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

——————————		——————————
	Page Image

TEACHERS DENY KNOWLEDGE OF SEIZED LIQUOR

Alan G. Williams Admits Owning Booze Taken at University Party.

NO CHARGES FACE TWO FACULTY MEN

Wimberly and Eliason Taken In Raid On Coliseum.

Dr. L. C. Wimberly, English professor and N. E. Eliason, English instructor at the University of Nebraska who were arrested when police raided the university coliseum late Saturday night at the conclusion of an all-university party, Monday morning denied any connection with liquor seized there and declared that they had discovered the liquor but a few minutes before police arrived.

Alan G. Williams, prominent non-fraternity leader and a member of the Innocents society before his graduation from the university last spring, is at liberty under $1,000 bond pending a federal grand jury investigation of the raid. Williams, according to Assistant U. S. Attorney Robert Van Pelt, admits ownership of the small quantities of beer and wine and a pint of whisky found when city, county and federal officers raided a small store room off the dance floor.

Other arrested were Mrs. Eliason, Lucille Mills, 20, graduate student living at 2812 Everett street, and Viola Butts, 26, former student. Miss Butts is the co-ed whom Williams sponsored for May queen in the 1930 campus election.

Hold Three Men In Jail

All three women were booked at police headquarters and released immediately but the three men were not released until Sunday morning. Sunday afternoon Williams was taken before U. S. Commissioner H. J. Whitmore and arraigned on a charge of illegal possession of liquor. Van Pelt said the matter would be laid before a grand jury which convenes in March.

Wimberly and Eliason had been selected, along with several other members of the faculty to chaperone the party, but they were the only chaperones to appear during the evening, they stated. It was in the discharge of their duties as

——————————		——————————
	Page Image

TEACHERS DENY KNOWLEDGE OF SEIZED LIQUOR

chaperones that they entered the room where the liquor was found, both declared.

As the party drew to a close about 11:30 o'clock they observed something unusual at that end of the large coliseum floor and together with Mrs. Eliason, went to the room to investigate, according to Wimberly and Eliason. Williams and Miss Mills were there.

Williams Admitted Officers

They had been in the room about ten minutes, they said when Detectives Weygint and Meyer, Deputy County Sheriff Ward and Federal Prohibition Agents Davis and Pound from Omaha, knocked on the door and were admitted by Williams. Miss Butts followed the officers into the room, Eliason stated.

Detective Weygint, who organized the raid, said they seized a pint of whisky, about ten quarters of beer, a small amount of wine, a cocktail shaker, a seltzer bottle and other paraphernalia. After taking the six to headquarters the officers searched Williams apartment at his own instructions and found five gallons of wine.

Wimberly drove Weygint to headquarters and Eliason, in his own machine, drove one of the other officers to the station.

University Withholds Action

Wimberly and Eliason were questioned by Van Pelt Sunday and were told to appear in his office Tuesday afternoon. Eliason, however, called on Van Pelt Monday morning with Mrs. Eliason. Van Pelt did not disclose what took place at that time. Miss Butts and Miss Mills were to be questioned by the federal prosecutor sometime Monday afternoon or Tuesday.

Both Wimberly and Eliason met with classes Monday morning. Wimberly is scheduled to deliver a Charter day address at Sutton Monday evening.

Before leaving for the western part of the state Sunday evening Chancellor E. A. Burnett said that the University authorities were withholding any action until Van Pelt has concluded his investigation.

Raid Made After "Tip"

The raid was executed with utmost secrecy. Detective Weygint said he received a tip a week ago that preparations wer [sic] undr [sic] way to stage a private "party" the evening of the university dance. He called the federal agents from Omaha Saturday. Detective Meyer and Deputy Sheriff Ward joined the party at police headquarters. Not until the raiders arrived at the coliseum did Weygint disclose that it was their objective.

Patrolmen Regler, McGee and Miller, "campus cops" were on duty at the coliseum during the evening. None reported any misbehavior to the chaperones, they said.

According to Eliason, it was past the official closing time for university parties when he and Wimberly decided to investigate at the othre [sic] end of the coliseum. Some couples were dancing, but neither chaperone thought it necessary to clear the floor, they stated.

Officers Watch Room

Weygint said the officers watched the door to the room where the liquor was found for a short time. He said several persons were admitted after knocking on the door in a certain manner. Weygint knock produced the same result.

John K. Selleck, business manager of the university athletics, said that the room is ordinarily kept locked, and is used for storage. He said some of the students in charge of the party had remained late to take down decorations. Officers claim that Williams had a key to the room.

Wimberly has been a member of the university faculty since 1917. Editor of the Prairie Schooner, and interested in other university activities, he is a popular member of the faculty. His writings have been published by American Mercury, Forum and Harper's.

Eliason has been a member of the faculty since 1929 and is a close associate of Wimberly.