March 5, 1931: OPERATORS OF LARGEST STILL EVER UNCOVERED IN PORTER COUNTY TO FACE TRIAL FRIDAY

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on March 5, 1931.

OPERATORS OF LARGEST STILL EVER UNCOVERED IN PORTER COUNTY TO FACE TRIAL FRIDAY

A Porter county farmer and two Chicago men who were arrested by Sheriff Burney Maxwell and federal officers in a raid last October which revealed the existence of the largest still ever confiscated in the county since the prohibition law was enacted, will face trial before Judge Thomas W. Slick in United States district court at Hammond Friday morning.

Ernest Wheeler is the owner of the farm, seven miles northwest of Valparaiso, and a mile south of State Road Six, where the raiding party found in a cow barn a 300-gallon still, and 15,000 gallons of mash.

Wheeler and Charles O’Caverna and Atillo Boffa, of Chicago, were placed under arrest and later taken to Hammond for arraignment before United States Commissioner S.C. Dwyer. All three-men were released under bonds.

The still found by the officers was the largest found in the Calumet region as far as is known. It stood seven feet high and was capable of producing 300 gallons of alcohol every twenty-four hours, officers said. In the barn were found nine vats. Three of the vats were filled with sugar mash while the others were empty. Each vat had a 5,000-gallon capacity, the raiders said.

Wheeler will be represented in federal court by Attorney James J. McGarvey, of Valparaiso.

March 2, 1931: SHERIFF MAXWELL IS NOW THE OWNER OF FARM THAT HAS BEEN FAMILY ESTATE FOR 80 YEARS

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on March 2, 1931.

SHERIFF MAXWELL IS NOW THE OWNER OF FARM THAT HAS BEEN FAMILY ESTATE FOR 80 YEARS

A realty transaction that had many unique features surrounding it was consummated Saturday in this city when deed to fifty acres of land in Pleasant township, owned by James A. Hollandsworth, was acquired by Burney Maxwell, sheriff of Porter county.

The land in question had been in the Hollandsworth family for nearly eighty years, Mr. Hollandsworth’s mother buying it and entering the government patent when she obtained title.

During those four score years the land has never been encumbered with a mortgage, no judgements have been entered against it, and there have been no delinquent taxes or liens of any kind.

Sheriff Maxwell’s home is in Pleasant township. He has owned a small tract near the Hollandsworth property for a number of years. Whether the sheriff is looking ahead to the time he will retire from office, planning to take up farming, or merely purchased the old homestead as an investment, is not known. Right now the sheriff is so busy handly the Kirkland trial that he can’t be approached on incidental subjects.

Mother and Father At Kirkland’s Side

Rough as has been the going of his trial, which today entered its second week, with the state still placing witness after witness on the stand to condemn him and perhaps send him to the electric chair for his part in the murder of Arlene Drives, pretty Gary school girl, Virgil Kirkland, the first of the five Gary youngmen of the five Gary young men to face a jury as the result of the wild gin party of last November, has the consolation of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Kirkland, pictured here in the Porter county circuit court chambers here during a recess. To the Kirklands, Virgil is still “their boy,” the victim of prohibition liquor and the “loose times.” pictured below is Mrs. David Thompson, at whose home, in Glen Park, Gary, the fatal party was held. Her husband is one of the four other defendants, awaiting trial for their parts in the death of the Draves girl.

Jan. 9, 1931: IF YOU SEE JOE TELL HIM ABOUT THIS Sheriff Burney Maxwell Seeks Locate Former Operator of Notorious Resort on Old Count.

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on January 9, 1931.

IF YOU SEE JOE TELL HIM ABOUT THIS

Sheriff Burney Maxwell Seeks Locate Former Operator of Notorious Resort on Old Count.

Where is Joe Manuro, alias Joseph Locrasto, once reputed Gary underworld vice lord, and former operator of the notorious Roamer Inn, on Dunes Highway?

Sheriff Burney Maxwell would like to learn Locrasto’s present whereabouts, so he can apprise him that he must serve thirty days in Porter county jail for violating a restraining order issued back in 1925 by Judge H.H. Loring, of Porter circuit court.

The supreme court recently acted on Locasto’s appeal and affirmed the decision of the local court that Locrasto must serve thirty days in jail and pay a $100 fine and costs.

But Joe’s absence from his old familiar haunts is holding up the carrying out of the punishment.

Sheriff Maxwell visited Gary and other places where Joe usually is found, but could not locate him. Gary police reported they had not seen Joe in several fortnights.

The last time the sheriffs glimpsed Joe was several months ago and he jokingly asked when he was going to serve that old sentence.

“That has all been fixed up,” Locrasto told the sheriff.

Last summer, federal agents were investigating Joe with the purpose of deporting him. The move has never crystallized into real action as yet.

Locrasto was arrested on numerous occasions by Porter county officials while in charge of the famous Roamer Inn. Once a padlock was placed on the resort, but the Mid-City bank, of Gary, which had a mortgage on the place, obtained an order dissolving it.

It is believed Locrasto thought this action also knocked out his conviction for violating the injunction, but this was slapped on before the order was vacated.

The question now is: “Where is Locrasto?” Sheriff Maxwell is anxious to know.