The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 19, 1904

Is Arrested For Bootlegging

Thomas Hughes of Forest City Gets Into Trouble.

Government Officers Arrest Him on That Charge – Must Go Before Federal Grand Jury.

Thomas Hughes was arrested by Deputy United States Marshal G.F. Gustafson at Forest City Friday, and brought to Fort Dodge the same night. He was taken to Clarion today where he was given a hearing before Commissioner Rogers on the charge of selling intoxicating liquors in violation of the revenue law. He was bound over to the federal grand jury under $200 bonds ($4,790 today). As he was unable to furnish bonds Hughes will be taken to Sioux City tomorrow.

The prisoner is charged with selling liquor in Forest City, where he makes his home. He is an unmarried man, his parents being respectable farmers living near Forest City.

While there was no feature of interest in Hughes’ arrest, the federal officers not infrequently meet with unusual situations. Some time ago Deputy Marshal Gustafson arrested a man on the charge of selling intoxicating liquors. His prisoner emphatically denied the charge.

“I will tell you just how it was,” he said. “We often played cards and usually had whiskey in the house. This day I was going down town to meet some friends to play, and put a bottle of whisky (sic) in my pocket. I didn’t sell the whisky, although I met a friend and when I got down to the depot the whisky was gone and I found a dollar in my pocket.”

He was held to the grand jury.

Tags: 1904, Gustafson, Hughes, Rogers