The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-05-11
ANDERSON RUM
RING CHARGES
AIRED IN TRIAL
Dozen Defendants Brought
Into Court, Accused
by Government.
Continued From Page II

sixty days on the state farm.
Merle Wetzen, Anderson farmer.
testified he sold liquor during 1927
and 1923. He said he bought the
liquor from Bert Stinson. who has
pleaded guilty, for si8 for five gal
Ions and that he paid Albert Abel.
now on trial. SIS, $50 and sometimes
$40 week for protection.
He testified that his wife later
told him that Joe Melcher Jr., son
Of the Anderson garage master, was
providing protection.
Wetzell testifieu Rich bought
liquor at his place and that ne
closed in 1923, when Abel told him
10 shut down for a while" On
ross-examination, Wetzell admit
ted he had been told by federal
agents he would not be prosecuted
II he testified for the government
and admitted he worked with the
federal men.
Description Of a county "oyerrun"
with liquor law violators and
charges that city and police officials
distributed confiscated liquor as
political favors," we're made by
George r. Jeffery, district attorney,
in his jury statement
The jury is composed Of men
all Of whom said they had no ANIL
iations with the Indiana Anti
Saloon League or took any part in
dry or prohibition organiza-
tons.
The list Of defendants receiving
a jury trial was cut to twelve when
Rex and Otto Whitehead, alleged
Anderson booze dealers, changed
pleas to guilty"
Jeffrey in his charges laid the
brunt Of the alleged law violations
on the shoulders OF Mellett. Riggs.
ex-police chief; Rich and Louis La
velle. former pugilist, now a pa
trolman and police chauffeur.
Liquor Not Found
The district attorney charged that
instances occurred when alleged
booze running automobiles were
eonfiScated by Riggs, but that many
times arrests we're not made and
the cars returned to their owners.
Jeffrey accused Melcher of being
involved in several automobile deals
with police officials.
-Four attorneys spoke for the de-
fense-Frank A. Symmes, Joseph I.
Marley, John Royse and Robert r.
Dalton. They stressed the point
that their evidence would show their
clients had not entered into any
conspiracy to violate the liquor laws.
Royse, who represents Riggs and
Rich, asserted that had it not been
for Rich'S discovering the John
Bronnenberg farm still, the gov
eminent would not have had its
first lead" in the case.
He declared both Riggs and Rich
aided federal agents to the utmost
Of their power in efforts to round
up bootleggers. He asserted that
Riggs had incurred the enmity of
many police force members by pre-
ferring charges against them for
violating police department rules.
Liquor was sold continuously"
Jeffrey told the jury. IF there
we're raids, there was no liquor on
hand The police saw the head off,
GERS doing this sort of thing, and
they thought it was proper and did
likewise.
Loses Jury Seat
Liquor was distributed from
headquarters to friends Of the chief
and Mellett. 1t was handed out as
political favors. For much Of it no
money ever was paid
Jay Larkin, Putnam county con-
tractor. lost his seat on the jury
when he told the court he was to
start constructing a street in An
derson Monday on city contract.
and service as juror might prove
embarrassing"
Lew Charles. who said he was an
Orange county laborer, was excused
by the government when ne adj
mitted he was a "watchman at
Browns at French Lick" Jeffrey
excused him, telling the judge that
Browns is a gambling house at
French Lick"
The twelve defendants. who have
pleaded not guilty. are among
twenty-eight indicted in the con-
spiracy case by the federal grand
jury several weeks ago.
Twelve Of the twenty-eight have
pleaded guilty and four, including
Mellett, have not been arrested, al
though two of the Sour, Pete Campo
and Tony Smello. are in prison else
where on other charges, officials
said
Mellett Trial Later
Mellett is indicted on charges of
ordering confiscated liquor removed
from the police station and deliv-
cred to friends. and with receiving
protection money. He will be tried
later.
Riggs also is charged with col
lecting protection money from boot
leggers. and with removing alcohol
from the police station and giving
il to others for beverage purposes.
The indictment alleges Rich
warned two other defendants. John
and Bert Stinson. alleged bootleg
gers. in advance Of a raid on the
Bronnenberg farm, where a still was
found later. and with collecting
money from bootleggers for pro-
lection.
Lavelle is charged with delivering
liquor for Mellett.
Twelve defendants who have
pleaded guilty in the Anderson case,
and who will be sentenced after the
trial, include Joe Melcher; Blake
Gwinn. son Of a night police
sergeant. said to have delivered
LIQUOR: Bert Stinson, alleged boot-
logger; John Bronnenberg, Joe Ga
laSsi and Robert Thrawley. alleged
still operators: Roscoe Hartman,
Lew Lewellyn. Closer Riggsby and
Russell Riggsby. charged with
transporting liquor. and Rex and
Otto Whitehead.
Seven Are Excused
Seven talesmen were excused be-