davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1929-11-09
Astounding Facts in New
Expose of Rum Traffic

Walter W. Liggett, uUsllknOWn EOritev, Of sos Elm
St., Chevy Chase, Md in the principal article in the
December issue Of Plain Talk magazine, entitled
"How Wet Is W0shingt0n?" makes the following
charges:
Washington is wetter than before prohbi-
l. ton, when 800 saloons and liquor stores ope-
rated here.
3 Washington consumes $4,000 gallons of hard
$21, ,OO0,0 900 year.
. At least 1000 boo.leggers constantly operate
- here about 500 of them being women, many of
A. Crime of all kinds on increase in Capital as
+. pointed out in official Grand Jury report.
2 Capitol Hil with its private bootIegger, is prob
ON ably the wettest place in Washington.
r. At least $50 white bootleggers with unlisted
w. telephones will deliver liquor to any part of the
city within fifteen minutes.
p There are at least $50 speakeasies and l5o
"beer flats" in operation here.
Q At least 5000 gallons of grain and redistilled
Co alcohol are run into Washington weekly by auto
from Baltimore and Philadelphia and made into gin
Scotch" and other synthetic drinks.
q Nine thousand gallons of Virginia corn, ST.
~ Mary's rye and other moOnshine liquor run in
weekly from Maryland and Virginia.
IN About 1000 gallons of corn liquor or natural
1Us alcohol manufactured weekly by the so or
100 commercial stills here.
II About 1000 gallons of medicinal whiskev
l. consumed weekly, indicating not a very sick
but a very thirsty, community.
10 Nearly 100000 gallons of beer made in
IL" Washington homes last year.
The Washington times., 1929-11-09
HEROIC ACT AIDS
PRISONER

Edward M. Taylor, %, former
District policeman who was found
guilty last February Of assault
with intent to kill and sentenced
to IS years in prison, was ex'
| t .ded mercy today because OF a
sacrifice he has made since he
has been in jail. ,
Taylor. who recently Withdrew
an appeal volunteered to submit
to a blood TRANSMISSION operation
| at Gallinger Hospital recently and
his act helped save the life OF a
young mother. ..
Today he was brought before
Chief Justice Walter I. Mccoy
who reduced sentence to 13 yf"
because of his heroic act. Taylor
who came in the limelight in
1927 when Representative Thomas
l. BIanton, of Texas, charged
that he had been framed" in a
hi,iacking episode, was later IN
dicted for shooting William S.
McBreen, a filling station en-
pIoye, in the $500 block OF Ben
nings Road S. E., on August 81:
1927.
The Washington times., 1929-11-09
tcontinued from First Page.)

NO44VAAAuOo 4AOhA @400 @SV'l---.
the prohibition laws is possible
we believe to be true"
Capitol Hill, with its private
bootlegger, probably is the wet
test place in Washington, Lggett
finds,
Neither sergt. o. j. Letterman,
head Of the "vice squad" nor
Major Henry G. Pratt, Chief Of
Police, could make an estimate
Of the number Of speakeasieS In
the Capital, but in the face OF
their admitted ignorance of the
facts boasted that there was little
drinking in Washington, and Let
terman said it was less than 90
Der cent rs heavy as before pro-
hibition, Liggett points out.
In his article, Liggett continues:
How has prohibition affected
Washington, D. c.?
Before prohibition there were
300 saloons and retail liquor
stores in the District of Columbia
(the number was limited by lawl, !,
and the Internal Revenue Blu
reau'S records reveal that the
thirsty WashingtonianS in 1916
the city then had q population Of
almost 400, 1000 consumed approx
imately 1900, 900 gallons Of whisky
and wines and other distilled
liquors and almost exactly 1900
900 gallons Of beer.
More than 10 years have
elapsed since the passage Of the
war prohibition act and more
than 121s years since the Shep-
pard law (this pet prohibition
measure Of the Anti-Saloon League
was saddled on the District Of
Columbia by Congress on March
3, 1917): and it is interesting and
instructive to compare conditions
The Washington times., 1929-11-09
GIGANTIC D. c. LIQUOR INDUSTRY PICTURED BY MAGAZINE
NEW JURY GETS
MCPHERSON
CASE
Continued from First PageO

