If you were going to get caught — at least before the days of internet, cell phone videos and twitter — it was best to get caught in a crowd, because you could also get lost in that crowd.
Once again, we feel it is necessary to define "machine" for readers. In the earlier days of the automobile, the car was often referred to as "the machine." Perhaps it was still a bit of a mystery.
From the Arizona Daily Star, Thursday, July 6, 1916:
BOOTLEGGER ESCAPES BY CLEVER RUSE
When Auto Is Spotted and Booze Seized, He Backs Through Crowd Waving Revolver; Bystanders as Screen
A sensational capture of seven suitcases of whiskey, mainly bonded goods, was made yesterday afternoon on Meyer street by Traffic Officer Arnold and Deputy Sheriff Ezekials. The owner of the booze made his getaway, it is reported, and no arrests have been made this far in the case.
The alleged bootlegger made his way through a crowd of women and children where the officers could not shoot without hurting some innocent party.
It is charged that he has been making regular trips by machine from Lordsburg.
The machine was spotted by Officer Arnold.
The capture demonstrates the claim of officers that the regular bootlegger, who is being made a scarce article by “personal use,” fears to ship by express and still continues to bring in his booze by suitcases on the train or else by auto.
The father who was alleged to have taken his children from their mother could not be arrested for kidnapping because there was no order against him to prevent it.
FATHER IS IMMUNE FROM PROSECUTION
Mother Heartbroken Over Alleged Kidnaping of Six Children
That the husband of Mrs. Margaret Chapa, of 18 West McCormick street, had taken six children of the seven in the family to Nogales in an auto, was the belief of county and city officers who investigated the report of the disappearance of the family yesterday.
It is stated that nothing can be done with Chapa if he actually did “kidnap” his own family from the care of the wife and mother, as the children were not being held in the custody of the mother on a court order, and therefore no offense was committed.
It is said that Gabriel Rendon, a neighbor, took the children uptown to buy them clothing when Chapa appeared and took them off in an auto to Nogales, where he is employed.
Friends of Chapa claim that his reason for taking his six children was that Mrs. Chapa was not taking care of them properly. She is heartbroken over the loss of the family and threatens legal measures if it is possible.
