A minor shake-up in Federal prohibition circles in Fresno and Los Angeles yesterday appeared certain although Maj. Blaine Andrew Dixon, assistant administrator for Southern California and Arizona in charge of enforcement, declined to deny or affirm the asserted changes that, it is reported reliably from several sources, will bring Thomas J. Nicely, Fresno agent and "ace" of the government dry squad to Los Angeles within thirty days.
    Nicely in considered by Col. R. E. Frith, administrator, to be one of his most capable men and indications are that he will be elevated to a rank of authority in Los Angeles second only to that of John Wynkoop, chief field agent.
    Dispatches from Fresno that were received yesterday in Los Angeles reported Nicely on "thirty-day leave of absence with instructions to report in Los Angeles" for duty at the expiration of that period, and that Horace Thorwaldson, his assistant, "now is in charge of the office."
    Maj. Dixon declined to affirm or deny that Nicely will be brought to Los Angeles and explained his absence from the Fresno office, as "merely annual leave."
    Ranks of the original prohibition enforcement force were thinned again yesterday with the announced resignation of Vincent E. Daniels. Hardly half a dozen agents remain of the first crew that was put to work when Col. Frith assumed office on September 1, last.

Source:

Unknown, "Dry Ranks Shift Sighted, Nicely May be Brought to High Position Here From Fresno, Reliable Reports Say," The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Wednesday, 4 August, 1926, p. A12.