Continued from First PageO
|nounced that he would take all
the evidence before the Grand
Jury Tuesday and secure an in
dictment that could not be chal-
lenged.
Plans of Defense
william E. Leahy, attorney, for
Mcpherson, while not inclined to
take advantage Of the techni-
cality involved, declared that he
thought a Grand Jury now hear
ing the case. minus the police
hysteria, brought on by the
bungling of the Metropolitan
Police force, would free his client.
Attorney Leahy hasn't yet
definitely stated what action he
will take looking toward securing
release of his client on bond
pending a decision by the Grand
Jury, but declared that there are
precedents for so doing.
He said he would like to make
immediate application for Nc
Plierson'S release on bail, but
pointed out that the indictment
now standing in all probability
would not be quaShed and the
bill to be returned by the new
Grand Jury would be only q sub
sidiary document,
He added that If the second
Grand jury investigation is to be
a long-drawn-out affair he would
make every legal effort to get
Mcpherson out Of jail.
Taken From Police
The case was taken out Of the
hands Of both the Washington
police and the District Attorneys
office after the Grand Jury
severely criticized the methods of
both agencies in handling the
case. The police attempted to
make the murder Of the pretty
nurse, wife of the defendant, ap-
pear a. suicide.
Following the Grand Jury re.
port, John E. Laskey was ap-
pointed a special prosecutor to
handle the case and the Bureau
Of Investigation was assigned to
gather evidence in place Of the
police.
Virginia Hurley Mcpherson was
found murdered in her apart
ment at the Park Lane on Sep
tember II. She had been Stran-
gled by a pajama cord which was
tied around her neck five times
after being drawn taut. The dis
covery of the body was first re-
ported to the police by her hus-
band who was very insistent that
it was q suicide. n
He furnished alibi witnesses for
every minute Of his time from
8 o'clock on the night of
September IL until he found the
body. However, Policeman Robert
j. Allen, then attached to the
Third precinct, and his running
mate, Lawrence Bolts, saw q man
slide down q rainSpout from the
Mcpherson apartment about 1870
on the morning of September 13.
Allen and Bolts were half q
block away and by the time they
arrived on the scene the midnight
marauder had disappeared. When
police, after q curSory examina-
tion, called 1t a suicide, and the
Coroner'S jury. after hearing only
Lieut.. Edward Kelly, chief Of the
homicide squad, returned verdict
OF suicide, Allen broke loose with
disclosures which rocked the Po-
lice Department from end to end
and ended with a Scathing criti"
ciSm of that body by the Grand
Jury.
The Washington times., 1929-11-09

S&@
"To my mind there
can be no doubt Of the
equity of the position
of these reporters.
Newspapermen should
have the right to de-
cline to divulge the
sources of their infor-
nation. Without such
a right, recognized by
law, the press leans
toward impotency.
"The press must be
protected against IL
legitimate crucifixion
by courts when, in the
h u m a n n ature of
things, these courts
cannot give fair and
impartial trial.
"The same Judge
The Washington times., 1929-11-09
CURB IS SOUGHT
ON CONTEMPT
POWERS
Continued from First Page,

Continued from First PageJ
Committee which already has
held one hearing upon it.
There Is strong belief, how
ever. that the bill will be held up
for some time in the committee.
This Is a result, Is is said, Of a
desire on the part of certain men,
herS. to hook up with the provi-
sions Of Senator Vandenberg's s
measure the matter of contempt
growing out of the refusal by
members Of labor unions to abide
by court injunctions issued in
labor disputes.
Those supporting Vandenberg'S
bill, which is in the form of an
amendment to the Judicial Code,
insist that it should be reported
out at once and acted upon on
its own merits. This same course,
they assert, should be wed in
regard to the labor injunction
contempt provision. However,
there Is a feeling that those
working on the latter provision
believe that it will gain strength
through being tied up with Van.
denberg's proposal.
Vandenberg's bill is designed
primarily for the protection of
newspapers performing their
legitimate functions, and, in
speaking Of it. he asserted that
the press must be protected
against illegitimate crucifixion by
courts when, in the human nature
Of things, these courts cannot
give fair and impartial trial"
The measure as proposed by
Vandenberg proposes rule that
the same Judge shall not both
challenge and adjudicate an al.
legged contempt of court when
the alleged contempt is not in his
immediate presence and when 1t
involves a personal issue touching
his own character or reputation
or exercise Of power.
Protects Rights Of Press
It would permit the defendant
to demand the retirement of the
judge making the contempt cita-
ton and the substitution in trial
of another judge. The bill does
not directly cover the case Of The
Times reporters, but, it is held
at the Capitol, it would be a step
toward the protection of the gen.
eral rights of the press.
Ordinarily" said Senator Van
denberg, the types of contempt
involved in the limited field
which this legislation would in
wade are contemptS charged
against the press. This empha-
sizes the Importance of the chal-
lenge, because free press, in
every legitimate sense Of that
vital phrase, is prerequisite TO
the perpetuity of American inSh-
tutionS. A throttled press Is q
prophecy Of democracy's diSinte-
grafton, no matter by whom
throttled.
Free Press Essential
THE press does not deserve
license: but it must have liberty.
This liberty, In turn. always must
be strictly responsible in law for
all its acts. Otherwise we should
escape from one tyranny only to
embrace another. But so impor-
tant is the preservation Of un-
censored and unafraid opinions
in the body of the press that we
confront the inevitable need TO
write a warrant for the sureSt
possible justice when its respon-
sibility is called to account"
The Washington times., 1929-11-09

