Submitted by: Nadine A. Hardin

Name:  Manuszak, Walter J.

Names mentioned:  Bolka, Chelminiak, Gruza, Manuszak, Nowakowski, Slick, Steiner, Szykowiak

(Three newspaper articles.)

South Bend Tribune, June 1, 1932.

“Bootlegger on Trial is Found Dead”

Walter J. Manuszak, age about 38, who has operated saloons for the elite during the prohibition era and who was on trial in federal court for violation of the national prohibition act, was found dead in his place of business at 1243 Western avenue this morning.

Despite rumors that circulated throughout the city today that the saloon keeper had committed suicide by gas or gun, Coroner B. J. Bolka declared the cause of death was heart failure.

The body was found on the floor between two rooms in Manuszak’s place by a brother.

Coroner declared that death had occurred sometime after midnight, and that probably from the position of the body, the proprietor was closing his place for the night when death came.

Manuszak, who in 1927 was sentenced in federal court to serve four months in jail and was fined $100 for violation for the national prohibition act, was on trial in federal court at the time of his death for a second liquor offense.

Last week when placed on trial his counsel moved for suppression of evidence on the grounds that it was illegally obtained. Judge Thomas W. Slick, after hearing arguments of opposing counsel, instructed them to submit briefs citing legal authorities for their respective contentions. These briefs were submitted to the court only Tuesday night.

Manuszak, according to his attorney, was depressed last Sunday by notification that he had been assessed about $3,000 in connection with the closing of the defunct Peoples State bank. He was informed that the assessment would have to be paid by June 15. He is also reported to have lost considerable sums of money in the last few years as a result of his signing as security notes for Stanley Chelminiak, defaulting cashier of the Peoples’ State bank, who is now serving a sentence in the state prison at Michigan City for his embezzlement.

South Bend Tribune, June 2, 1932.

“Death Frees One in Liquor Case”

(Continued from page one, column four)

. . . defendents, Alex Steiner and Harry Nowakowski, are affected by the court’s decision.

Should the court sustain the motion to suppress, then the two remaining defendants will probably go free upon a government motion to dismiss for lack of evidence. Should the court overrule, the motion trial of Steiner and Nowakowski will proceed.

Mr. Manuszak was born in South Bend Sept. 7, 1893, and lived here all his life. He was married here in 1915 to Catherine Szykowiak, and leaves besides his widow, six children, Walter, John, Thomas, George, Richard and Marjorie, all at home. He also leaves his father, Wojcieck Manuszak, this city.

He was a member of the M. R. Falcons, of St. Florian’s Society and the Polish Roman Catholic union.

Funeral rites will take place at 9 o’clock Friday morning from St. Hedwige’s Roman Catholic church, Rev. Stanislaus A. Gruza, pastor, will read the mass and burial will be in Cedar Grove cemetery.

South Bend Tribune, Funeral Notes; June 3, 1932.

Funeral services for Walter Manuszak took place at 9 o’clock this morning in St. Hedwige’s Roman Catholic church. Rev. Stanislaus A. Gruza, C.S.C., pastor, read the mass and burial was in Cedar Grove cemetery.

Note: St. Hedwige baptismal records show Walter’s parents as Adalberto Manuszak and Mariann Drzewiecka (sp.). He was baptized September 11, 1893.