The Indianapolis times., 1932-05-14
ANDERSON RUM
CASE IS GIVEN
TO JURYMEN
Closing Arguments Are
Completed in Trial on
Plot Charges.
WITNESSES ATTACKED
Parade of Corrupt Women
and Men, Says Defense
Attorney.

A federal court jury this afternoon
nelibcrated the cases Of ten Ander-
son residents and officials charged
with conspiring to violate the pro-
hibition laws. The case was given
II the jury late this morning and
separate verdicts requested by Judge
Robert c. Baltzell.
Attorneys for all defendants but
Police Chief Alvin Riggs and for
tner detective Captain Ralph Rich
addressed the jury in final srgu-
Aments.
Baltzell ordered Rex Whitehead,
defendant, to be held in custody
" the marshal after Whitehead sd-
Ihitted he had been lettering
Ground the room"
The Judge said he will dispose Of
Whitehcad's case later.
Witnesses Are Assailed
Character Of government witnesses
was assailed by John A. Royse,
Counsel for Riggs and Rich, in sum-
'pation Of the defense case.
Referring to some of the witnesses
as 'bootleggers and ex-convicts," the
attorney said there was a parade of
corrupt men and women" to the
witness stand as the government
presented its case.
He charged that the government
tried to impeach the character Of
ten of its witnesses.
Wouldn't the good citizens, such
As church people, know If the city
of Anderson was seething in crime?"
Royse asked. why didn't the gov
ernment bring in such citizens. in
stead Of the riffraff of society?"
Turns on WhetseI
Royse then turned his fire on
Merle WhetSel, a government wit
ness, who was given a prison term
through the efforts as prosecutor
o. George r. Jeffrey, now United
States district attorney.
Jeffrey wouldn't believe him
then, but he asks you to believe
him now" Royse told the jury.
In his closing argument, jeffrey
said no matter how black these
witnesses are painted, defendants
came to the stand and admitted
truth Of sheir testimony"
He cited points in testimony
which he declared the defense had
permitted to rest unchallenged.
You could go home" Jeffrey said
directly to jurors. and tell officials
that If they want to go wrong, they
should associate only with boot
1eggers and crooks because their
word would not be taken in court.
Defends Dry Law
Many of you live in commun-
ities where no one ever is indicted
BY a federal grand jury. These are
communities where officials them
selves obey the law"
The district attorney then turned
10 a defense Of the dry law.
The national prohibition law Is a
GOOD law he asserted. Those who
make light Of it don't want it en-
forced"
There is not a citizen or official in
The state whose liberty is safe as
long as witnesses can testify TO
things that can be denied only in
general. Frank A. Symmes. who
opened arguments for the defense,
declared.
Blame Put on Mayor
Blame for disappearance OF con-
fiscated liquor from police head
uuarters was shifted to shoulders Of
Mayor Jesse H. Mellett. who Is not
on trial at this time because of ILL
ness, in the closing defense
testimony.
Riggs testified liquor had been re-
moved from the station on orders
of the mayor, denying government
charges that he ever ordered any
liquor removed illegally.
He asserted that on one occasion
Mellett told him to take gallon
OF alcohol to Charles Otto. adding
that. when he refused, the mayor
ordered him to instruct Louis La
velle, police-chauffeur, and another
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