Project Editor: Jeffrey Miller, History 470: Digital History, Spring 2008

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Grand Jury to Probe Uni Rum Raid

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WILSON WILL TAKE PART IN BARB DANCE INQUIRY

Omaha Dry Agent Says Invasion Planned, Not Accident; Quiz 'Victims' Today

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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RAID DANCE AT U.'S REQUEST

striving for that effect rather than for apprehension of the campus violator and confiscation of liquor."

He described the raid as a "minor affair," and said the very smallness of the amount of liquor seized "makes apparent the fact that little drinking was being done." Conditions on the campus, he said, are "good rather than bad."

"The university administration has taken cognizance of this condition (of violation) and has worked with my men for some time toward its elimination," he said.

FIVE FREED

Five persons taken to the Lincoln police station with Williams were released later without charges against them.

They are Lowry C. Wimberly, associate professor of English at the university; Mr. and Mrs. Norman Eliason and two young women. Prof. Wimberly is editor of the midwest culture magazine, Prairie Schooner. Williams formerly was business manager. Eliason is instructor in the English department.

"So far as Prof. Wimberly and the others are concerned," said Mr. Wilson, "it is unfortunate that they were on hand. I have no official interest in them."

Williams, in Lincoln, refused, on advice of his attorney, to talk. He said he felt "sorry" for his girl friend, Viola Butts of Omaha, one of the two girls taken to the station.