The Indianapolis times., 1930-09-26
eighteen POLICEMEN PLEAD
NOT GUILTY IN U. S. court
ON FEDERAL BOOZE CHARGES
Indicted Officers Stand Before Judge Baltzell,
Deny Completely in Plot Accusations
of Government Authorities.
DELAY OF CITY RAIDS PROBED
in Obtaining Search Warrants Said
to Be Target Of Secret Investigators;
Grand Jury Issues Subpenas.

On common footing with
criminals they formerly
stalked down, eighteen Indi-
policemen stood be-
fore Federal Judge Robert C.
Baltzell today, and, each with
a catch in his voice, pleaded
not guilty to charge of con-
spiracy to violate national
liquor laws.
They were among 222 persons
named in 167 indictments by the
federal grand jury Saturday They
will be tried Nov. IL. Several of
those indicted, including five named
in connection with the alleged po-
lice conspiracy, have not been ap-
pretended.
Judge Baltzell also heard nine not
guilty and two guilty pleas from
eleven of seventeen persons in
dicted in the airplane liquor con-
spiracy. Two of the six missing are
en- route here from the federal peni-
tentiary at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan,
and another, Nelson Gibson, is i'll a
hospital.
Arrangements we're adjourned at
1890 p. m, when 200 of those in
dicted had been arraigned. The
will be devoted to pass
ing sentence on persons who entered
guilty pleas, Judge Baltzell declared.
Charged With Taking Booze
Policemen arTaigned on the first
OF two indictments returned by the
grand jury were charged with hav-
ing demanded and accepted money
and liquor at poolroom at 1918
East Twenty second street.
They were: Sergeant Joseph Ever
son, and Patrolmen Martin O'Brien,
Claude Ridenbaugh, Ralph Lambert,
Otis Tyner, David j. Curran, and
Thomas Gray, all Of whom pleaded
not guilty.
George Spinks. Negro, alleged to
have delivered liquor at the pool
room. and named in the same in
dictment. pleaded guilty to con-
spiracy charges.
Liquor Demanding Is Charged
In the second indictment, which
charged police demanded and OBJ
tanned liquor at a speakeasy at 843
East Washington street, the follow
ing were named:
Chrise Schischcoff and Chris
Vilaschcof, proprietors. who entered
not guilty pleas; Lieutenant Marion
VanSickle, Sergeants John Vol
derauer and James O'Brien and
Patrolmen Clifford Brown, Orville
Quinette. George Stricken, Ned
Hoagland, Noel Stark. Fred Hague,
Harry Bridwell and Thomas Sui
livan, all of whom pleaded not
guilty.
All the policemen are under
So, 800 bond.
Dell Barker. 900 North Sherman
drive, alleged owner of an airplane
and truck fleet of a rum-running
ring used to smuggle liquor into
Indianapolis from Canada, plead
ed not guilty to conspiracy charges.
Lee Barker, his brother, also under
Indictment, was to be returned to-
day from Leavenworth for arraign-
ment.
All plead Not CruiIfv
Alexander Belle, attorney: Edward
S. Browning, R. R. 2; Harry D.
Mendenhall, 305 North Delaware
street; Roscoe Miller, 425 North
Oxford street; Cecil Rector, 1907
Udell street, pilot of the plane:
Harry Roepke: Roscoe Rogers. 1916
East Georgia street, and Maurice
Wolfanger, 1920 South East street,
also pleaded not guilty in the same
case.
Bert Fowler, 81 Mount street, and
Max Thompson, pleaded guilty. o.
w. Jones also was to be returned
from Leavenworth.
Ora c. Butler, Kokomo, former
Howard county sheriff. who has an
appeal from one conviction before
the United States circuit court Of
appeals, Chicago, and Herman o.
Finch, Kokomo, pleaded guilty to
liquor transportation charges.
Trial Date Is Nov. 10
Charles spillman, 62O7 Park ave-
~
high school student in Indianapolis,
and Rel HoSs, are charged with
liquor transportation and sale, all
pleaded not guilty, and trial date
was set for Nov. 10.
In book allegedly kept by Spill
man for Identification of customers,
federal agents found many names
prominent in local business and
social circles.
Arrested after a woman in hos
pital said her throat was paralyzed
by liquor from his still. Bailey
Gursky, no address. pleaded not
guilty to liquor manufacture charges.
Traum 10 Be Witness
One Of the most notorious boot
leggers in Indiana, who. it is
charged, has long been an ally Of
Al Capone, is to be brought back
from Leavenworth for arraign-
ment on four separate liquor law
violations. He is Joseph Traum Of
Te-re Haute. Traum was paroled
from the penitentiary a year ago,
after serving a four-year sentence
for series of liquor offenses. He
violated his parole and federal
agents we're unable to apprehend
him until Chicago police. IN
roundup Of gangsters. nabbed him
with several members Of the Capons