Kept a Whisky Still

New York, 1895

A MOONSHINER'S HOUSE BLOWN UP AT BAY SIDE.

Had a Bar Room on the Ground Floor as a Cover for the Whisky still Up Stairs — Three Persons Injured and One May Die.

A building on Bell avenue, in Bayside, two blocks from the station of the Long Island railroad, was blown up at 7.30 o'clock Tuesday morning by the explosion of an illicit distillery, and three of the occupants were badly injured, one of them perhaps fatally, The building was occupied by Henry Schrell, a German, 45 years old, and his family, consisting of Mrs. Shrell and three children, Lena, 15 years old; Minnie, 8 years old and Freddie, 2 years old. It was a two-story frame structure and was used both as a saloon and dwelling.

On the ground floor were three rooms, the bar-room, dining room and kitchen, and on the upper story were four rooms which were supposed to be occupied as living apartments and bedrooms. The events of Tuesday brought out the fact that in one of the upper rooms Schrell had set up a rude, but complete, distillery and was actively engaged in the production of bad whiskey.

The neighbors flocked into the house and found the interior of the upper story wrecked. The partitions were blown out and the plastering was stripped from the walls, and the sky could be seen through a dozen rents where the sidings had been torn loose from the beams at the top.

In one of the rear rooms of the upper story Schrell was found frightfully scalded. His hair and whiskers were burned off and his face was a mass of blisters and was swollen to twice its natural proportions. His arms from the ends of his fingers to his shoulders were in the same condition. He was blinded, and was wandering aimlessly around amid the wreckage of the room.

In the adjoining room the two youngest children were found in bed and unconscious. The bed had been hurled across the room and rested close to the edge where the siding of the house had been blown out. If the bed had been two feet further it would have toppled over into the back yard. The children were taken to a neighbor's house and as soon as possible to the Flushing hospital. There it was found that they were scalded from head to foot, and that Freddie had inhaled some of the steam and would probably die. Both were in a critical condition last night. The other child and Mrs. Schrell were not injured.

Meanwhile, Schrell, who had recovered his mental balance, had been busy up stairs in the wrecked building, and he and his wife had emptied two barrels of new liquor, which had been stored in one of the rooms. The liquor flowed down the stairway and through the cracks in the floor, flooding the hall and the rooms below, and filling the whole house and the surrounding neighborhood with a sickening smell of alcohol and the fumes of fusel oil.

Schrell was taken to the Raymond street jail in Brooklyn. He moved to Bayside from Maspeth about eighteen months ago.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, March 15, 1895, p. 1.

He Had a Whisky Diet

New York, 1895

HOW A SICK MAN LIVED DURING SIX HEALTHY DAYS.

He Consumed Ten Quarts of Whisky and Sixteen Quarts of Milk, Took Seventy-five Cents' Worth of Medicine, and Ate Ten Dollars' Worth of Victuals.

Otto Buhler, who keeps a saloon somewhere in Morris Park, has sent a peculiar bill to the Board of Health. Buhler had a man working for him named Soney. Soney fell sick. Buhler did not report the case to the Overseer of the Poor, but proceeded to take care of the sick man himself, and the way he did it is illustrated by the items in his bill, as follows:

[see above graphic]

The patient appears to have had a robust appetite in spite of his illness. What he was ill of doesn't appear. In six days he required but 75 cents worth of medicine, and in the same time he consumed $10 worth of victuals. But the most extraordinary thing about the bill is the quantities of whisky and milk that he consumed.

On the first day he consumed three pints of whisky and three quarts of milk. He must have been a great deal sicker on the second day, for he added a pint of whisky and cut off a quart of milk. Three pints of whisky and three quarts of milk served to keep him alive on the third day. On the fourth day he had need of more whisky than milk and took them in the proportion of three and two. On the fifth day he consumed the life saver in equal proportions, three and three, and then he must have had a serious relapse, for the sixth and last day of his illness it was necessary to supply him with four pints of whisky and three quarts of milk. He consumed altogether ten quarts of whisky and 16 quarts of milk, an average consumption of four and a half quarts a day.

He got no medicine at all until the last day, according to the bill.

How a sick man could get away with four and a half quarts of liquor and milk each day, and $1.67 worth of food each day, perhaps Mr. Buhler can explain. The quality of the whisky must have varied, for the cost of it differs on different days.

In his well days Soney ought to be able to eat a load of hay, or drink a brewery dry.

No charge is made for nursing the sick man. Mr. Buhler must have forgotten this service.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, Feb. 22, 1895, p. 1.

