Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 60, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 March 1918 — RAINIER CASE TO U. S. ATTORNEY [ARTICLE]

RAINIER CASE TO U. S. ATTORNEY

WYCKOFF SAYS MINISTER MADE THREAT—MAY SELL EXCESS STOCK. Stanley Wyckoff, federal food administrator for Marion county, annouriced today that he would refer to L. Ert Slack, United States district ottorney, the case of the Rev. J. F. Rainer, 2716 Sutherland avenue, Indianapolis, at whose home Mr. Wyckoff yesterday conficated eighteen sacks of flour. Mr. Wyckoff said he would refer the case to the district attorney under Section 6 of the food regulation law, under which the food administrators operate. This section provides that any person who wilfully hoards any necessaries shall, on conviction, *be fined not exceeding $5,000 or be imprisoned for not more than two years or both. Wyckoff said he was visited by the Rainers last night and that they asserted they would “spend SIO,OOO to get his job.”

Wyckoff also announced that persons having in their possession more foodstuffs than are permitted under the law would have the opportunity to give up such foodstuffs, especially flour, and receive the regular price Mrs. Rainer said today that the flour which was conficated was bought before the food regulations became effective. “Just as I have done every year for years,” said Mrs. Rainer, “I bought this flour at sales last summer. We only did what hundreds of others did and had no wrongful or unpatriotic intentions. “Mr. Wyckoff says he is going to send us a check for the vaule of the flour, and when he does we will give the check to the Rea Cross. Our children are buying Thrift Stamps and we are buying " Liberty bonds. If any one had come to us and asked us to share this flour we would certainly have done so.” The Rev. Rainer is pastor of the Heath Memorial M. E. church, and not the Hall Place M. E. church.