The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-05-14
ANDERSON RUM
CASE WILL GO
To JURY SOON
Closing Arguments Will Be
Completed Today on
Plot Charges.
CONTINUED From Page u

ordered him TO instruct Louis La
velle, police-chauffeur, and another
defendant. TO deliver the liquor to
the mayors friend.
Il had missed quite a bit Of liu-
uor, held as evidence; from my Of
fee" the chief related. 'Mellett
and 1 we're the only ones having
keys to my office.
Refused TO Deliver
"One day went into my Office
and found MelIett there, wrapping
a gallon can Of alcohol.
Take this over to Charley OTTO
he ordered.
4 refused, saying IL had TO de-
liver alcohol for his friends, I would
quit my job. Then he told me to
tell Lavelle to deliver the alcohol,
which I did, explaining it was the
mayors orders. not mine"
Riggs denied Offering City Judge
Daley a gallon Of alcohol, and de-
MED most Of the government wit
nesses' testimony, explaining much
OF the testimony of witnesses
against him was result of luminosity
Of policemen and former officers be-
cause he had reduced or discharged
them, and by bootleggers, because he
continuously had raided them.
Riggs said he still was receiving
pay rs the Anderson police chief,
although he is on 'Ieave of absence,
pending outcome Of the trial"
Says He Is ION Wagon"
He testified he does not drink,
having been ION the wagon" since
becoming police chief. because Of
his health, and denied ever drink
ing or serving liquor in his office,
as testified by government wit
nesses.
Rich, now a patrolman, who testi-
fed Friday morning, resumed the
witness stand Friday afternoon.
Rich admitted that, as captain
OF detectives, he drank occasionally.
He explained that he had made
home brew at home" adding that
1t was the odor of home brew, con-
sumed at home, which officers may
have smelled at police headquarters,
but that he never drank at head
quarters.
He admitted being called to the
resort operated by Frank Francois,
government witness, and finding
four policemen there early one
morning under influence of liquor.
Tells Hypnotism Story
However, he said, a Negro de-
tective, lying naked on bed. told
him he had been hypnotized by
Francois and was not drunk.
He told the jury Francois offered
him drink, which he refused, and
said he reported actions of the Of
ficers TO Riggs.
In addition to Riggs, Rich and
Lavelle. defendants on trial are Al
bert Abel. Mrs. Edna Boyer. Earl
Hoel, Robert Clark, Ora CTink) |
Raines. Raymond (Scabby) Ross
and John Stinson, alleged liquor
law violators.
Following close OF the govern
ment's evidence, two other defend
ants, John Owens and Ulysses
Grant Lawson, alleged bootleggers,
were dismissed by the court on di-
rected verdicts Of acquittal, Lawson
being resrrested Immediately on an
other liquor charge.
Several Plead Guilty
Defendants who have pleaded
guilty and will be sentenced after
the jury's reports are John Bron-
nenberg, Joe GalaSsi, Blake Gwinn,
son Of a police sergeant; Roscoe
Hartman, Lew Llewellyn, Joe
Melcher Jr., alleged liquor ring
leader and son of the city garage
collector; CLOSER Riggsby, Rus
sell Riggsby, Bert Stinson. Robert
Thrawley, and Rex and Otto White
head.
In addition to the mayor, three
other defendants are not on trial
Pete Campo, uner arrest in Illinois
and resisting extradition; Tony
Smello and Ray Boyer, fugitiveS.