Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 96, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 March 1912 — ALLEGED BLIND TIGER RAIDED [ARTICLE]

ALLEGED BLIND TIGER RAIDED

And Two Bootleggers Landed In Jail <to Await Action of the Circuit Court. Officers Mustard and Critser, armed with a search warrant, found 24 pint bottles of whiskey" in the room over Fred Hemphill’s blacksmith shop Saturday afternoon, and the parties who had leased the room and occupied it as sleeping quarters, Wm. Messenger and Wm. Nordyke, both late of White county, the former from about Lee and the latter from Monticello, were haled before Squire Bruner and in default of SIOO bonds in each case were placed in jail to await action by the circuit court. Messenger is a former convict, having been sent up from Starke county for life some years ago sos killing a man in a drunken row, but was later paroled out. He also got in trouble with game Wardens, at McCoysburg, last fall over shipping prairie chickens out of the state, and. was fined and costed $51.75 in Squire Fay’s court at Parr on a plea of guilty to the charge. His employer, William Johnson of Hanging Grove, stayed the fine for him and $13,75 was later paid by Mbssengeer, who claimed to have frozen his hands and was unable to earn enough during corn husking to liquidate in full when he had promised. •Nordyke is reported to have been in the bootlegging business in White county before coming here, where he is a recent arrival, both at Monon and Monticello and has been convicted theer of the same offense.

The officers have had their eye on Messenger for several days, and Saturday the marshal got George Platt to try to buy some booze from Messenger, which he claims to have done, securing two pint bottles full of whiskey for sl. This was later turned over to the marshal. Others also are said to have purchased whiskey from the pair and their evidence will be used when the time comes.

It is said the pair frequented the pool room and frequent trips to the water closet were made with thirsty customers, and it is thought they were doing a thriving business when thd iron hand of the law descended upon them.

iWhere they got their supplies is not known, but it is likely from Lafayette. Quite a number of empty bottles were found in their room and it is supposed a good business was done there also. There has been a great deal of drunkeness in town of late; but it is scarcely likely , that in apprehending these alleged bootleggers the entire source of supply has been cut off. There are a few other places that it would be weM to keep on eye upon.