the kidnapping last week of P. c. Burcham. local cafe owner, by rum runners seeking revenge on hi- jackers for the confiscation of $50O,- 900 cargo of liquor being brought in from the Mexican border. Burcham, alleged leader of the hijackers was found yesterday after a 36-hour search in which 100 men partici- pated.
 Left to Die
 He had been bound and left to die in an isolated water trough in the semi-desert, but managed to free himself from his bonds and es- cape. In attempting to return to civilization he became lost and wan dered for two days without food or water. When found Burcham was unable to talk coherently becaus of hysteria and exhaustion.
 Later he charged several Wink men with his kidnapping. Those charged retaliated by saying Bur- cham had led a gang which stole and hid the valuable cargo of liquor, and that he had been seized and left in tho desert in an effort to get him to divulge the hiding place. Tho men said they had not intended to allow Burcham to die of ex- posture.
 Do.on Arrested Directly following this exchange Sheriff "Pecos Bill" Priest arrested a dozen reported members of the rum running and hijacking gangs. Bur- clam and his alleged companions wOre charged with robbery and theft l in connection with the holdup, while | the others were charged with kid l mapping. It was said today that the expose sf lawlessness probably would make l 1t necessary to call a special grand | jury session. Wink. ono of the newest of the Texas boom towns along the oil ] frontier. fs located in an isolated l stretch of west Texas mesquite waste, ana attempts to curb lawlessness by | local authorities and rangers have not had any lasting effect.