The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-06-20
BY HECTOR PERRIER
United Press STAFF Correspondent

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BY HECTOR PERRIER
United Press STAFF Correspondent
INTERNATIONAL FALLS,
MINI, June 20.-International
Falls, where Henry Virkula
once lived as a coal dealer, is a
colorful, cosmopolitan town of
5000 souls, surrounded by q
wilderness almost as dense as
an African jungle.
Across the fast waters of Rainy
river, is Fl. Frances. Canada, and
beer at Is cents a glass
The Falls is neither the wide open
rowdy town many imagined, nor is it
at all prim.
Sun bronzed lumberiacks. in thick
wooden jumpers, who lounge on the
curbs everywhere, find enough
places where they may drop their
winter stakes nickel by nickel in
petty games of chance. But there
are no evidences of drunkenness
either here or in TT. Frances.
Arrests Nominal
Police say there are no more ar
rests for drinking than in any other
town the same size. They contend
most of the liquor consumed is
home produced and not struggled
from across the river.
Sheriff Hugh Reidy declared that
of al the liquor taken in raids the
past year not one pint has been
found to have been distilled in
Canada.
Its all moonshine from our own
country" Reidy said.
Two thousand persons cross the
narrow toll bridge between the sis
Ter cities daily during most of the
year. In the tourist season, 5000
go back and forth.
One may cross over to the old
Hudson Bay trading post to find
dozen automobiles with license
plates issued in New York, Iowa,
Nebraska Or Utah before any of the
several thirst -quenching establish
ments.
Drink Beer, Not Rum
Inside tourists are drinking not
rum, but beer. Rarely does q patron
drink more than he comfortably can
hold.
At high noon the Falls takes on
the appearance of wartime Paris.
Dozens OF uniformed men stroll up
and down in their navy blue, olive
drab and tan and green uniforms,
pistols strapped to their sides.
These men are from the four
branches Of federal service on the
boarder-customs, customs patrol,
labor immigration and immigration
border patrol.
Mixed with these dashing uni
formed figures are picturesque lum-
Der jacks in calked boots with
trousers cut off just below the
knees; f1appers bare of leg with sun
tan dresses and Indians from the
Boisford reservations.
Virkula-One Subject
Just at the moment all these con-
trasting figures think and talk on
only one subject-Virkula
The great majority from Henry,
the hotel porter. to Frank Reyes,
former mayor and the towns first
citizen, are quick to condemn what
they term the system" Few feel
bitter, however, toward Emmett J.
White, 24-year-old customs patrol
man. whose sawed-of shotgun
brought death to Virkula when the
confectioner failed to halt his car
quickly enough for liquor inspec-
ton.
White, drawn, grim and restless
by Jail confinement, waits for his
friends to have the district court fix
bail, so he may return to his bride
in Duluth or take up his duties
again pending disposition Of his case
next October by the grand jury. He
is charged with second degree muir
der. The federal government has
indicated it will defend him.
No crowds OF angry citizens cluster
about the Jail yard now. White re-
ceives as many smiles as scoWls.
ut Was Accident"
ut was an accident" says White.
ut was murder" Mrs. Virkula
declares. Il have no more i'll will
toward White than any woman
would have who had been widowed
under the same circumstances, but
I insist that he be prosecuted"
International Falls now says. ''let
the law take its course If White
was to blame, make him pay the
penalty. But if the system was to
blame, change it. so that this never
will happen again"