should not both challenge and adjudicate alleged
contempt of court when it is not in his immediate
presence and when it involves a personal issue
touching his character reputation exercise
of power.
"A free press is prerequisite to the perpetuity of
American institutions. throttled press is prophecy
of democracy's disintegratiOn, matter by whom
throttIed.
'"The press does not deserve license; but it must
have liberty. So important is the preservation of
censored and unafraid opinions in the body of the
press that we confront the inevitable need to write
warrant for the surest possible justice when its
responsibility is called to account"
The Washington times., 1929-11-09
Senator Vandenberg Hits
Autocracy of Judges

Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg Of Michigan, author
Of bill to curtGI pOuOer of Judges in contempt pro-
ceedinss says in connection With the imprisonment
of three reporters of The Washington Times for
F,,e;nO 70 befrov neuuspOuer condolences:
The Washington times., 1929-11-09
STANTON CITIZENS CALLED

Stanton Park Citizens ASSocla'
ton will meet at Peabody School
Fifth and C streets, N. E., on
| Monday evening at 3 O'Clock.
James C. Yaden will speak on
1.-The elective school board.
The Washington times., 1929-11-09

new difficulties in fighting boot
leggers and Speak-eaSieS are crop
ping up daily"
THE House su b CO m m t tee
named to investigate the govern
The Washington times., 1929-11-09

ment Of the District Of CoIum-
hia, headed by Representative
Gibson. of Vermont, an active
dry, after extensive hearings re-
ported on February 20, 1929:
New Britain herald., 1929-01-28
new YORK MAY HAVE
A SCOTLAND YARD
Method OF Crime Detection Similar
to That In England Is Being
Considered.

Albany, N. y. Jan. IS UP)-A
method OF crime detection somewhat
similar to Englands Scotland Yard
may be established in the state of
New York as Il forerunner of a new
national policy.
Gov. Franklin u. Roosevelt. in a
letter to Caleb H. Baumes, chairman
of the state crime commission, pro-
poses the plan. for helping rural
communities get the benefit of train
ed Investigators The general plan
would be to have a small corps OF
highly specialized detectives avail
able at the call of sheriffs or local
constables Immediately after the
commission of puzzling crimes.
The report of Professor Louis N.
Robinson to the national crime en-
mission, OF which the governor is a
member, was used as a basis for
Roosevclt's suggestions. His letter
TO Baumes mentioned new scientific
methods of experimenting criminals,
giving the opinion that 1--WE have
perhaps not kept abreast, if we ex-
ccpt some of the efficient detective
bureaus in our great cities, with this
new weapon in the hands of justice,
and particularly do our rural COM
munites suffer from the lack Of
skilled investigators. ......"
The governor asked BaumeS' help
in working out particular features of
the proposal. If Baumes agrees, il
is planned to submit the matter TO
the state legislature for action there.
New Britain herald., 1929-01-28
CAMELS TO LAY DOWN
LIVES FOR AIRPLANES
Eight Animals to Engage In Death
Fight to Raise Money
for Aviation.

STEAMBOAT, Turkey. Jan. 2S ~
Eight camcls, lords of race that
is fast dying out in Turkey under
the pressure of modern civilization,
are TO meet in the stadium of STAN :.
boul. there to lay down their lives.
or at best smash their humps. so
that more. airplanes may sweep
through Turkish skies over ancient
abandoned caravan trails. The
Turkish national aviation league Is
to stage the camel combat the pro-
ceeds of which will go to swell the
millions of liras already raised in
various ways for the purchase Of
the republics planes.
Camel fighting is sport as dear
to Anatolians as bull fighting to the
Spaniard, but this will he the tirs,
camel combat held in the metrop-
oils To stage a fight between these
stately ships of the desert. the cue
is merely to provide woman in
the case" Two gentlemen cameis
arc led into the ring from which
there is ono narrow alley of exit.
One of these cames is tied and the
other left free in the ring. Then
a female camel is led in and the
united male is allowed to flirt with
her while the tied male looks on
with growing jealousy and fury.
When the latter has reached a
fighting pitch of anger. the lady is
led off, the jealous males rope Is
united and he straightway makes
for his rival
The camcl's method OF fighting is
to try to get his humps beneath his
opponent and thus to toss the latter
over on his back. They do not al
ways fight to the death. Tho camel
which feels he is getting the worst
of it often bolts from the ring and
down the exit. which is loft opcr
for this purpose. The one which
remains on the field is then pro.
claimed victor.
New Britain herald., 1929-01-28

