The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-15
MASKING A DISTILLERY.

CROOKED wHIsKEY IN THE TWELFTH WARD
HOW THE ILLICIT. INDUSTRY WAS BROKEN
UP-oSE PRTsoNrR CAPTURED.
Among the billy paths and rock bored cuts that con-
stue the streets OF large portion OF that OF
Manhattan Island known as Manhatianve was tho
of an exciting raid yesterday morning before the
majority OF Tho people OF New York had taken their
morning meal The block where the raid took piece is
bounded by tho Boulevard Tenth avenue, 10th and
l30th streets Oh the southwest corner Is situated
dismal looking old brick building several stories high
just beyond H. on l3Oth street, Is another building OF
similar structure Thesc buildings formerly used
by the National Car Spring Manufacturing Company
but are now, and were last week, supposed 10 be
vacant The locality very lonely one the vacant
lots being covered with bushes and quito overgrown
with undcrbrush.
THE DISCOVERY.
As benghtcd traveller was passing along tho road
several nights thinking of the hard times and his
inability TO live water alone, a pleasant odor OF
beverage familiar to his thirsty lips was waited
to his painting nostrils by the night air. IL was
veritabc whir OF whiskcy and good whiskey at that,
Stopping, surprised, the gentleman came TO the
clusion that lurking "drap o. tho cratbur tho
OF tho peculiar aromatic odor that filed the a,r
But beyond the smell and tho two large buildings
standing black AMI grim before him in The foggy air
nothing could be perceived. The gentleman, further
poyng his anal ytca powers began TO suspect that
the crooked was beng manufactured near that
locality. lie communicated his suspicious some OF
his friends, and the rumor nnaliy reached United
States Revenue Officers Willis aud Crawford. These
gentlemen proceeded ON smelling tour and sue
cccded IN locating the strongest III portion Of
the old lot near inc TWO buildings
THE SURPRISE.
After ali the. preiminaries nad been arranged the
officers, under the supervision OF General Max Weber
called on Captain Lcnry, of the rh,rcth precinct,
N n.i IN np1 him INIT 4
suspicious that m Illicit distillcry was being
run IN hls precinct Tho Captain was surprised, but
immediately dctacd live OF his officers 10 ard search
ing Tor the place. At halipast the started
out from the police station, and passed down Lawrence
TO tho oil The had lust risen
but the thick clouds and foggy atmosphere rendered
difficult TO see very far ahead. Not word spoken
the men taking their places by preconcertcd arrange
ment. Ono officer was stationed on each side OF
block and between the buildings, whilo
the revenue officials undertook the task OF searching
for their prey All were armed, 1t was feared
should the still be guarded by many men,
that There might DO desperate encounter. Tho
marshas entered the larger building and explored an
the ioors They found steps leading from the ground
floor TO the root; but there was the roof
aud the building appeared to be empty. just they
were about TO leave II ray OF light coming through
crack, revealed TO them tbs passage 10 the cellar
They quickly descended, and found what they had so
long been IN search Of In tho collar large still
apparatus all In working order In the vat were
1000 gallons Of mash all ready for disaton several
hogsheads oil moasses and about three barrels OF
whiskcy just distilled Tho capacity OF the still was
about one hundred and sixty gallons Every thing
looked as though the persons engaged in the distn
had been surprised IN their work by the OF tho
officers walking overhead and had hastily left their
work. But whore could they have gone? After
carefully searching around the walls OF tho cellar
tho officers found small door which led INTO
underground passage They followed II to the end
aud found that II opened the lots IN the
OF tho two buildings aud quite distance away from
them. Thinking the distillers had escaped tncy re-
turned to tho collar and seized the whskey, and then
destroyed all the dcsruct,ble property IN tho room.
Worm still, mash aud all rendered unit for fur
| Their
ARREST.
Whtlo these scenes taking place inside the
building William kehoe, the police officer stationed 0u
the Tenth avenue side OF the block, Keeping his
lonely watch. intending to cut of the dlsiers' re-
treat, should they come that way. Ho concealed
in the bushes, awaiting tho progress of Soon
and sand. Soon alter a head protrudcd from
the earth and finally a body, with rec
shirt on It and smelling strongly of mash, emerged
| from the ground. Seeing that the alone ON
Ger kchoc put aside his pistol and arrested maj
| He made resistance and quietly followed the Officer
to tho station house. Tho other policemen came uI
| and were soon joined by the revenue officials
Tho gentlemen appeared AZ Commissioner Shields
Office yesterday afternoon high gec at their impor
| tant capture. The prisoner, who gave his name a
Thomas Smith, was brought down IRON the lhirtiet
precuct and held $1,000 bail Being unable to fur
| nish thi amount no committed to Ludlow Stree
afternoon at three O'Clock. Tho officials regard lh
/ SEIZURE 1 very important one. lucy are about
Institute Investigations 10 discover the real
'backcr" OF the still. Itwa evident that the man II
rested was only night hand employed TO that th
still was properly led