Drank His Pepsin Straight

1895

His Mild Hypocrisy Brought Trouble to a Pillar of the Church.

There is now living in one of the hotels of Indianapolis a rather prominent business man who, although a pillar in the church he attends and a fervent disciple of temperance when he is called upon to address a meeting, yet rather admires the shade of liquor when it is red. Now, this same man got the idea somewhere that he really needed a good, stiff bracer of whisky before each meal, and after pondering over several schemes in the hope of arriving at something which would keep the snap concealed he fixed it with the clerk that he was to have sent to the room at a certain hour each day a silver pot in which was concealed a glass of "pepsin," as it was christened for the occasion. And this went into effect. Before each meal the bellboy would be sent up by the clerk with a pot of "pepsin."

One day the head clerk was very busy, and, as he saw it was the time for sending up the liquor, he turned to another clerk and told him to send up Mr. ——'s pepsin right away. And it so happened that the new clerk wasn't on to the scheme, and so he called a bellboy, sent him into the drug store and told him to have prepared a stiff dose of the real pepsin and take it up to the room designated. The bellboy afterward told what he saw. The gentleman met him at the door with a benign smile and lordly air of condescension.

"Ah, my boy," said he as he wiped his mouth with his tongue, "you have brought my pepsin, I see. You are a good boy. I'll just drink it right here while my wife is getting ready for dinner."

He turned the glass into the air, opened his throat and threw back his face. Just here the bellboy isn't clear as to what happened. He at first said that the man gave a gasp of horror and shouted that he was poisoned by enemies who were jealous of his social successes, and then the boy remembers that somebody's foot came in contact with his trousers and he began going down stairs at a most terrible rate.

It seems clear that the business man did make his appearance in the office a few minutes later and asked what kind of pepsin that was he had been given. The new clerk replied that it had been bought at the drug store. But just then the head clerk came up, and the whole thing was explained. Real pepsin was too much for the old man's digestion. — Indianapolis Sentinel.

Like Jesse James, All But The Horse

1920

Tippler Hurls a Parting Shot at the Booze Bandit.

One of those present at the funeral of John Barleycorn was a negro who entered a saloon in St. Louis, Mo., and called for a drink of whisky. He laid down a dollar bill. The bartender rang up 50 cents and handed back the change. After glancing at the change and then at the register, the negro called for "another drink of the same."

He drank it and pushed over the half dollar. The bartender rang up the 50 cents, smiled and stood at attention.

"Are you the boss?" inquired the negro.

"Sure."

"Have you got a horse?"

"No, why?"

"Well, Jesse James had a horse," said the negro, turning on his heel and departing.



Found It So

Molly — "Our doctor told me today that hammocks are not good for one."
Cholly — "He's right, dear; they're not good for one, but they're all right for two."

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Jan. 3, 1920, p. 13.

At Last! Substitute for Booze Is Found

1920

Good Music Takes Place of Whisky, Says Pianist.

It's here! That long sought substitute for John Barleycorn has been found — and just in the nick of time. Hereafter, when the gentleman with the lustrous nose gets that longing that used to lead to the family entrance, all he'll have to do is to start the phonograph.

For music not only soothes the savage beast, but takes the place of fine whisky, declares Moses Bogulawski, the great Russian pianist in Chicago. He urges it as the social and industrial fire extinguisher of the future.

"The economic cancer with which the world is confronted now can be easily treated with music as the healing spirit," he declares. "The laboring classes have lost their curse — liquor — but good music can take its place. Beautiful tunes will put in harmony the world chaos and will soon become more popular with the laboring man than liquor was in days of yore. Good music should thus be compulsory in our homes and schools."

Professor Bogulawski also stated that social and moral conditions could be improved by the greater diffusion of a good quality of music.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Jan. 3, 1920, p. 7.

Bay Rum Has Them Barking Like Dogs

1920

Many Weird Ways to Evade Liquor Law Reported

Embalming Fluid and Rain Water Are Sold for Whisky at Immense Profit

Clamping of the prohibitive lid on the saloons and purveyors in various brands of intoxicating liquors has brought forth some strange and amusing schemes — amusing to all but the victims — by which professional and amateur "con" men have been enabled to bamboozle hundreds Of easy marks into purchasing even dirty rainwater at six or more dollars a quart. For instance. three clever "slickers" are under arrest in Chicago for selling John Lamorec two barrels of rainwater for $1,500. He was a victim of the ingenious "funnel game" which relies for its success on the fact that what comes out of the bung may not be a true sample of the entire contents.

