Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 August 1909 — WAR TO BEGIN ON VICE IN THE CITY OF GARY. [ARTICLE]

WAR TO BEGIN ON VICE IN THE CITY OF GARY.

Reformers, Led By W. H. Hodges, Will Petition Got. 'Marshall to Aid Them in Regulating Conditions There. Gary, Ind., July 29.—Governor Marshall will be called upon to take a hand in the war against vice in Gary, unless there is a change in the attitude of the reformers who raided the "Patch” with the assistance of police from, Hammond this week. A petition circulated today asking the governor to investigate the conduct of the members of the board of trustees of Gary with a view to their removal from office. W. H. Hodges, prosecuting attorney at Gary, and a former resident of Rensselaer, is the leade.r in the reform movement. Another petition seeks the disbarment of Attorneys Harris and Bretch. It is charged they have obtained a monopoly in the defense of cases in the Police Court through a "pull” with the police board and the-police. Other attorneys assert they are not allowed to see prisoners and the only attorneys permitted to talk to prisoners are the members of this one “protected” firm. “We tried at first to fight our battles alone, for fear that if the actual conditions were made public it would hurt the town and lower the value of property,” said one of the reform leaders. “We could do nothing. The board of trustees would not help us nor would the police. “Fortunately, there is a metropolitan system of police in Indiana and the police from Hammond and other cities have power to make arrests in Gary. We called upon the Hammond police and made some raids and expect to make more. As a last resort we are preparing to call upon Governor Marshall for assistance. “After the legalized saloons were shut out about forty blind pigs made their appearnace under police protection—at least they are not interfered with and pay no license to the city. The keepers want to keep out legalized saloons, because they prefer the other system. They hesitate at nothing in their fight against law and order. The house of W. F. Hodges, who assisted in the raids, was burned and he narrowly escaped death. Threatening letters have been received by others. The ."members of the board of trustees who are attacked in the petition are: Thomas F. Knotts, president; Millard F. Caldwell and John E. Zars. They were elected when Gary was only a spot on the map by about eighty votes and have complete control. The reform element in Gary is already crying victory as a result of the voluntary closing yesterday of over half of the “blind tigers” operated in the steel city. Following the fourth consecutive raid, which was on the saloon of Morris Goldman by Prosecuting Attorney Hodges last night, all of the better class of proprietors closed their doors to the public, feeling that it was useless to face further opposition. * In the raid last night a quantity of beer and whiskey was piled up in the Constable Martin and Johnson. Frank Chambers and William Marquardt, while 200 friends of the proprietor gathered in front of the place and Jibed and threatened them with attack. None of them, however, Interfered with the work of the officers. Interest in the city today was centered in the mysterious disappearance of Thomas Wilhelm, who swore out the warrant for the arrest of James Rogers on the charge of gambling, and which resulted in the first raid. Wilhelm was to have been in the Hammond City Court today tq prosecute the case, but failed to make his appearance. A thorough search throughout the city failed to reveal his whereabouts and a fear is ex pressed that he has met with foul play.