1923-10-11-sc-p22-fine-wheat-queen-on-booze-charge

October 11, 1923 Spokane Daily Chronicle Page 22:

FINE WHEAT QUEEN ON BOOZE CHARGE

DAVENPORT, Wash, Oct, .—Mrs. Josephine Ditmar, familiarly known as the “wheat queen of the Big Bend,” was found guilty of manufacturing intoxicating liquor, following a trial before Justice F. H. McDermont here today. She was fined $500 and given a 60-day suspended jail sentence. Frank Ditmar, her son, was found guilty on a similar charge and was fined $750 and given six months in jail. Notice of appeal to superior court was flied by Mrs. Ditmar and her son, and they were released under $1500 bonds.

Officials testified that they raided the Ditmar farm, south of Reardan, September 13, finding a quantity of moonshine liquor and portions of a still, with five barrels of mash. Mrs. Ray Ramsay, Reardan, testified that Mrs. Ditmar told her she had a still on her farm and would have paid off all her debts in two months if officers had not arrested her. She and her son offered no testimony in their behalf. They were represented by P. C. Shine, Spokane. Justice McDermont berated Frank Ditmar for being the one really responsible for having [attempted to hide behind a woman's skirt.]