Buffalo, N. Y., reports that three women and two men are in a hospital there, the result of a murderous swindle. A bootlegger sold them embalming fluid for whisky. It was diluted with vanilla extract. One of the women was unconscious for thirty-six hours and is in a serious condition.

Made Them Bark Like Dogs

Adam Rufnagle and George Crowley, two Cincinnati pals, couldn't get anything else, so they drank bay rum; they made such a row in their room that the police were called in. They were found crawling about the floor and barking like dogs.

Theft of nine barrels of sacramental wine was reported to the New York police by a wholesale liquor dealer. The theft was accomplished, he said, by siphoning the wine from his basement to an adjoining cellar by means of a seventy-five-foot pipe. The owner had a special permit from the Government to keep the wine in bond to be sold for religious purposes only.

Recently there has been a rush in Army stores in Baltimore for vanilla and lemon extracts, fair sized bottles being sold for 15 cents. Investigation turned attention to the extracts and the sale has been stopped.

"Deadly Bomb" Contains Booze

What was declared to be a "deadly bomb," brought to Los Angeles by a special agent of the Tucson division of the Southern Pacific, who suspected an attempt to wreck the Golden State Limited as he picked up the thing near Yuma, when pierced by a bullet fired at a safe distance gave forth the aroma of whisky, thus exposing the wiles of Arizona bootleggers.

Nathan Barrow of Uniontown, Pa., was charged by Harry Green with the theft of five hams. Barrow declared had been listening to a phonograph playing "I've Got the Alcoholic Blues" and, being in sympathy with the song, he fell. Asked to sing it, Barrow did, and the jury freed him.

Cured by Horse Liniment

Wesley Duke of Watertown, N. Y., found a chest of medicines left in his uncle's barn by a traveling veterinary, and, discovering that one of the larger bottles was suggestive of an alcohol [*bottle, drank the] contents. The stuff was a patented horse liniment, and Wesley was barely snatched from death's door. "It, was an awful nightmare," he says, describing his sensations when delirious, during which he imagined he was a two-minute trotter pitted against a fast thorobred runner.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Jan. 3, 1900, p. 2.

*Note: That in brackets is missing in the original article and is suggested by the context.

Wisecracks About the News

1911

That New York person who shot himself five times and failed to kill himself will probably die some day of the pip. You never can tell.

A Washington man has started suit for $300,000 for the loss of his wife. All of which leads us to remark that she must have been some wife.

"In the future," says Doctor Wiley, "the air will furnish heat, fuel and power." It might do so right now if some way to extract the coal from it could be found.

That Kansas City man, as we understand the case, did not want a divorce merely because his wife smoked, but on account of what she smoked.

Europe's wine shortage this year is said to be the greatest for a century. Still there will no doubt be enough for us who buy it only for medicinal purposes.

A writer in the New York Medical Journal says whisky is not a cure for snake bite, but kindly refrains from expressing an opinion as to its suitability for fish bait.

Flashed Wife's Pass for Girl Companion

1920

Brakeman and "Other Woman" Fined $300 for Fraud

DES MOINES, Iowa — C. G. Graham, special inspector for the Rock Island road, returned from Ottumwa, where he ran down a pair using a railroad pass fraudulently. He has prosecuted several of these cases and has many others to investigate.

In the Ottumwa case a brakeman at Eldon named Vandevere and a girl from Fairfield named Linn were fined $300 each by Judge Wade for using the pass of the wife of Vandevere for Miss Linn.

The girl was introduced to conductors as his wife by Vandevere, who is a former service man and has a wife and child at Eldon.

Vandevere denied entertaining more than friendship for the girl, and she testified she was living on the savings she had made when employed in a store. The judge gave them permission to pay the fine $50 a month.


Masked Gang Raids Liquor Warehouse

LEXINGTON, Kentucky — Seven men, masked with handkerchiefs, raided the old Tarr distillery warehouse here and, at the point of revolvers, forced two guards to unlock the warehouse. The gang stole ninety-four cases of whisky seized last January at Versailles, Kentucky.

Can't Stop a Woman From Changing Mind

1920

Girl's Damage Suit is On, Then Off, Now On Again

SAN FRANCISCO, California — As no one, not even a judge of the Superior Court, has the authority to question a woman's unalienable right to change her mind, no exception can be taken to Miss Helen Woodbury's indecision.

Recently Miss Woodbury, who is a stenographer, filed a $5,000 damage action against Mrs. Caroline Leebold alleging that Mrs. Leebold had enticed her to her apartment and then beaten her.

