Forty Dry Raids Made Here

From The Indianapolis Times, Tuesday, December 29 1925:  “Indiana must be dried up” was the ultimatum and for the first time federal prohibition agents concentrated on Indianapolis today.  The biggest liquor raid in the city’s history saw federal officers, deputy sheriffs, and police bust into poolrooms, soft drink parlors, dry beer saloons, drug stores, rooming houses, and private homes with warrants for the arrest of sixty-five persons.  Prisoners were taken to the county jail where friends, relatives, and bondsmen soon appeared asking to see the arrestees but were refused.  Bond may be arranged when the prisoners appear in Criminal Court.  Maximum sentences of six months on the State Farm and $500 (2024:  $9,133) fines will be sought by Prosecutor William Remy. The raids were the culmination of federal agents working secretly for six weeks gathering evidence after months of preparation.

“Forty Dry Raids Made Here,” The Indianapolis Times, 29 December 1925, p. 1:7

Christmas Seal Sale Rapid Here

From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, December 22, 1925:  Sales of Christmas Seals, those little holiday emblems of better health, have exceeded previous years according to the Marion County Tuberculosis Association.  While thousands of citizens are sending in their checks to the Christmas Seal headquarters for their annual sticker supply, sales in downtown booths and branch post offices are surpassing prior totals.  For the first time the post adjutant at Ft. Benjamin Harrison generously organized the distribution of Christmas Seals among the soldiers stationed there and a check for the sale of 10,000 TB stamps has been remitted.  Dr. Alfred Henry, president of the local association, said the organization is seeking to lead all the other larger cities of the country in per capita Christmas Seal sales to establish a child nutrition camp next summer for the care of anemic children.

“Christmas Seal Sale Rapid Here,” The Indianapolis Star, 22 December 1925, p. 10:4

Stephenson Loses in Three Motions

From The Indianapolis News, Saturday, December 12, 1925:  D. C. Stephenson, former Ku Klux Klan Grand Dragon now serving a life sentence in Indiana State Prison for the murder of Madge Oberholtzer, appeared in circuit court at Noblesville today where his attorneys filed motions asking his conviction of second degree murder be vacated and a new trial be granted.  After hearing defense arguments from attorney Floyd Christian, Special Judge Will Sparks overruled the motions as Stephenson, his hair cropped short prison style and attired in an ill-fitting dark gray prison suit, seated at a table in front of the courtroom, puffed out his ruddy hued cheeks, blowing through his lips, as he shook his head.  When court adjourned, prison guards escorted Stephenson to an awaiting automobile for this return to prison.  An appeal to the Indiana Supreme Court is anticipated.  

“Stephenson Loses in Three Motions,” The Indianapolis News, 12 December 1925, p. 1:1