1926-10-22-sc-p11-seize-10000-in-booze
October 22, 1926 Spokane Daily Chronicle Page 11:
SEIZE $10,000 IN BOOZE
Sheriff's Deputies Capture Three Men and Woman Unloading Liquors From Car at Dean Station.
Seizure of $10,000 worth of bonded liquor, capture of three men and one woman and the shattering of what is believed to be one of the most extensive and best-financed booze syndicates ever operated in northeastern Washington, were effected in a moonlight raid by the sheriff's deputies early this morning at Dean station, 15 miles north of Spokane on the Great Northern.
The liquor was being unloaded from a box car, where it had traveled from Canada under coal.
Bullets from the guns of deputy sheriffs forced the surrender of three men and a woman, engaged in unloading the booze.
Put Men in Jail.
Joe Pavlich, 38; G. L. Peck, 24, and Jack Peterson, 31, are in the county jail on charges of bootlegging. Cora Smith is held for investigation. Each man is under $1500 bond. Peck has served time for violations of the liquor law, records show.
Four cars, including the Lincoln said to have been the one that caused the death of Dr. George H. Green two Years ago, were confiscated by the sheriff.
Sheriff Brower received information yesterday afternoon that a railroad car, loaded with coal and and liquor, was due to arrive in Spokane last night. Deputies McEwen and Morefield went to the Dean station on the Great Northern railroad, 13 miles north of the city, just after dark and hid in the woods.
They saw a car spotted at the station, waiting while going through the woods, the officers discovered the Smith woman, sitting in an automobile. Nearby were three other parked cars.
“In a short time three men started taking sacks of booze from the box car and transferring them to the autos,” said Deputy McEwen. “In the bright moonlight we could see the men working rapidly. The Lincoln was loaded until the springs were resting on the axles.
“Petersen came right toward me with two sacks in his arms. I stood still until he saw me. He dropped the sacks, yelled and started running. I fired two shots after him. Pavelich surrendered.
"Peck ran right into my arms, and I put the hand cuffs on the two of them"
Deputy Morefield chased Peterson and fired another shot at him.
"Re ran like a deer until he stumbled and fell.," said Morefield. "I was on top of him before he could get up and after a short struggle put the cuffs on him."
Find Guns in Cars
The woman mad no attempt to escape, the officers said. Sheriff Brower and deputies Harker, Troyer, Devereaux and Hadley were waiting near By and came upon the scene after the two deputies had captured the prisoners.
“In one of the cars we found a carbine rifle and an automatic revolver,” the sheriff stated.
“We took the cuffs off the prisoners and started them digging in the coal for more liquor, They brought out case after case. It was dark in the ear, and our flashlight batteries gave out after they had dug out more than 100 cases.”
“I locked the box car and put it under a heavy guard. Harker and Hadley were sent out today to continue the search for liquor.”
"Disclose Smugglers’ Methods."
The sheriff had information the car, was billed from the Crow's Nest Coal company at Fernie, B. C., and was consigned to Grand Forks, B. C.
“It is my theory that this is the newest method of smuggling booze over the line,” said the sheriff. “The coal in these liquor-running boxcars ix never actually unloaded, but is shipped back and forth between the United States and Canada as a blind.”
“I believe this capture will break up one of the most powerful and best-financed booze rings operating in northeastern Washington.”
Choice Liquors Included.
It was 2 a. m. when the sheriff arrived at the jail with his prisoners and the booze, The liquor included 56 cases of bonded whisky and other rare liquor, and 57 cases of beer. Among the different kinds of liquors were five cases of Dewar's extra special Scotch whisky, nine cases of Gordon gin, eight cases of John Haig whisky, two cases of rum, 14 cases of Old Hermitage whisky, five cases of Huntley's blend whisky, one case of Three Star Hennessey cognac, one case Dewar's Ne Plus whisky, two cases Grant's special whisky, one case imported French wine, two cases port wine, two cases Mumm's extra dry champagne, one case Darcardi wine, one case Gold Bond Scotch whisky, one case Plymouth gin, and one case special select rye whisky,
Peck told the sheriff he had traveled as an armed guard for the carload of booze since it left Canada.
"In Montana I had a hot gun battle with hijackers," Peck said. "They attempted to seize the liquor and I drove them off after we had exchanged several shots.
DEPUTY SHERIFFS CAPTURE HUNDREDS OF BOTTLES OF CHOICE LIQUORS
Four Automobiles Also Included in Rich Haul North of Spokane Early This Morning —$10,000 Worth of Booze Piled Up in Sacks
[photo]
Revolver shots split the silence at Dean station early this morning when Sheriff Brower and deputies seized $10,000 worth of bonded liquors, captured three alleged bootleggers, confiscated four automobiles and broke up what is believed to be a powerful booze syndicate. The sacks of liquor found under coal in a box car, are shown here piled in the yard of the court house.
The officers (left to right) are: Deputy Ivan Morefield, Deputy "Scotty" McEwen, Sheriff Floyd Brower, Deputy "Doc" Devereaux and Deputy Roy Troyer.
[photo]
The other picture shows the captured machines. That at the left, a Lincoln, two years age caused the death here of Dr. George H. Green. The third car from the left, a Dodge, has a false bottom for smuggling liquor.
