The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-10-03

More than a dozen arrests
will follow the raids, Browning
intimated today. Two fed
eral operatives remained in
Clinton to superintend dis
mantling of the equipment
and round up others wanted
in connection with running of
the stills.
Early last winter, federal officers
and deputy sheriffs from Indian
apolis crept through Vermilion
county jungIes and hills to surprise
operators of a huge still near Monte
yuma.
Score Under Indictment
For several weeks after that raid,
prominent citizens of Clinton and
the entire county we're siezed in the
governments net, until score were
under Indictment on manufacturing
and conspiracy charges.
The stills of Vermillion county
supply indianapolis, st. Louis, Gin
cinnati. Terre Haute and a portion
of Chicago'S booze traffic.
Hints of connection of big Chi
cago gangs, chiefly that of AL Ca
pone, with the alky cooking in the
western Indiana county, have been
abroad for many months.
Figured on a basis of lowest re-
tail prices, product of the stills was
worth more than $15,OO0,000 an
nually.
The equipment which will yield
more than eight truckloads Of cop
per, represented investment Of sew
raj hundred thousand dollars, dry
raiders affirm.
1000 Gallons Output
Browning brought with him to
indianapolis this morning Fred
Bonginonian. Clinton, found in
charge of the largest still, which
had a daily output of 1000 gallons
of alcohol.
When federal agents broke into
the eight-room house in which the
plant was set up, Bonginonian is
alleged to have offered them SAT-
for his freedom.
They accepted the money and
turned it over to Browning. Bon
ginonian will be charged with con-
spiracy liquor manufacture and
bribery attempt, Browning said.
Operated Automatically
Besides the one huge distillery.
six smaller whisky plants we're I'M
earthed, each with maximum daily
capacity of $50 gallons of moon
shine.
All we're Of up-to-date model, re-
quiring no attention. They sup
piled their boilers automatically
with mash and water, and were
operated with coke fires.
In all, more than 600 gallons Of
alcohol and corn whisky, and more
than 100000 gallons of mash we're
confscated by the agents. Browning
said.
All in City Limits
All of the stills we're found within
the city limits.
The first. the monster that pro-
duced 1000 gallons each day. was
set in the basement of the eight
room house, in which floors and
rooms had been cut away to allow
its installation
It was twelve feet in diameter at
the base, and eighteen feet high.
The house was located at Eleventh
and Anderson streets.
At the second house, eighth and
Ewing streets, two stills, one 500 and
another 300 gallons capacity, we're
put out of operation. There fed
eral agents found ten gallons Of
corn whisky and $4,000 gallons Of
mash.
Forty Gallons Seized
The third place housed a 300
gallon still in operation when the
raid was made. Forty gallons Of
corn whisy were taken.
The fourth house, at 1915 Miller
street. was fitted with 200 and a
100-gallon plant, in operation, and
eight gallons of finished product
were confiscated.
The fifth and last raid, at 357
North Eleventh street, netted a ZOO
gallon still, with eleven wooden vaes,
six feet tall, and seven feet in diam
eter. Agents found 100 flve-gallon
cans of alcohol.
All except the first still we're
working without attendants.