The following appeared in The Rock County Star on April 3, 1941.
Raiding Officers Hit Chez Paree Night Club
Proprietor Will Appear Before District Judge Next Tuesday
Robert Morris, operator of the Chez Paree night club here ,is under a $300 bond pending hearing in district court Tuesday on three charges alleging sale of alcoholic liquor without a license.
Morris appeared before Judge O. E. Ferguson Monday morning and waived preliminary examination in municipal court. Arrested Saturday he had been released Sunday on a $300 bond.
The charges had been brought by County Attorney Skewes and City Attorney Engan and the complaints had been signed by State Liquor Inspector R. F. Crogswell. Morris was arrested at 11 p.m. Saturday in a raid, in which state, federal, city and county officers participated, climaxing three weeks of investigation by an under-cover agent at the night club.
The charge of sale of liquor without a license is a gross misdemeanor and conviction carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail or a $1,000 fine. The county attorney indicated that a fourth charge will be filed in which Morris will be charged with possession for sale of a quantity of liquor. This charge is a misdemeanor and conviction carries a penalty maximum of a ninety-day jail term or $100 fine.
The raid was scheduled for 11 p.m. Watches of the members of the raiding party were synchronized earlier with the understanding that every man was to carry out the role assigned to him promptly at 11 p.m. Cogswell, the state agent, had been given the task of standing inside the front door ready to unlatch it at 11 to admit the members of the raiding party. Participating in the raid were: State Liquor Agents Hedlund and Cogswell, Federal Agent Nelson, Schneekloth, Paulsen, McKay, Ryan, Roberts and Moeller.
It was not necessary for Cogswell to make a move, however, as the door was opened promptly to the sheriff’s knock.
Moving swiftly, Officers Ryan Schneekloth, State Agent Hedlund and Federal Agent Nelson made a rush for the bar. They declared that nearly a dozen bottles of liquor were taken there.
The warrant was served by Sheriff Roberts who was assisted by Deputy Sheriff Moeller. Taking his post at the front door to prevent anyone from leaving was Chief of Police Paulsen.
As a matter of fact, members of the raiding party said, very few of the large crowd of patrons realized that a raid was in progress.
Cogswell did not reveal his identity as an officers during the progress of the raid, choosing to circulate thru the crowd. After the raid was nearly over Cogswell got a laugh out of the warning given him by a couple of young men.
“Buddy,” one chap told the state agent,” it looks like raid is going on, if I was you, I’d dump any liquor you got.”
Raiding officers said they recognized very few Luverne people among the night club’s patrons.
The under cover agent, who is said to have been frequenting the club for nearly three weeks, was at the Chez Paree Saturday night but did not take any part in the raid.
Richard Torrison represented Morris in municipal court.
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