Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-21
AFTER SPEAK-EASIES.
Collector Warmcastle Wants a Special
Detective Appointed
To PROSECUTE ILLEGAL DEALERS.
Over Six Hundred Of Them Said to be in
Allegheny County.
THE EVIDENCE HAS BEEN COLLECTED

From present indications the speak-easy
proprietors are destined to have pretty hard
times within the next few months. First it
was announced that the Police Department
had collected evidence against them to be
presented to the License Court Then the
warfare of District Attorney Johnston and
County Detective Lsnghorst was inaugu-
rated, and now Collector Warmcastle has
taken them in hands in behalf of the Gov
ernment. He has asked for the appoint
ment OF special officer, at a salary of 500
per month, whose duty will be to prosecute
all retail dealers and proprietors found selling
without Government license.
The Government requires all dealers in malt
liquors to pay Government license of So and
those dealing in spurious liquors are taxed SIS
1t is estimated that the Government has lost at
liquor sellers this year, and Collector Warm
castle is determined that it shall not be re-
peated.
A DETECTIVE DEMANDED.
When Special Agent Culbertson was in the
city recently inspecting Mr.. Warmcastle's dis
trict the two gentlemen had a consultation
with regard to the matter, and the formal re-
quest was made for the appointment of a de-
tective. Agent Culbertson promised to lay the
matter before the department, together with
the facts furnished by Collector WarmcaStle as
to the state of affairs in Allegheny county, and
the need of something being done.
Mr.. Warmcastle said yesterday he expected
the agent would be appointed, but he did not
know lust how soon. II was reported that as
soon as the information now in the hands Of
the police would be offered in court that he
would take possession of it and use II in prose-
cutting the violators of the Government laws.
Mr.. WarmcaStle said it would not be necessary
to do this. He has great deal OF information
of his own, and is constantly collecting more.
He also said that he did not think the police
were in possession of any information he could
not get by asking for it.
Itis not thought the agent asked for VIII be
given a permanent appointment The only
work to be done a. present is to prosecute the
people who have violated the law this year.
SPEAK-EASIES TO SUFFER.
Mr.. Warmcastle could not tell how many
there were but it is the impression that there
are over 600 in the county. Those who
succeeded in getting license from the Court
last year have all taken out a Gov
eminent license, so that the people Mr..
Warmcastle is after are speak-easy proprie-
tors. The number is likely to be reduced next
year. as il is expected more licenses will be
granted. The special agent if appointed, will
be retained, however, as long as there are any
Violators of the Government laws to be found.
The other business of the district has been so
enormous that no attention could be paid to the
speak-easies by the regular deputies There
are u of these in the "A counties. They look
after the brewera distillers, retail dealers and
cigar manufacturers and they find no time for
anything else.
II all other movements now inaugurated or
in prospect against speak-easy propTietors are
pushed 70 completion, the majority Of the men
now engaged in the illegal sale of liquor will
find their lot to be hard one before they get
through.