A few days later Miss Woodbury filed notice she wanted to dismiss the action. Now she has filed notice saying she wants to prosecute her damage suit.


Neighbors' Noses Scent Raisin Still

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — Led by the suspicions of neighbors and unusual odors, Michael Johannes, city detective, and police operatives raided the home of T. O. Bailys, where they said they secured a still, two barrels of raisin whisky and eight barrels of raisin mash. The still and liquor were found on the second floor of the house, police said.

In the same room, according to the officers, was a quantity of apples, oranges and prunes, cut up and ready for use in the manufacture of a new various of liquor.

Monroe Man's Honey Barrel Discovered

New York, 1911

Bees Make 250 Pounds in Receptacle in His Cellar

Monroe, Feb. 2, (Special) — John R. Hayes, who owns a house on the main street of this village with the conservatory of E. H. Welling, the meat marketman, in the rear came across an unexpected find in the cellar of his home yesterday. Mr. Hayes found a barrel of honey there of which he had been totally unaware that he was the owner.

Mr. Hayes kept a discarded cider barrel in the cellar uncorked, the bunghole being on one side, in the middle. Before it held the cider, the barrel had been filled with whiskey. It has been empty since the early part of last summer. Since the cold weather set in Mr. Hayes has been keeping a fire burning in the cellar furnace and, on going down to heap on some more coal yesterday, was surprised to see bees in a semi-comatose state crawling around on the floor. This led him to investigate the contents of the barrel. He was surprised to find that he could scarcely move it, — it was so heavy.

With an axe he broke in a slat on one end. That slat did not move more than an inch, something offering resistance from the inside. On removing the slat he was surprised to find that the one end of the barrel was entirely filled with honey. He took out a number of combs, for use at his table, and two pounds to the office of the local newspaper for the use of the editor and his family. The honey is said to be excellent although slightly darker than the usual and flavoring a little of cider.

To your correspondent yesterday, Mr. Hayes said with evident glee that he was assured of a supply of honey for an indefinite time. He said he would leave the barrel where it was and that the bees would undoubtedly continue to increase the stock of honey there next summer. Meantime Mr. Hayes can replenish his table from the one end of the barrel replacing the slat after taking out each supply. He says he has no idea where the bees came from unless it be from the skips of Robert Ashman, a neighbor, who keeps bees. Mr. Hayes believes that there are altogether about 250 pounds of honey in the barrel. He is to have a local apiarist, Edward Rake, examine the bees as he thinks they are of an unusual or excellent breed — probably Italian.

—Orange County Times-Press, Middletown, NY, Feb. 3, 1911, p. 10.

Asleep on Card Table, Man Has Coughing Fit, Dies

Iowa, 1901

DIES ON A CARD TABLE

WILLIAM HANNAH'S DEMISE IN DELMONICO CLUB ROOMS

So Sudden Was His Passing That Those In the Room With Him Knew Nothing of It Until the Man Was In His Death Struggles — Leaves the Text of a Sermon Written In His Note Book

Several men were gathered in the club room over the Delmonico early yesterday morning. One was lying asleep on the table. Several others had just been out for a lunch, and on returning to the room one of them had brought in with him a very large Newfoundland dog, the big shaggy animal making himself at home near the stove. Suddenly a loud coughing or choking was heard, and Osborn Reynolds cried "Put that dog out. This room is too warm for him."

"It's not the dog; it's 'Ditch,' answered one of the men.

"Wake him up, boys," and two or three of them hurried over to the table to do so.

"My God! He's dead," they cried and the limp form was allowed to fall back. The face was of chalky whiteness, and it was not necessary to call a physician to learn that life had fled, though, of course, a physician was speedily, but uselessly called.

Thus, lying on a card table in a saloon club room, William Hannah died. Not the slightest warning had he; probably not a moment of conscious suffering. His heart had filled up with blood and then refused to work. It was all so sudden that the men about the corpse could hardly realize what had happened.

There was considerable difficulty yesterday in identifying the dead man. He was known to several people but only as "Ditch," this peculiar nickname coming from the fact that he worked at laying tile when he worked at all. The remains were taken to the Boies' undertaking parlors and during the forenoon Coroner Fred Lambach conducted an autopsy. In the afternoon the coroner's inquest was held and a verdict was rendered that William Hannah came to his death by cardiac paralysis. The coroner's jury consisted of M. J. Scandrett, William Schwarnweber, and O. K. Wilson.

