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

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GRAND JURY TO HEAR OF N. U. LIQUOR RAID

Wimberly Explains He Had Been Watching for Drinkers.

Lincoln, Neb., Feb. 15.—Sunday's university liquor raid, in which a former student was arrested for a liquor possession charge, adn five other persons were held as material witnesses, is to be presented to a federal grand jury here next month, Assistant United States District Attorney Van Pelt said today.

He held conferences during the day with Mr. and Mrs. N. E. Eliason, who are likely to be called as witnesses. They, Prof. L. C. Wimberly, two other women, and Alan williams, 1931 graduate, were in a room in the University of Nebraska coliseum at the moment officers entered.

The raid was executed with utmost secrecy. City Detective Frank Weygint said he received a tip a week ago that preparations were under way to stage a private "party" the evening of the university dance. He called federal agents from Omaha.

Professor "Flabbergasted."

Prof. Wimberly and Mr. and Mrs. Eliason were the chaperons for the party.

"Eliason and I had gone into the room earlier in the evening to smoke a cigaret adn saw no evidence of liquor," said Prof. Wimberly. "Shortly before midnight, however, we saw a number of students going in and out of the room and, suspecting that liquor was there, went in to investigate. We found liquor in evidence and were debating between ourselves what to do when the officers came in. Naturally, we were flabbergasted."

Prof. Wimberly said he, Eliason and six or seven others were asked by Williams, a '31 graduate, to chaperon the party but that he and Eliason and Mrs. Eliason were the only ones who went.

"I had heard that at these parties, there likely would be liquor and we constantly kept our eyes open," said Wimberly.

"We saw no signs of drunkenness during the evening and up until the two of us walked into that room and found Williams and several girls in there, it had seemed to be a pretty dry party. When the officers arrived, they found a small quantity of wine, a bottle or two of beer and several flasks partially filled with alcohol."

Mr. and Mrs. Eliason, in conference with Van Pelt today, substantiated Prof. Wimberly's story.