In stalled automobile

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Record on Thursday, November 28, 1918.

Sunday Deputy Sheriff Dick Elliott and Policeman Bissell were given a tip that an automobile loaded with whiskey was stalled at the outskirts of the city. A little stroll was taken out South Huron street by the officers, which resulted in the arrest of three men and the finding of about 100 quarts of whiskey in the car

The men arrested were Lester J. Levan, Otto Knope and Ercle Mathews, all of Detroit. They were on a return trip from Toledo and had stalled here by the puncture of a tire. Another auto, said to be similar bound and loaded with the same goods, drove up, and because they could not buy soem of whiskey in the first machine, drove away peeved, and when they drove into the city told parties that there was an automobile loaded with wet goods which would soon be through and to watch for it.

(The sell of liqure in Michigan was made illegal by law in 1918, but was still legal in Ohio. For a time there was great traffic between Ohio and Michigan carrying car loads of liqure.)

The men were taken before Justice Stadtmiller, and Nope; who claimed that he had no knowadgle of the whiskey in the auto and who had only a quart and a half on him, waived examination and was bound over to the December term of court. HIs bail was fixed at $200, which he paid and went on his way.

Levans, who seemed to be the big one in the affair, was returned to the city jail in default of a $500 bail. His chances are good for a sojorn to the county jail.

Ercle Mathews seems to have been a victim of circumstances. He told that he was invited by Levans to ride to Detroit with them, and as he knew something about an auto if anything happened he could help them out.

It is rumored that of late there has been a good deal of Whiskey going through here from Toloedo on its way to Detroit, and that the knowing ones of that city are giving us the laugh; but lest they forget, we will remind them of that old adage, "He who laughs last laughs best."