Check Shows Stock in Federal Bldg. Depleted, Sargent Tells Representative La Guardia After Inquiry.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY INFORMED
Ward Told to Take Criminal Action If He Feels It Necessary.
By Roscoe B. Fleming
Times Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, April 13.—The Squibb liquor stock in the Indianapolis Federal Bldg, is 330 cases short, Attorney General Sargent reported to Representative La Guardia, New York, today.
Sargent added that the shortage had been reported to District Attorney Albert Ward in Indianapolis, and that Ward had been instructed to review all the facts and to take criminal action if he felt it necessary.
Sargent’s letter follows a charge made by La Guardia several weeks ago that part of the liquor, transferred from the Squibb distillery in Lawrenceburg, Ind., had been removed from the Indianapolis building, while under charge of Federal Marshal Linus P. Meredith.
Sargent told La Guardia that a supplemental and accurate report based upon a careful Inventory, July 28, 1923, showed 1,445 cases each containing less than twelve quart bottles, a total of 1,453 cases.
“An inventory carefully made by an examiner under the department and the United States marshal at Indianapolis, now shows a total of 1,123 cases or a difference of 330 cases,” Sargent added.
“The department has not yet been able to fix responsibility for the disappearance of the 330 eases of liquor and is still engaged in an investigation of the matter,’’ Sargent advised La Guardia.
“A copy of the report of the examiner, A. J. Signaigo, was forwarded to the United States District attorney at Indianapolis, advising him that a considerable quantity of liquor held by the marshal under court order had disappeared while in his custody.
“The district attorney was instructed to review ell the facts and to obtain such other information as was possible, and if he felt that action against any person or persons is warranted he was to take steps to that end immediately.”
LaGuardia added that he felt his own duty in the matter was done, and that the matter was now in the hands of the Department of Justice.
The Squibb liquor was part of the stock of George Remus, convicted Cincinnati bootlegger, and was transferred to Indianapolis during court proceedings against Remus. La. Guardia also pointed out that admission had been made of the purchase of certificates covering other Remus liquor by Matt Hinkle of Cleveland, Ohio, as he also charged in his speech in the House in which the Indianapolis diversion was mentioned.
Sargent’s letter containing the records of the Squibb whisky does not trace its history back beyond Jan. 11, 1923, except to state that 1,467 cases were originally received from Lawrenceburg. Tiffs shows that about fourteen cases had disappeared on Jan. 11, 1923, when 1,453 cases were counted. These were divided as follows: 1,445 cases full, six cases containing from two to ten bottles each, and two cases empty.
The report sets out that on July 8, 1923, Meredith started to destroy liquor, but was advised not to proceed and stopped. The number of bottles destroyed at that time is not known, Sargent said.
On July 21, 1924, it was stated R. Fessler, Federal Bldg., carpenter, reported that the lock on the whisky room had been tampered with. On Jan. 6, 1925, Meredith reported again that the lock had been broken and on May 16, 1925, Ira C. Foxworthy reported boards on the liquor room had been moved.
The Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, IN, April 13, 1926