The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-01-06
ALL EVIDENCE
VAN|SHES;; DRY
SLEUTH FREED
Witnesses Fail to Appear,
When Delay After Delay
Is Granted.
GUN COUNT DISMISSED
Drunkenness and DiSorderIy
Conduct Charges Also
Are Lost.

Delays and vanishing witnesses
have wiped out the states case
against Patrick Currie, federal dry
agent, who, it was alleged, was
drunk and disorderly when he shot
up the Happy Hour barbecue
Oct. is.
Since the morning more than two
and half months ago when the
dry operative was arrested, county
prosecuting officials have been I'M
able to obtain witnesses or evidence
in the case.
The final chapter in the case was
written Tuesday afternoon, when
Currie was discharged by Wilbur
Royse, special municipal Judge, on
a charge of drawing a deadly
weapon. This third and last count
against Currie was dropped because
of lack of evidence"
Arrested on Three Charges
When deputy sheriffS arrived at
the barbecue on the Rockville road,
early Oct. IS, their investigation re-
suited in Currie's arrest on counts
of drunkenness, diSorderly conduct
and the weapon charge.
That day the case was continued
until Oct. 80. On the latter date
it was postponed to Nov. 20 and then
to Dec. 2.
Currie failed to appear in court
Dec. 2 and his superiors in the fed
eral prohibition department as
Sured that he would be there the
next time. He was. That was Dec.
4 and the case was continued to
Dec. 80.
When the case was called on the
last date, Ed KasSenbrock, deputy
sheriff, was the sole witness. Kas-
senbrock explained that Currie had
been drinking" but was not stag
gering drunk"
Charge Is Dismissed
With no other witnesses, RoySe
dismissed the drunk and disorderly
counts, and continued the weapon
allegation hearing until Tuesday
afternoon.
Again Kassenbrock held the stage
as the lone supporter of the state.
But this time he had nothing to
offer. He had arrived at the road
house after the smoke had cleared,
and all he knew was Currie had a
revolver in his possession.
Since Currie," Royse said, zap
parently is a government prohibit
ton agent, he has the authority to
be armed"
Royse, when he continued the
case into the new year, did so, he
stated, under the impression that
witnesses would DE in court to sup
port the charge that Currie drew
his revolver and fired several times
during his alteration at the bar
becue.
Can't Find Signer
KaSsenbrock, however, said he
was unable to locate" the signer
of the weapon affidavit in Danville.
None of the roadhouse operators or
employees appeared in court, and
Tuesday it was learned they had
not been Subpenaed.
KasSenbrock'S team mate on the
case, deputy Gilbert Thomas, did
not appear Dec. 80. when he was re-
ported to be ILL Tuesday no expla-
nation was given for his absence.
Currie's alleged outburst at the
roadhouse, which started over
gasoline purchase, did not result in
any action by Charles Britt, deputy
prohibition administrator of Indi-
ana.
Washington officials are reported
to have probed the affair. but no
statement has been made concern
ing what was determined by them.
Members of a Danville Qnd.)
American Legion post, who were at
the roadhouSe during the alleged
fracas, ne"er appeared in municipal
court for the trials.