Sick Friend

Once Harry B. Zimman was city commissioner of Omaha. Now he is treasurer of Omaha's largest department store. Few Omaha citizens are more respected than affluent Mr. Zimman. One night last week Mr. Zimman was called (he says) to the telephone at his home. A friend was seriously ill. Did Mr. Zimman have a little alcoholic stimulant? Mr. Zimman did. Well, a friend of the friend would come down to the corner to get it. Mr. Zimman carefully wrapped a whole gallon jug of liquor in a paper and, without coat, without collar, went out to wait on the corner. A car drove up. To the two men in it Mr. Zimman passed his jug. They took it --and then they tried to take Mr. Zimman too. They were Lawrence E. Thompson and Stanley Riegel, U. S. Dry agents. Protested Mr. Zimman: "I'm not a bootlegger. I'm a citizen." They laughed at his sick-friend story. A scuffle started. Mr. Zimman was subdued, arrested, lodged with the Omaha police on a charge of liquor possession.

Omaha citizens were amazed. The City Prosecutor doubted whether the State law permitted U. S. agents to "go about stopping reputable citizens because they have a package under their arm." Hearing that the charge might be dismissed without trial, William McD. Rowan, U. S. Prohibition Administrator in Omaha rushed to his agents defense. Said he: "Just because a millionaire is arrested there is an awful stink. . . . We treat the rich and poor alike."