Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 92, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1909 — Gary Druggists Arrested For Selling Whiskey By Glass. [ARTICLE]

Gary Druggists Arrested For Selling Whiskey By Glass.

Gary, Ind., Aug.3—ln accord with their assertion that they would suppress all vice in Gary, the local police today took up the crusade and raided two of the largest drug stores in the heart of the city. The raid, which was conducted by Chief of Police Joseph Martin, came as a big surprise to Gary citizens, as it was thought that the police wopld confine their efforts in the “Patch,” where, a short time ago, more than fifty “blind pigs” were in operation. Charles Herboltz, proprietor of the Gary Pharmacy, at Broadway and Sixth avenue, right in the heart of the business district, and the Steel Pharmacy, Fifth avenue and Virginia street, owned by J. Steel of Chicago, were the places raided. These are in the properties of the Gary Land Company, which was thought to be as dry as a tinder box, since the only, two saloons in the first subdivision were closed by remonstrance last April. While Herboltz has been under suspicion as conducting a “blind pig,” not along selling whiskey, but beer, over his soda counter, it was thought that he was wise enough to obey the recent order of Chief Martin. He, too, thought that the police would not molest his place, but would confine their efforts to the foreign district. As a result of Mayor Knotts’ clamping the lid on yesterday, Gary was very dry today. Both Herboltz and Steele openly sold liquor to all those who desired it. This reached the ears of Chief Martin and he detailed two plain-clothes men to their plqces of business about 4 o’clock this afternoon. The two officers ordered whiskey and it was given to them in a soda glass at the fountain. The same proceeding took place at Steele’s pharmacy. A short time afterward Chief Martin, armed with search warrants, invaded the place and found a large keg of whiskey and several cases of beer. The wet goods at Steele’s pharmacy consisted of three kegs of whiskey and a quantity of wine. These were loaded on a wagon and taken to tire police station, where they were destroyed. It is said the matter will be taken before the State Board of Pharmacy and the licenses of the places may be revoked. Although it is still the talk of Gary that Mayor Knotts will observe the state “blue laws” and put the lid on all Sunday, yet the mayor failed to issue such orders among the business men.