The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-11-15
Legal Reign of Terror Is
Charged to Agents in
Protest.
ASSAIL Filming TACTICS
Hotel, Restaurant, Grocery
Men File Complaint
With YeIIoWIey.
BY JAMES DOSS

AioN oSNiito nav Z NICdItu q
legal reign of terror" in In
diana by holding kangaroo
courts" on technical and inno-
cent violations of the Federal
revenue laws have been laid
before f. C. Yellowley, Chi
cago, district supervisor of
collectors, and Senators Fred
erick VanNuys and Sherman
MintOn.
Complainants are the Indiana
State Restaurant Association, In
dianapolis Retail Druggists Asso-
citation, Indianapolis Hotel Mems
Association and indianapolis Meat
Dealers and Grocers. Copies of the
protest also have been sent to Dis
trict Attorney Val Nolan, Paul P.
Fry, state excise administrator and
John Downing, Alcoholic Beverages
Commission attorney.
No comment on the protest could
be obtained from local Federal Of
ficials and Mr.. Yellowley has re-
turned to Chicago.
A squad of special agents from
Chicago are alleged to be making
concerted drive against legitimate
places of business and placing par
ticular stress on what the protest
terms violations of a highly ques-
| tionable nature caused by conflicting
provisions of state and Federal laws.
! The agents are charged with in
/ timidation and dureSS in the hold
ing of the So-called kangaroo
courts" in which the agent acts as
judge, jury and prosecutor and the
defendant is without counsel.
So-called offers in compromise"
are suggested and accepted by the
agents as the feature of the "kanga-
roo court the protest charges.
O'Mahoney Makes Protest
The protest to Mr. Yellowley and
others was made by J. F. OMaho-
ney, Indiana State Restaurant AS
ISOLATION secretary, in the names of
the protesting organization. 1t
follows:
I'm reply to your letter of Oct.
IA, answering my letter of Oct 2, may
call your attention to the fact
that l address you as a represent
ative of United States citizens, resi-
dents of the state of Indiana, en-
gagged in the restaurant business.
some holding permits for the retail
sale of beer, wine and liquors, all
interested in fair and general en-
forcement of all state and Federal
laws.
THE protest that I presented to
you was not against enforcement,
but the manner of it and that all
the penalties, charges and fines COL
lected were assessed against Ameri-
can citizens who had to the best OF
their ability endeavored to comply
with all laws as evidenced by the
Federal and state permits displayed
in their place of business.
Charges Concerted Drive"
THAT agents from your office have
made a concerted drive on these
licensed places known by public rec
ord to be licensed, that particular
stress has been placed on detecting
violations of a highly questionable
nature caused by conflicting pro-
visions of state and Federal laws.
"So-called offers in compromise
have been made in hearings before
deputies that are best described as
sort of kangaroo court in which
the defendant is without counsel and
agents, while not physically using
force, puts the defendant in state
of duress, by stating if he does not
sign plea of guilty which must
proceed the so-called offer in COM
promise it will cost him an amount
treble the one described in the offer
of compromise and collection will be
made by the Collector of Internal
Revenue with levy on his property
They also advise, insinuate and
allude to the cost Of defending such
case in Federal Courts and that
all decisions are in the governments
favor, always, with the great majesty
and prestige of the Federal govern
ment we'll displayed TO impress the
So-called offender, if not to actually
cause him to fear the dire results
that will follow any attempt he
might make TO defend himself.
mo Receipt Given" He Says
The case I presented to you in
volving the selling of beer by the
glass and billing at retail by the key
is typical also of hotel service that
has been penalized as illegal in serv-
ing large groups, with advice by
your deputies that had it been billed
in lesser quantities than five gallons
total or an added charge for food.
sufficient TO cover, there would be no
penalty. All strikes us, as business
men, to be a gross traveSty on JUS
tice and an insult TO honesty in the
legal sale and service at retail of
beer, wine and liquor.
May I also call your attention to
seizure Of liquor without warrant,
with no receipt given, later reports
Of wrong probing with no person