The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-06-07
LIQUOR LAW VIOLATIONS
MUCH WHISKY AND BEER CONFIS-
GATED YESTERDAY.

Grand Avenue Police Officers Keep vigil
liant Watch All Day-Their Efforts Re-
warded-Devices and Schemes of All
Kinds Rssorted to-Improvised Saloon
in IA Barn on Myrtle Street.
Liquor law violators had pretty
hard time of 1t yesterday in the Grand
avenue police precinct and evidence
was secured of several of them which
will be exceedingly difficult to refute.
The work began early and was kept up
all day without any cessation. The
amount of liquor confiscated would
stock a saloon. Many devices had been
used to throw the officers off their
guard. At James Boucher's. whose res
taurant is at 151 Hamilton street, a
hole had been dug in the rear of the
building for the storage of the beer.
Sergeants Bowers and Bradley went to
Boucher's place of business yesterday
morning. There did not appear to be
any more evidence Of liquor selling than
appeared on last Sunday They contin-
ued the investigation and found In the
rear of the restaurant two kegs of lager.
These were in the hole between the walls
of the rear buildings. Further search
revealed siXty-seven bottles of beer, one
empty keg and dozen empty bottles.
The liquor was all conf1scated and talk
en- to the police station. No arrests
were made, but warrants will be issued
to-day for the arrest Of Boucher.
John Mcmahon, who keeps a saloon
at All Grand avenue, was found in his
place of business with the rear door
open, by Sergeant Hayes and Patrol
man Connolly A man, who had the
appearance of a customer, was stand
ing at the door of the saloon. The Of
officers secured half pint Of whiskey.
At 90 Haven street John Ryan, who is
said to be a bar tender employed by
Mcmahon, was found to be doing busi-
ness at that street. Two half barrels of
lager, one and one-half pints of whis-
key, one pint of cider, one and one
half gallons Of whiskey were confis-
Gated.
Gioveta De Porto lives at No. 3S2
East street, There has been suspi-
cion lurking in the minds of the police
that De Porto was furnishing liquor to
the Sunday frequenters of his resi-
dence. Yesterday afternoon Sergeant
Crocker and Patrolman Roche made a
raid on the place. They found run
ming" business, in police parlance, be-
ing conducted. The modus operandi is
to have the liquor stored, as far as pos
sible from the place where 1t is drunk,
and TO have it brought to the custom
ers in small quantities, the attendant
removing, upon each trip, to the store
house all bottles, glasseS etc, that
might give the scheme away, should an
officer appear. The De Portos had been
very successful In their plans until yes
terday when the officers swooped down
upon them. The raid was opportune,
for as they entered the room by one
door a woman with dozen bottles of
beer wrapped In an apron came In from
an adjoining hall.
A complete search of the premises
was made and several bottles of beer
and many empty bottles were found, all
of which was taken to the police sta
ton The men who were in the room
when the officers entered made a hasty
exit As 1t was not a licensed place no
one was arrested.
Patrick Hesslen and five or six men
were discovered in Hesslen's saloon,
at the corner Of Grand avenue and
Franklin street, about 6 o'clock last
evening. John Hesslen, a brother of
the proprietor, was behind the bar.
Patrolman Cooper secured the evidence.
James Cavanaugh and Hugh Christy
were doing an extensive business in a
barn at Is Mrytle street, when the
place was raided by Sergeant Hayes
and Patrolmen Caulfield and Gates.
About one hundred men were in the
building when the officers entered.
Eleven dozen bottles of large. three gal
Ions of whiskey, five half pint bottles of
whiskey, one quart bottle of whiskey
and about one-half pint of the same In
gallon jug, five quarts of cider one
quart measure and a funnel were con-
fiscated and taken to the station.
Antonio Lapardo was arrested early
yesterday morning by Patrolmen Oar
gan, Grant and J. McQueeney of the
central station. He was doing busi-
ness in the rear of barber shop at
81 Union street.