In 1913, the republican Ossenberg “machine” backed Bosse’s campaign for mayor of Evansville. They did the same thing in 1916, when they helped Bosse win re-election. However, when prohibition came to Indiana in April 1918, the Ossenbergs abruptly severed their ties with Mayor Bosse, with the elder Ossenberg brother eventually resigning from his position in […]
On July 19, 1919, Sheriff Males and two of his deputies staked out Henderson Road and stopped an automobile returning from Henderson, Kentucky, around two o’clock in the morning. The Sheriff, unable to see who was in the car, walked up and announced that the driver was under arrest. “Good morning, sheriff,” said the occupant. […]
There were accusations of voter fraud by both parties during Evansville’s 1916 election. Indictments were filed against 42 defendants, including Chief of Police Edgar Schmitt, motorcycle officer Ben Bartlett, saloonkeeper Dick Pennington, Jim Boner, and newly appointed detective Ernest Tidrington—the only black detective connected with the Evansville Police Department at the time. U.S. District Court […]
A central figure of the whiskey ring was a character named James “Jim” Boner, described as a gambler and “man about town.” He had connections with city hall that permitted him to operate his saloon and gambling house with impunity as far back as 1901. His friendship with Schmitt went back many years and he […]
The night that twin brothers Claude and Clarence McKinley wrecked their car on Henderson Road, a friendly farmer who lived along the road warned bootleggers that the police were further up the road clearing the wreck. That friendly farmer was Shelby McDowell, who would later become sheriff of Vanderburgh County.
Verne Bennett’s brothel at 333 1st Street was identified, multiple times, as the “Three Trays.” I’ve spent four years wondering why it was so named. Thanks to a sharp reader who suggested that it was actually named the Three “Tres” (Spanish for “three”). Three Tres would literally be 333–the brothel’s address!
Honorable Judge Albert Barnes Anderson of the federal District Court in Indianapolis presided over the Evansville whiskey ring conspiracy case as well as all of the trials arising out of Indiana’s prohibition. This case was by no means the most important case he heard. But, by time he heard the Evansville case, he was quoted […]
Federal prosecutors note: March 11, 1920Vendome Hotel –Willard Seitz – son of George Seitz Oak Hill Road – worked for Swift & Co and operated truck from Henderson with liquor for Vendome & Bosse. Earl Gentry obtained name. #indianahistory #evansvillehistory #evansvilleIN #evansvilleindiana #wideopenevansville #hendersonKY
Federal prosecutors compiled a list of the biggest liquor violators in order to decide who to present to the grand jury. Abe & Sol Cohn operated a grocery store where they sold whiskey under the table. Otto Durre was a “former” saloonkeeper and wholesale liquor dealer who relied on Charles Thompson for his supply of […]
On April 16, 1919 police raided the home of Cal D. Pickerill, 114 Grant Street, and found 49 gallons of whiskey valued at $1,000. The liquor was brought from a Henderson wholesale house in a hired hearse which was seen driving down the levee to the Henderson Wharf boat. One of the Henderson police officers […]
