This article from The Saginaw News shows just what my grandfather Walter Anthony Dreffs was up to at the ripe old age of 19.  The article was published on January 13, 1920, less than three months after Congress had passed the Volstead Act prohibiting the production, sale and transport of intoxicating liquors.

Underage gambling and drinking during Prohibition.  Now that’s a family treasure!  I’m guessing if my Grandpa Dreffs were alive today for me to confront him about it, he would just grin at me and look away.

Arrested for Gambling: Walter Anthony Dreffs

15 FACE CLEMENTS IN JUSTICE COURT MONDAY AFTERNOON

Gambling and Intox Charges Preferred Against Majority.

FOUR GIVEN RELEASE

Still Owner Bound to Circuit Court in Bonds of $3,000.

Fifteen prisoners made up the reception committee that welcomed Justice Arthur Clements home from Canada Monday afternoon, the police court justice, who is also president of the Saginaw baseball club, returning from the annual league meeting at London, Ont., to find the police had pulled two raids Saturday night and Sunday morning, netting 11 of the 15.  It was the biggest assemblage in the police court since the days before prohibition.

Mike Geklinski, owner of the still found in the home of Stanley Reneskewiski, 319 Lowell street, waived examination on the charge of manufacturing liquor, and was bound over to the circuit court for trial.  He was unable to furnish $3,000 bonds, with two sureties, and remained in jail.  Reneskewiski, John Jenis, Walter Maksinowicz and Walter Dreffs were all released by the court of charges of gambling, while Mike Dumon and Walker Zachsuski, taken in the same raid, pleaded guilty to charges of gambling and paid $10 fines.

Informer Gets Fine, Too.

Edward Casper, Ignatz Merko and Mike Campas, taken in the raid Saturday night on the International hotel, pleaded guilty to gaming charges and paid $10 fines.  Ed. McCusky, who informed the police and was jailed on an intox charge, also paid a $10 fine.

Lloyd Campau, intox, third offense, was bound over to circuit court and remanded to jail, being unable to furnish $1,000 bail, with two sureties.

Chester Korgein, who “rough housed” a south side dance, was sent to jail for ten days.

William Delacey pleaded guilty to the larcony of a quantity of wearing apparel from George E. Blake and was given 30 days in the county jail.

An unassuming intox who paid a $5 fine, was the fifteenth prisoner handled.