Grand Jury to Probe Uni Rum Raid

Title

Date

16 February 1932

Description

Note the different reasons for the raid. Officer Charles Davis makes it seem like a raid simply to get Williams. Wilson says that it was a joint effort between prohibition officers UNL Administration designed for the "mental effect" it would have. This motivation might be questionable. How much mental effect does a raid in an almost empty coliseum in which one ex-student is arrested really have?

Transcription

WILSON WILL TAKE PART IN BARB DANCE INQUIRY

Omaha Dry Agent Says Invasion Planned, Not Accident; Quiz 'Victims' Today
(Picture on Page 2)

LINCOLN. Feb. 15.—After questioning three women arrested with three other persons Saturday night in a liquor raid at the University of Nebraska coliseum, United States Attorney Robert Van Pelt said Monday night he would present evidence in the case to a grand jury here next month.

He hasn't completed his investigation nor decided whether to ask for indictments against all the persons involved.

The women—Miss Lucille Mills, 20, a graduate student; Miss Viola Butts, 26, a former student, and Mrs. N. E. Eliason, wife of a university instructor, denied knowledge of the liquor and said they had just entered the room.

Prof. L. C. Wimberly and Eliason issued statements Monday denying connection with the liquor. They were chaperones at a dance which was just concluding at the time of the raid.

Alan G. Williams, graduate of the university in 1931, is free under $1,000 bond pending the grand jury investigation.

No charges have been filed against the women or the two instructors, who were told to see Van Pelt Tuesday.

Professor Wimberly was to have delivered a charter day address Monday night at Sutton but his place was taken by K. O. Broady.

The "Barb Mixer" all-university dance in the coliseum on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln was raided by federal prohibition agents and Alan Williams, 25, former student, was arrested, on request of the university administration, Charles Davis, Omaha prohibition agent, who led the raiders, said Monday.

"There wasn't a chance for a slip up," said Davis. "We knew just what was there, where it was, and whom we wanted. I wouldn't have missed it for anything."

Williams was released Sunday afternoon on $1,000 bond. He will be arraigned Tuesday before United States Commissioner H. J. Whitmore in Lincoln on charges of possession of liquor.

A pint of whisky and seven quarts of beer were seized in the coliseum. Five gallons of wine were found in Williams' home at 504 North Fourteenth street, Lincoln.

Williams, an active political campaigner against fraternities in the university, frequently was at odds with the administration.

Harold D. "Three Gun" Wilson, deputy prohibition administrator for Nebraska, said he will go to Lincoln Tuesday for the hearing.

"The investigation of conditions at Nebraska university and the raid Saturday night," said Wilson, "were the result of co-operation between enforcement officers and the university administration.

"The administration has been eager for a cleanup."

Wilson said he anticipated comment on his departure from his announced policy that he would "go after" the commercial violator.

"This raid," he asserted, "was not in line with that policy. It was conducted for the mental effect it will have on the college students. We are
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Source

Author: Staff Correspondent, Omaha Bee-News
Title: "Grand Jury to Probe Uni Rum Raid"
Periodical: Omaha Bee-News
volume: 61
pages: 1, 2
16 February 1932
Nebraska State Historical Society, film 071 Omlbn 2872, copy and reuse restrictions apply, http://www.nebraskahistory.org/lib-arch/services/refrence/use_policy.pdf

Rights

To inquire about usage, please contact Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries. These images are for educational use only. Not all images are available for publication.

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