reporters friendA and those Of the
local police had failed to develop
information as to his whereabouts.
the government Saturday ordered
its border agents to join the hunt.
A railway conductor furnished the
latest clue when he told OF having
forced a man of williams descrip-
ton from the blind baggage" OF a
train 10 miles north of here. in the
direction OF San Antonio, Sunday
night, January 20. This story Tailed
with that told by J. B. Demara, who
reported having seen a youth hik-
ing along the Laredo-San Antonio
highway that night.
One theory being followed is that
bandits seeking ransom kidnapped
the newspaperman on the erroneous
theory that he was the son of A. L.
kitselman, Indiana millionaire. The
basis for this belief was the fact
Williams formerly lived in Muncie.
New Britain herald., 1929-01-28
Boy Falls on Sidewalk,
Receives Cut Over Eve

Clarence Westman. Is. of 100
Franklin street, fell on the sidewalk
on Spring street shortly after s
O'Clock this morning and sustained
a cut over the left eye for which he
was treated at New Britain General
hospital, where he was taken by
Officers E. 3. Kelly and Delbert
Neley.
The Westman boy was on his way
to Nathan Hale school with Joseph
and Manuel Andrews of 107 Frank
lin street, and Ralph Nappi, IS, of
ia Franklin street. was walking a
few feet ahead. The Nappi boy told
the police he had reason to believe
that the Westman boy had been
taken i'll. Officers Neley and Kelly
noticed that he was frothing at the
mouth and could hardly talk.
New Britain herald., 1929-01-28
REPUBLIC OF SAUGET
TO M0DERNIZE ITSELF
Careful to Announce It Wont Give
Up Any Of Its Independence,
However.

Besancon. France, Jan. IS w
The self styled republic of Sauget.
near here. has decided to modernize
itself little though it is careful to
announce that this does not mean
that it is intending to give up any
independence.
Sauget claims that its freedom
dates from feudal times. The five
hundred inha bitants OF the three
small villages around the capital,
Montbenoit, speaks q pat0is no 9TH
err Frenchman can understand.
Though French is taught in the
schools the children grow up speak
ing Sauget. which appears to be =
cross between Basque and Chinese
to the uninitiated. Inhabitants al
ways speak of inhabitants of near
by towns as "our very good neigh
bors. the French"
The modernization was literally
forced on the republic by the
growth of the tourist business. For
over a hundred years Sauget has
had its own national hymn in its
own language. Recently it was
agreed that it was discourteous to
sing before strangers something
they couldn't understand. Consc-
duentIy a French translation was
made. Sauget wishes it distinctly un-
derstood, however. that such a move
does not create precedent.
New Britain herald., 1929-01-28
Coolidge to Make
Last Business Talk

Washington. Jan. IS R-As
rule there are no particular under
currents of sentiment or emotion at
the scmi-annual meeting of the bust
ness organization of the government,
but at the one to be held carly this
evening there will be underneath
the speeches and routine proceed
ing the thought that it will probably
be the last one that President Cool
idgc will ever address
Economy has been the dominant
motif at these gatherings since the
budget system was put into effect
eight years ago, and there was no
indication today that any less stress
would be put upon it.
The semi-annual meetings Of the
governments business organization
are attended by cabinet officers, the
heads of governmental bureaus and
federal employees charged with the
responsibility of disbursing federal
funds. There are two speeches
scheduled for the meeting this eve
ming, that of the chief executive and
Director General Lord of the budget
bureau.
New Britain herald., 1929-01-28
500 fine IMPOSED
FOR MAKING H0OCH
Charge Of Manufacturing Is First
in Several Years

