“Jury Is Chosen in Liquor Case”
Stewart, Millionaire of Long Beach, Declared in Canada Rum Plot
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Guaranteed to make "Old Timers" thirsty. The cargo of booze captured in this morning's raid, piled up in front of police station.
[1923-03-22 The Long Beach Telegram] |
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A close up of the same picture showing the assorted brands of the shipment.
[1923-03-22 The Long Beach Telegram] |
Selection
of the jury in the “millionaire booze ring” trial, involving Alexander B.
Stewart, wealthy Long Beach fish packer, and eleven others, was completed today
before Federal Judge McCormick.
Mark L. Heron, government
prosecutor, outlined the state’s case, charging that the ring had a liquor
rendezvous near Topango canyon, and received imported booze from rum ships off
the Santa Barbara islands.
The trial is the outgrowth of a
liquor raid March 22, 1923, at the wharf of Stewart’s packing plant when, it is
alleged, a large quantity of imported drinks was seized.
Herron, continuing his outline,
linked Stewart with activities of Jack Miller, wealthy Canadian liquor dealer.
Government witnesses, Herron said, had seen Stewart driving away from his
packing plant with five cases of Scotch liquor in a sedan.
Changes Plea
Before Stewart received this
liquor, Herron said It had been taken off a Canadian ship near Anacapa Island, in
the Santa Barbara group, and ferried down the coast In a Japanese fishing boat,
captain by J. Nagal.
George Cheney, one of the
defendants who yesterday changed his plea from not guilty to guilty and turned
states witness, was the first person called to the stand.
Cheney said that Lewis and Claud
Dudrey, Oscar Lung, Jack Miller, Larry Talbot and Jerry Knolton, defendants in
the case, came to his Topanga canyon ranch early In 1923 and asked permission
to build a liquor store house about seven miles Inland, on his property.
Stewart Not Seen
They said they would pay him $150
a month rent and 50 cents on every case of liquor stored there, Cheney said. He
agreed to the proposal.
The warehouse was built and about
February first a truck unloaded 260 cases of liquor, the witness said. This was
later taken away in automobiles and the next consignment contained 300 cases.
Cheney said he did not see
Stewart during any of these operations.
