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

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TWO TEACHERS TAKEN IN RAID ARE SUSPENDED

Regents Drop Pair From University Faculty Until Next Fall.

CONNECTION WITH LIQUOR DENIED

Wimberly Will Continue Work As Editor Of Prairie Schooner.

As a result of a liquor raid on the University of Nebraska coliseum a week ago Saturday night, Dr. L. C. Wimberly, professor of English, and N. E. Eliason, instructor of English, have been suspended until September 1, 1932, Chancellor Burnett announced Wednesday noon.

Action was taken by the board of regents who heard the testimony of raiding officers and the two faculty members at a special meeting Tuesday.

Dr. Wimberly, however will continue as editor of the Prairie Schooner, literary publication party subsidized by the university. He said Wednesday afternoon that he planned to remain in Lincoln and devote all his time to the Prairie Schooner. Mr. Eliason said his plans were indefinite.

Deny Connection With Liquor.

Neither had any further comment to make on the action of the board of regents other than to deny any connection with the liquor seized in the raid which resulted in illegal possession chargers being filed against Alan Williams, former university student arrested with the two instructors.

Williams will not be connected with the Prairie Schooner in the future, Dr. Wimberly said. He had been business manager since his senior year in the university.

Class room work of Dr. Wimberly and Mr. Eliason will be taken over beginning Wednesday afternoon by other members of the English department staff.

Students Not Involved.

Chancellor Burnett in his statement declared that the All-University party which was held in the

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TWO TEACHERS TAKEN IN RAID ARE SUSPENDED

coliseum the night the raid took place had no connection with the raid and that testimony showed no undergraduate students were involved. The party had closed a half hour before the raid was staged. Wimberly and Eliason had chaperoned the party.

Detectives Weygint and Meyer of the Lincoln police force and Campus Patrolman Regler told the regents about raiding a small supply room on the east side of the coliseum the night of February 13 and finding the alleged liquor, the faculty members and Alan Williams inside. Affidavits of the federal prohibition officers participating in the raid also were presented.

Williams is free on $1,000 bond pending action of the federal grand jury which convenes in March.

Statement by Chancellor

Following is the statement issued by Chancellor Burnett Wednesday noon:

"The university regents were in executive session on Tuesday to secure information relative to the recent raid and seizure of liquor at the university coliseum and the arrest of Alan Williams, Prof. L. C. Wimberly, N. E. Eliason and others. The regents heard testimony of two city detectives in charge of liquor enforcement and one campus policeman and were presented with affidavits from the federal prohibition officers who made the raid.

"Dr. L. C. Wimberly, professor of English, and Mr. N. E. Eliason, instructor of English, were ordered suspended from their positions until September 1, 1932. Their classes will be taken over immediately by other instructors.

"Mr. Alan Williams is not in any way connected with the university and his case is in the hands of the federal prohibition officers, to be presented to the federal grand jury.

"The evidence indicated that the student committee which conducted the All-University party at the coliseum on the same night as the liquor raid had no connection with the latter and that no undergraduate students were involved. The student party itself was entirely above criticism according to reports made by all persons questioned concerning it."