Booze runners arrested - Putnam

OFFICERS CAPTURE 10 MEN, 5 CARS AND 125 GALLONS MULE IN BOOZE RUNNER RAID

The End of a Perfect Day

SHERIFF LAWRENCE SEARS AND FEDERAL PROHIBITION OFFICER JULIUS BRYAN, LEAD POSSE IN BIGGEST HAUL YET MADE ON OCEAN TO OCEAN HIGHWAY, FRIDAY NIGHT—TWO CARS ESCAPED ONE MACHINE RUNS BLOCK-ADE-BARRAGE OF FIRE FAILS TO STOP DODGE CAR DRIVER

The Posse

Sheriff Lawrence Sears,

Federal Officer Julius Bryan

Gilbert Rhea

John Ham

Ralph Donnohue

Toni Morgan

Park Bryan.

Booze Runners Captured.

CAR NO. 1. John W. Underwood, 2220 E. Michigan street, Indianapolis.

Harry Campbell, 1412 S. New Jersey street, Indianapolis

Nash Roadster. Gallons liquor—45

CAR NO. 2. Clarence Shultz, 501 W. Morrison street, Indianapolis.

Eddie Dick, 555 Benton street. Indianapolis.

New Ford Touring car.

Gallons liquor—20.

CAR NO. 3, John Shea, 921 Coffey street, Indianapolis.

Old Ford Touring car.

Gallons liquor—40.

CAR NO. 4.- Charles McAvoy, 1854 Sugar Grove, Indianapolis

William Stevens, 1219 W. Roach St, Indianapolis

Shelby Thompson, 2651 Sherman Drive, Indianapolis.

Old Ford Touring Car.

Gallons Liquor – 30.

CAR No. 5 – AJ Manly, Portland, Indiana

EC Arnold, Portland Indiana

New Overland Roadster

Gallons liquor – 30

Ten booze runners, five automobiles and 165 gallons of liquor were captured in the biggest raid on booze runners ever staged in Putnam County on the Ocean to Ocean Highway near the Union Chapel Church west of Morton on Friday night.  Two automobiles carrying booze runners escaped the posse, the driver of one of these machines, however three out 35 gallons of liquor after eluding the officers. Eight of the booze runners captured gave Indianapolis as their home while two gave Portland, Indiana as their address. The Friday night raid on the Ocean to Ocean Highway Booze runners was the large and most pretentious ever staged in the county.  From the beginning when the first booze runner car refused to stop and tore through a barrier  which had been placed across the road and then, in a hail of bullets which punctured tires and the gasoline tank, continued on and escaped until the last minute, the raid was filled with excitement.  Coach Gilbert Rhead of the GHS prove the hero of the night, when he chased one of the booze runners, who jumped from a car and ran into the woods, for two miles finally overtaking him and bringing him back to the officers, a prisoner.  Heavily armed and with blankets, food and utensils to make hot coffee, the posse went to the Union Chapel Church at near 11 o’clock Friday night.  A barrier of an old picket fence, fence posts and automobiles was built across the road on top of the hill, just in front of the church and officers began their night long vigil.  It was almost five o’clock when the first booze runner approached from the west.  A Dodge touring car, curtained, was flagged by the officers, but it refused to stop. The car charged the barrier and went through the picket fence and headed on east. A barrage of fire on the car was opened by the officers. But the shots failed to stop the booze runners. Immediately a car was started in pursuit. The chase followed to the Hanna cross roads, where it was given up. A trail of gasoline along the road and prints of a flat tire showed that the bullets had punctured the gasoline tank and punctured tires. While three of the officers were chasing the Dodge touring car, a string of three Ford cars approached the barrier, which had been rebuilded. Each stopped and while the remaining officers were searching the first two Ford cars, the third one turned and headed west. As it went west it left a string of jugs along the road, thirty-five gallons of liquor being thrown out. A man from one of the cars, the officers don’t know which, jumped out of a car and ran into the woods and escaped. Each of the first two Ford cars contained liquor. Soon after this the officers who had given chase to the Dodge returned. The next was a Nash Roadster with two men and 45 gallons of mule. Then came a new Ford Touring car, with two young men. One of these boys jumped from the car and started through the woods. Gilbert Rhea started in pursuit. While the officers searched the car and found 20 galIons of mule, Rhea was doing a cross country run, after the escaping youth. This chase continued through woods, fields and finally ended at a farm house, where the lad attempted to hide his identity by going to a barn where another young man was unloading corn.  He attempted to give Rhea the idea that he was a friend of the farm boy but Rhea did not “fall” and took the young man into custody. This boy gave his name as Eddie Dicks.  Next came a Ford car with three men and 30 gallons and last came the Overland Roadster, with two men who gave Portland, Indiana as their homes.  Two young men, headed west, probably for Clinton were stopped and several empty jugs were found in their car. They were held until morning, the jugs broken up and they were then headed back toward Indianapolis. Another “west bound” auto driver who had figured in a former Ocean to Ocean booze runner arrest, also was stopped. He was “Running empty” also. This man also was headed hack toward Indianapolis by the officers. Hardly had the booze runners, who were captured in the raid lead by Sheriff Sears, on the Ocean-to-Ocean highway Friday night, become accustomed to the county jail surroundings before they were taken before Judge James P. Hughes to face affidavits charging them with unlawful possession of liquor. Eight of the men pleaded guilty to the charges as filed and each was fined $100 and sentenced to serve 90 days in the State farm. John Shea was also charged with carrying concealed weapons. He was fined $50 on this charge. Shea and Charley McAvoy pleaded not guilty to the liquor charges and are being held pending their trial in the Circuit Court.