Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-12
LIQUOR PURCHASE
DENIED BY DENISON
Former Representative Says
He Never Bought Rum for
Shipment to U. S.

A blanket denial that he ever had
purchased any liquor in Panama or
elsewhere for shipment to this coun-
try was made today by former Rep
resentative Edward Z. Denison of IL
linois at his trial in District Supreme
Court on a charge of violating the
national prohibition act.
The former member spoke in a
voice audible throughout the court
room when questioned by William e.
Leahy, chief of defense counsel, con-
corning such a purchase.
did you at any time while in
Panama or any place else purchase
any liquor to bring into the United
States?" Leahy inquired.
mo, sir" the witness responded
Denies Using Liquor.
did you,- or did any one at your
direction, pack any liquor to be
brought into the United States?"
mo, sir"
DO you use nquor?"
/"Are you a drinking MANI"
Il am not. / don't mean to say
I've never tasted it. I've tasted it, but
I never did drink it,"
Careless switching of baggage was re-
sponsible for the discovery OF liquor
laden trunk in his possession, Mr.. Deni-
son of Illinois testified.
The former Representative, defeated
Tor reelection last November, when his
opponent made capital of his arrest
gave the jury a detailed account Of the
circumstances leading up to the visit of
Federal prohibition agents to his rooms
In the House once Building January
10, 1929.
Purchased Dishes.
DeniSon declared he had purchased
large amount of dishes, perfume and
OTHER articles, while in Panama as a
member of the Interstate and Foreign
Commerce Committee of the House. He
said his purchases were packed in boxes,
trunks and suit cases for shipment to
this country.
The witness testified it was unusual
ly cold when he arrived in New York
en- route from Panama to Washington.
He conceded he was careless in pick
ing out his baggage on the pier and
instructing an express agent to forward
it here. He explained he was about to
freeze TO death"
He added he had spent considerable
time before attending to his own
baggage in providing for the comfort
of several women who were scantily
clad due to their visit to the tropics,
and were annoyed by the lower tenn
perature.
Search Is Futile.
DeniSon said the trunk involved I'M
doubleday had been inadvertently trans
ferred with trunk Of similar appear
ance belonging to some one else. He
declared he had been unsuccessful in
his efforts to trace the identity of the
individual to whom he gave instruc-
tons for tie shipment Of his property.
A motion for a directed verdict of
mot guilty" was overruled this morning
by Justice Peyton Gordon.
Denial of the motion marked the high
point Of the long drawn out litigation
which began In January. 1929. with the
seizure Of trunkful Of alleged liquor
in the rooms of Mr.. Denison in the
House Office Building. His arrest
figured prominently in his defeat for
reelection last November on a dry
platform.
knowledge Held Lacking.
Justice Gordon denied the motion
Immediately after z. Hilton Jackson
of defense counsel had completed 90
minute argument with the jury absent
The Government had rested its case
few minutes before. The trial began
yesterday before jury Of eight men
and four women.
Jackson contended the testimony pro-
duced by the Government had been
consistent with the innocence of the
defendant. He stressed the contention
that the prosecution had failed to prove
Denison possessed knowledge of the
contents of the trunk until Federal pro-
hibition agents had smashed it open
when key he rendered failed to fit the
lock
There has been evidence here" jack
son declared, Ito convict the Prohibition
Department Of the most gross and SIMS
ter disregard of the rights of citizens.
| Every step the Government took in this
case from January 10, 1929, until August
| IL, 1929, casts suspicion on the integrity
| and identity Of these samples"
The defense lawyer summed up the
reasons for his motion as failure on the
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