This afternoon, I published a post commemorating the 100th anniversary of the raid that took place in Hudson on March 8, 1922, in the early years of Prohibition. As an outcome of the raid, along with confiscating illegal booze and arresting those who produced or sold it, the chief of police was suspended, and an officer from the state police was put in charge of the Hudson Police Department. The Columbia Republican identified the officer as "Lieut. H. J. Negell."
This evening, Ed Moore, our current chief of police, sent me this picture, which reveals that the man put in charge of the Hudson Police Department back in 1922 was much younger than I had imagined and that the Columbia Republican misspelled his name.
Checking census records on Ancestry.com, I discovered that Lieutenant Harold James Nagell was 28 years old in 1922 when he was put in charge of the Hudson Police Department. John Cruise, the chief of police who was suspended and indicted for dereliction of duty, was 66.
COPYRIGHT 2022 CAROLE OSTERINK
Great new info! I think Chief Moore has a big interest in the history of Hudson and its police dept. He may have a lot more gems! Also, one thing not discussed (because the raid itself is so exciting I suppose) is that many ancillary businesses and jobs existed due to the prostitution businesses, which brought men from as far away as many states (as we know). I've been listening to the Hudson Area Library's two oral history collections (we're about to launch a website for each of them) and I believe one interviewee talked about how that raid hurt the black community economically. She spoke about "the House" next to her having all white "girls" but many businesses then provided food, etc. In addition, this woman spoke about insisting that a police chief get off her stoop, where he kept an eye on the (his?) business next door. She said, "I have young children; you get out of here." A lot to unpack (as the kids say).
ReplyDeleteCould it be that you are confusing this raid in 1922, which primarily targeted illegal booze, with the raid that took place in 1950, which was directed at the brothels and illegal gambling?
DeleteIt could be. The woman interviewed was in her 80s possibly, maybe a bit younger. She was being interviewed in the 1980s, yes, probably too young to have that recollection from the 1920s.
DeleteHmmm, it appears that there is a pattern of corruption and raids at HPD. 1920s, 1950s, 1980s/90s... are we on the cusp of another 30 year raid from the State? What could it be this time? HPD's failure to enforce the speed limit in town and mostly ignoring reckless, dangerous and distracted drivers? No, the State won't put an end to that. It's gotta be something more sinister. B Huston
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