The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-05-02
50 REPORTED
INDICTED FOR
BOOZE PLOTS
Federal Jury Finishes Quiz
Into Liquor Situation in
West Indiana.
TIP0FF RUM0R DENIED
Purported U. S. Agent Is
Declared Giving Out
Suspects Names.
TIP0FF RUM0R DENIED

Federal grand jurors this after
noon were to return report to
Judge Robert c. Baltzell after ten
days investigation into activities of
alleged rum rings in Vigo and YER
million counties.
1t is predicted about fifty persons
will be named in the report and it
is possible the entire group will be
charged with conspiracy to violate
the prohibition law, it was learned.
Since the jury began the probe,
it has heard more than 100 wit
nesSes, including federal Officials and
agents and business men, farmers.
known bootleggers and rum runners
and other persons living in the
two counties under investigation and
in Missouri and Illinois.
Started Six Weeks Ago
Investigation in the alleged booze
activities were started in the sec
ton more than six weeks ago in
the governments effort to stamp
out the reported still on every-hill''
situation there.
Prior to that, agents had been
working on the scene after the
daring murder of George Aidux,
said to have known much about the
alleged operations, in Terre Haute
several months before. Aidux died
within a block of the police station
when he was the target for the bull
lets of submachine gun.
The government has made raids
in the vicinity during the last few
weeks and confscated thirteen stills
with total capacity of more than
10000 gallons.
From various sources, it was
learned results of the investigation
may not be as startling and big"
as at first predicted.
Through for Present
It is said the jury will consider
the situation cleaned up for the
present when the report is made.
Authorities, however, have guard
ed witnesses and have refused to
issue any statements in connection
with the quiz. 1t has been apparent
that gang revenge against witnesses
and investigators was feared.
The jury's probe, it is said, took
in not only the alleged manufac-
turing angle of the situation, but
also the boasts Of protection said
to have been made by alleged boot
leggerS and still operators.
1t was charged part of the money
paid for each f1ve-gallon tin Of
"alky" obtained from bootleggers
in the vicinity was set aside to
strengthen an elaborate protection
system functioning in the manufac-
turing area and as an aid to rum
runners in taking booze to CUSTOM
erS.
Terre Haute, according to reports,
is the headquarters for the gang
leaders and their lieutenants, while
Clinton has been spotted as the
"pay off" place, where protection
funds are reported to have been re-
ceived from gang operators.
To Link Operations
The jury's report is expected to
tie up the alleged operations in
Terre Haute and Clinton with the
operation Of the enormous still at
Montezuma, confiscatnd last De-
cember. Ten men, now are under
arrest, are to be tried in federal
court in June for this offense.
Authorities still are silent on re-
ports that a man, said to be rep
resenting himself as a federal off,
Ger, has made "the rounds" at
Terre Haute informing persons they
we're going to be indicted and had
better get ready"
ALT Meloy, United States marshal,
says the matter is being investi-
gated. He denied any one in his
Office is connected with it, despite
reports to the contrary.