A Dead Man's Sermon

"There's no fool like an old fool," wrote Hannah in his note book not long ago, and the quotation is the text of a sermon that the dead man is preaching to his fellow creatures. The rest of his sermon is found in the story of his life. It developed at the inquest that not many months ago William Hannah had come into the possession of some money, inherited from an eastern relative. He came to Davenport and spent most of his time about a card table. At first he was successful. He did not play heavily, but he won, and he grew to love the game. Men who knew him say it was a study to watch the face of "Ditch" when he was handling the pasteboards. It often made them forget their own game. But there came a time when "Ditch" didn't win. Every bit of his money was gone. He had been known to the police for the past two weeks as "broke," and when Dr. Lambach examined his stomach at the autopsy yesterday morning it was learned that no food had been eaten in the last 24 hours. It was probably during this period that the text was written in the note book.

System Much Deranged

Though to outward appearance Hannah was a healthy man, the autopsy showed that his system was very much disordered. His stomach was what is known as a "whisky stomach," though there was no testimony to show that he was a hard drinker. His kidneys were in bad shape. His right lung had grown to his side as the result of an attack of pluerisy. His liver gave evidence of a disease from which few men recover, and all tended to weaken his heart.

At the inquest testimony was taken from Captain Fred Hitchcock, Michael Rourke, P. Phelan. Ed Neils, W. H. Costello, John Cahil, Dr. Porter, who was called at the time of Hannah's death, and Os Reynolds, the proprietor of the place where the man died. From the testimony it was learned that Hannah had been in Gallagher's place in the early evening, that he had gone to the Delmonico about 12 o'clock, and had fallen asleep upon the card table, a habit that he had been more or less regular in of late. No one took any particular notice of him until the fatal coughing fit attracted them.

Hannah had previously lived at Williamsburg, Ia., where it is understood he has a sister. He carried photographs of two men, one young and the other old. He had told some of his acquaintances that they were his brother and father, and lived in California. The dead man was about 35 years of age.

—Davenport Daily Republican, Davenport, Iowa, Feb. 17, 1901, p. 7.

Happy the Newsboy Drunk, Like A Jungle Lion

Olean, New York, 1922

GETS PLENTY OF LIQUOR AT $.25 A SHOT

However, two nips are two too many for "Happy" North Union street "sing song boy"

If there are any among the many "hootch hounds" of Olean who crave for action, and are of the opinion that the city is lacking in this "virtue," they of the doubt, may lay aside their worries and find plenty of the above mentioned action, and all for the sum of 50 cents. At least that's the opinion of "Happy" Calkins, a vendor of newspapers and a familiar figure on Union and State streets.

Happy told Judge Keating when arraigned in police court this morning on a charge of intoxication that he had obtained sufficient action in the Ross block in North Union street to last him for an indefinite period. "I only had two drinks of whiskey at 25 cents a drink," Happy stated, "and within 15 minutes after drinking it I felt like a jungle lion full of lust for battle, and believe me Judge, Jack Dempsey couldn't have knocked me out."

Pleading forgiveness for the offense, Happy, a very penitent prisoner, was permitted his freedom with a 60-day suspended sentence hanging over his head.

The next time he gets in jail it means a trip to Little Valley, Judge Keating warned the newsboy.

—Olean Evening Herald, Olean, NY, May 11, 1922, p. 4.

Two Hillbillies from Tennessee Lickered Up

1916

Pilfered Some Whiskey, Then "Lickered Up" — One Sent to Juvenile Court

Two hillbillies from sunny Tennessee graced the court of Mayor Lowrey this morning. They were Charles Pelfry and James Ivey charged with disorderly conduct. The disorderly conduct was really petit larceny as they were arrested for stealing a pint of milk, a pint of whiskey and other articles from a boarding house.

Charles Pelfry's case was called first. When the tall mountaineer gave his age 16, the mayor was much surprised. He had no recourse but to send him over to the juvenile court. He came here in August and has had employment. The boy admitted taking the whiskey.

James Ivey was next called. He is 22 years old and also a native of Tennessee. He came to this city first with a carnival company. His brother, John Ivey, was the Wild Man of Borneo, in the carnival. James remained in Mansfield and worked. Later he returned to Chattanooga and upon his return brought the mountain youth with him. Ivey said he reckoned they had been drinking.

Pelfry told the juvenile court, "I wasn't plumb drunk, because I worked all night." He says he does not drink moonshine because they do not make it in his part of the state. He admitted he had "lickered up" some since he came to this city. The boy will be put on probation and an effort will be made by Judge Cummins to get his job back for him.