For the first time in the past few
years. the charge of manufacturing
liquor with intent to sell was pre-
ferred in police court today, Manuel
Voc, colored. IS. of 80 Franklin
street, pleading guilty to it in add:
ton to the charges of selling and
keeping liquor with intent to sell,
while his wife pleaded guilty to the
charge of selling liquor.
Sergeant 2. ]. O'Mara testified
that an "agent" of the police was
sent to the Voc tenement Saturday
afternoon, returning later with half
pint of alleged liquor. which he
said he bought for SO cents. In the
evening raiding squad served a
search warrant and found an attic
room equipped with 20-gallon
still" which was in operation, while
a receptacle containing 1875 gallons
of mash was on a gas stove. Sew
eral gallons of alleged liquor were
in the room, which has running
water and a coal stove besides the
gas range. Tunnels and other equip
ment were contiscated.
Voc admitted that he was manu-
featuring and selling liquor. but he
promised to discontinue at once. He
has been out of employment for the
past few months and his resources
were exhausted SO he was forced.
| he said. to resort to this means of
| c1lnnnyfiper 1io t,-ifo nd f,,rn nhI-
dren. the youngest of whom Is an
infant and was held alternately by
| Voz and his wife in the court room.
Questioned by Prosecuting Attor-
ney J. G. Woods, Voz said nobody
! taught him to manufacture liquor.
He has been in the business only a
few weeks. he said, but Sergeant
O'Mara refuted him. saying the con-
dition of the room indicated that It
had been used for distilling liquor
| for some time. Judge SAKE asked
the sergeant If he knew anything of
Voz's reputation and the sergeant
answered that so far as he knew. he
had never been arrested in this city.
Information has been received, how
ever. the sergeant said, that a por-
ton of the colored population of the
city has been supplied with liquor
by NoZ.
Judge SAKE imposed fine Of 800
and costs on Mrs. Voz. from whom
the agent" made the purchase Sat
urday. He suspended execution OF
Tho pcpa1ty bouoycr and p1o cod her
on probation. In her husbands
case. he imposed a fine of 5000 and
costs on the charge of manufacture
ing liquor. suspending judgment or
the other counts and warning Vo2
that he had no right to violate the
law for the purpose OF supporting
his family or for any. other purpose
Vincent Rodrick, 81, of 433 Cherry
street, pleaded not guilty to the
charge of violation Of the liquor Law
in his tenement and his store at Al
Cherry street. and on request Of
Attorney John J. Casale. continu,
ance until Wednesday was ordered
A raiding squad seized approximate.
ly Is gallons of alleged liquor in q
raid Saturday night, the search war.
rant covering the store and the
tenement.
Ellen Nash, colored, 25, of 12(
Winter street. pleaded not guilty tt
the charge of violating the liquor
law and continuance until Wed
nesday in 5000 bonds was ordered
A small quantity of alleged liquor
was seized, and it is said that in thi:
case and the Rodrick case, al
agent assisted the police.
New Britain herald., 1929-01-28
Middle west TO
GET MORE COLD
No Relief Seen From Blasts
Of Winter

Chicago, Jan. IS R-The same
chilling information that the middle
west has been reading. off and on.
tor the past month was offered
again by the government weather
bureau today-"cold wave"
Snow was the harbinger. falling
on the western and northwestern
boundaries OF the district yesterday
and moving eastward. whirlins
down upon Chicago at nightfall.
Behind the snow came cold-around
zero for the Chicago territory, the
weatherman said. much colder than
that in the north.
Ice that has covered most of the
middle west since the Christmas
holidays remained a serious hazard
TO traffic. Three persons were kill
ed and six seriously injured in Chi
cago yesterday in falls.
In Nebraska the thermometer got
down to Is below zero in the north
west corner, but was on the warm
side of the cipher in other parts OF
the state. Superior was the coolest
spot in Wisconsin, with minus 20.
Through the Dakotas and Minnesota
sub zero readings were the rule.
Colesburg. Iowa, appealed to the
state for relief. being virtually snow
bound. A bob-sled required all day
to make nine-mile journey
through the drifts to Petersburg
and return. The sled carried only
a small quantity of supplies because
Of the highway conditions. Coles
burg has been without mail since
last Thursday. The village cream
cry yesterday released its coal sup
ply to families whose own bins had
been depleted. With temperature
Of eight below zero. the village had
about enough coal to last a week.
New Britain herald., 1929-01-28
Track Walker Dies
When Hit by Trolley

Boston, Jan. IS. Martin
McDonough. As, of South Boston,
employed by the Boston Elevated as
when struck by a trolley car in the
subway near the Boylston- street
station,
The victim WIS standing on lad
der, unrouplins an air hose. At the
time. Motorman Chester Murphy
said he did not see McDonough in
time to avoid the accident.