New-York tribune., 1876-12-04
ILLICIT DISTILLLNG STOPPED.

SEIZURE OF AN EXTENSIVE DIsTILLERY IN WEST
FoRrY-FIRsT-sT.--A NIGHT ATTACK on THE
OFFICIALS IN CHARGE-FoRTY-FOUR BARRELS
or SPIRITS TAKEN AWAY.
United States officials ON Saturday seized an
extensive Illicit disery at Nos $50 and 533 West Forty
rstst The officers the foot Of West Foruethst
in the poceboat Seneca and assisted in the seizure
by 21 policemen under Sergeant Schultz The dstlery'
which was the of coopers shop. was surrounded
and upon entering the officers found large still opera
on the steam coming from a outside the build
inc There were three large tubs each containing several
hundred gallons OF mash and a. barrels OF spirits were
piled up concealed door. Henry smith, one oi
tho men who had evidently been at work In the ds-
ery the only person captured lie was taken pei'ro
United states Commissioner Shields and held in S2'ooo
bail for examination Today The researches OF the
officers left no doubt in their minds that the steam for
running the distcry was furnished from the boer III
Edward ROches ecifyng establishment at NO o'o Nesl
FOry-hrstst Possession accordingly was taken OF pom
places -Four the United States officers were eit 10
guard the dlstlery and three were posted IN hoohes
establishment
About 10 30 o'clock on Saturday night simultaneous
attack was made upon both places by gang OF 30 OF iO
men They made fent of attempting to enter the rear
of Roches building and while the attention OF the Officers
attracted to that quarter the IChI u03i w m's
Oi tne Ior me on ti SHAW and Mack The oher two.
Shea and White had gone TO supper Before lhsy hi,i
time TO draw their revOvcrs, Shaw ana Maeh Neic
Inocked down and dragged into the sheeIscd a1oHbF
tbe dis,illpry A man stood shaw hodlhg u pHto
to ms noad and another pointed knife at AacAs ll
and threatened to kill him II nc moved Inc gas tieh
loaded the barrels of spirits upon trucks aha hutlel
away As they were about carlng away thc ldsl 4oiu'
Shea and White returned, and were attaCked hcIc'!;
Wiic resisted and was severely handled. He succeeded
IN escaping his assailauts and fled for ms NE. sheh
I TO me rbIty-seycnth Street Police station Tor assist
auco The two policemen post IN froIl Oi lnc dlslli-
lerv had gone into RUchcs building at the call OF ths
United States officers there ana had been locked ~
Police CAPTAIN Washbun summoned the reserves ana
hsstpned 10 the place. found that the gang had ear
ried of an the IA barrels of spirits The imprisoned ou-
GERS were released promptly. Shaw was Dacly l9hIcd
and was bleeding freely from severe cut ON his read
Mack and White also bore mark OF the encounter CAPT
Wasbbrn increased the 70 OF police al the place" ana
ter was no further trouble. The Captain believes tlat
the "A barrels spirits loaded upon vessel at
the foot OF West FOr,yrstst, and conveyed To pace
OF safety The large copper pipe leading IRON the sun
TO The worm was cut away and carried on. ~
The OwnerOf the rheep-shed adjoining the ulsUitIy
stated that he never suspected MS existence Dul
there was an ingenOusly cOnjTived secret door ead
ing 10 his shed, through which, und0untcuN, All lhe
supplies came in, aud the spirits went out AT the
yte OF several hundred gallons week. Jhe Wofkiich
in the distery entered the rJOf rom the yaTu III
the rear OF the sheepshed .
Deputy United States Marshal John l.. Kennedy
ed last night upOn Inspector McDtfmOtt, who was IN
cnrge al tine Police Central Occ, and solicited the ara
haA been stolen Tie Inspector sent out general order
10 ali the police stations, and also sent description oI
some of the principal persons who participated III tne
theft from tAe seized disey. The description Oi Ouy
one OF two the thieves however was accurate enough
70 aid in the search