The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-05-12
OUSTED COPPER
is ACCUSER IN
LIQUOR TRIAL
Drinking Parties Held at
Anderson Police Station,
Witness Says.
Continued From Page II

Vl0lalors protected. and seized
liquor distributed as gifts.
With only twenty-three govern
ment witnesses testifying Wednes-
day, first day Of the trial, the case
IS not expected 70 90 to the jury
before FRIDAY.
Government witnesses testified
against the twelve defendants
standing trial, including Riggs.
Rich, Joe Melcher Jr.. son Of a
city official, who has pleaded guilty,
and several alleged big shot" boot
leggers.
Twelve other defendants in the
case have pleaded guilty and four
have not been arrested. The four
include Mayor Jesse n Mellett,
who is seriously iii.
Mayor Is Accused
Mellett is charged with accepting
protection money from bootleggers
and with giving conhscated liquor
to friends.
Ralph Daley, city Judge. testified
that in March, 1881, ne declined TO
accept a gallon Of alcohol offered
70 him BY Riggs and Rich. in Riggs
office at police headquarters
Maraska. who said ne drank with
Riggs and Rich and patronized
speakeasies. testified he was dis
missed from the force early this
year, after having co-operated with
federal dry agents.
He said the charge on which ne
was dismissed was conduct unbe-
coming an officer and becoming in
toxicated while on duty. He de-
MED imputation OF defense attor-
news that he also was charged with
selling liquor
Tells OF Raid
He told OF a raid in which 1886
gallons Of alcohol we're confiscated
and stored in the chiefs Office.
L saw the chief give DR.. w. H.
Harrison. safety board member. and
other friends. cans Of alcohol, and
asked him for some for myself and
he gave me gallon, Maraska
testified.
He testified that Riggs and Rich
we're intoxicated around police
headquarters about two or three
times week" adding that the two
high officials often held open
house" in the station, serving drinks
to policemen and others.
Testifying on the government
allegation that Rich received pro-
lection money each Monday, Ma
raska said Rich seldom attended
roll call except on that day
Several Mondays. the witness said.
Rich told him he had to 60 TO the
bank.
Divided Booze, He Says
4 remarked that this wasn't pay
dsv." Maraska testified. and Rich
said il was for him, displaying a
large roll Of bills"
on another occasion. he testified.
he and Rich went 10 the Boyer
filling station to look for Tudy Ray,
suspected bank robber. and outside
the station found can Of corn
whisky, which, he said they divided.
nc said he drank in various re-
sorts operated by defendants IN the
conspiracy case. and charged that
Bert Stinson, defendant and al
legged liquor gang brains, visited
Riggs at city hall several times.
Testifying that on frequent raids
ordered BY Mellett. all persons
found in Speakeasies were ordered
taken to headquarters, he said that
on several occasions he found Blake
Cwinn, son Of a police sergeant, in
rsided places. and received orders
10 leave Gwinn alone Gwinn
has pleaded guilty TO the conspiracy
charge.
SAYS He Was Struck
on another occasion. MaraSka
testified, a telephone operator told
OF hearing a woman ask for police
then the sound OF screaming and
the phone was disconnected.
Going with other officers to the
address given by the telephone OPP
orator, he said he found Kenneth
Riggs. the chiefs son. trying to force
a girl, in night clothes. TO 60 out
with him.
When I tried to get him to leave,
he swung at me and / popped him,
Maraska said. adding that he be-
lieved the chief became mis- enemy
because Of this incident.
Witnesses Wednesday afternoon
included several officials from
Marion, who told of arresting Ray
Bower and Closer RiggSbv. de-
PENDANTS. with a car load Of beer,
and OF Melcher attempting 10 obtain
their freedom and release If the
beer. asserting it belonged 70 the
mayor Of Anderson.
Marion Mayor Is Witness
The witnesses were Mayor Jack
Edwards. Police Chief Lewis Linde-
muth officer Roy Cox and T. A.
Biddinger. former deputy prosecu-
tor
<. ]. Rood. former Anderson
policeman and probation officer. de-
scribed an incident where he seized
two cars at the Bower filling station
when ne saw liquor being trans
ferred, and told Of interference by
Melcher. which resulted ir two pri-
SonerS escaping.
Shortly after selling the liquor
ne said. he was dismissed from tho
police force IN charges OF conduct
unhecoming an officer.
For confiscating carload Of
liouor?" Baltzell asked.
Rood. who said the charges were
brought against him after he had
aided federal investigators. admit
ted he was accused Of contributing
10 delinquency.
Robert Thrawley. a defendant,
told OF working at the John Bron-
nenberg farm still, discovery Of
which started the federal probe
leading TO the conspiracy indict-
ment.
He accused several defendants 0
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