Wide Open Evansville

by R. Erick Jones

Overview

What began as a genealogy search grew into an in-depth investigation of a period in Evansville history when Indiana instituted prohibition while Kentucky, just across the Ohio River, did not. Evansville was a brewery town with a strong German culture at the time, and it struggled to stay away from liquor. It earned a reputation of being wide open when its Chief of Police, Edgar Schmitt, was prosecuted in the 1920 Evansville whiskey ring conspiracy.

The author is the great-grandson of Evansville Police Captain Andy Friedle, the officer in charge of the infamous police "booze boat" which was used for bootlegging. His research has uncovered some fascinating documents that reveal the true story in sensational detail.

This authentic account provides a remarkable insight into the investigation and trial. It covers the forgotten details of the story and reveals things that were never brought to light. Finally, you can read the truth about this historic event and get answers to key questions such as who was involved.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798985568905
Publisher:	R. Erick Jones
Publication date:	05/01/2022
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.65(d)

About the Author

Erick Jones is the great-grandson of Evansville, Indiana Police Captain Andy Friedle, the officer in charge of the infamous police “booze boat” which was used for bootlegging. His debut book, Wide Open Evansville, is the result of several years of research and reveals the true story of the 1920 whiskey ring conspiracy in sensational detail. But his family’s ties to prohibition don't end there. He is also the great-grandson of former Vanderburgh County sheriff's deputy Jesse Jones, who later became a federal prohibition agent.

Although he currently lives in Ohio, he has fond memories of spending summers as a child with his grandparents in Evansville.