—Mansfield News, Mansfield, Ohio, Oct. 21, 1916.

Man Lives Without Stomach — Predigested Food

1909

Man Lives Without Stomach

NEW YORK — William Smith, whose stomach was removed three weeks ago in the Bushwick Hospital, Brooklyn, has left the institution cured, the surgeons say. There is no reason why Smith cannot live, it is said, and his only handicap will be that he can eat nothing except predigested foods.


Stove Discharged Rifle

EVANSVILLE, Indiana — A stove, which Mrs. Mary Gregory was trying to set up this afternoon fell against a loaded rifle in the corner. The weapon was discharged and Mrs. Gregory was shot in the abdomen and is said to be dying tonight.


Whisky is 86 Years Old

SPENCER, Indiana — Workmen engaged in tearing down the old Owen County courthouse found a gallon jug of whisky, 86 years old, buried in a crevice in the foundation stones under the building. The liquor is in possession of the county auditor, who has purchased a spoon preparatory to dealing the liquid out to county officials and others.


Hurled From Auto Into Tree

NEW YORK — When a speeding automobile struck a tree near Coney Island five men were in the machine, but after the accident the ambulance physicians found only four men, all of whom had suffered broken ribs or other injuries. When one of the four recovered consciousness he inquired for the fifth member of the party and a search revealed an unconscious man hanging over a limb of a tree, to which he had been hurled by the collision.

Dr. Z.V. Purdy, Logansport, Indiana, Nearly 104 Years Old

Riverdale, Illinois, 1915

NEARLY 104 YEARS OLD

Still Enjoys a "Shot" and a Chew of Tobacco

Dr. Z. V. Purdy, who resides near Logansport, Ind. returned home Wednesday after a five weeks visit with his son J. Purdy of Harvey. The doctor will be 104 years old if he lives until next March. He was born at Harper's Ferry Virginia, March 5, 1812. He practiced medicine for many years in Kentucky and Indiana before retiring some years ago. He is quite strong for one of his years; his mind is clear and his hearing and eyesight good. The scribe had the pleasure of quite a chat with the old gentleman last Wednesday morning while he was waiting for the Panhandle train at Riverdale. He was accompanied by his sons J. W. of Star City, Ind., and J. Purdy of Harvey. He served nearly six years in the army and carries a silver mounted cane presented to him by Gen. W. T. Sherman at the close of the war.

The doctor takes a little stimulant of whisky toddy about four times a day and always keeps his plug of tobacco handy and uses it frequently. He says he has never taken any great care of his health, but lives "one day like another" and expects to live for many years yet. He is still interested in current events but likes to talk of the old days and can remember dates very clearly.

The scribe has heard and read about people a hundred years old, but this was our first experience to meet and greet a person of that great age. Wonder how many of our subscribers know a man or woman 100 years old. Write us about it if you do.

—The Pointer, Riverdale, Illinois, December 24, 1915, page 1.

Prison for Poison Booze Men

1920

HARTFORD, Conn. — Nathan Salzberg was given a prison sentence of from eight to twelve years, Frank Rose three to five years, Saul Joseph three to five years, and Jacob Bronerwine one to three years. The four were charged with the sale of wood alcohol whiskey which resulted in thirteen deaths here at Christmas time.


Three Robbers Get $368,250

Two Safes Are Blown After They Chloroform the Watchman

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Police authorities said they had no clue to the identity of three men who during the night chloroformed, bound and gagged a watchman and robbed two safes in an office building of $368,250 in securities, of which $118,000 are negotiable.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, March 20, 1920, page 1.

He Walloped 8 Men, But the Ninth One...

1920

"Thought a Mule Kicked Me," Man Tells Judge Next Day

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Thomas Fisher, a railroad brakeman, drank something and entered the lists. He met eight men. He hit seven men. Seven men hit the sidewalk and the eighth fled when Fisher's fist missed his nose and knocked his hat into the street.

Another was approaching out of the darkness.

"I'm a wild man," announced Fisher, "and I'm looking for a person named Dempsey."

"I'm G. E. King of the vice squad," replied the newcomer, "and I'm looking for wild women, but maybe I can accommodate you."

"I was going fine until a horse kicked me," Fisher told Judge John M. Kennedy the next day in the North Side Court. "It was the first drink I ever took, judge, and it was some of this prohibition whiskey."

"It wasn't a bad night's work," returned the court. "Discharged."

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, March 20, 1920, page 1.