The Washington herald., 1911-04-04

Carrying into effect the bitterest
war ever waged in Washington
against dealers who impose On the
public short weight measures, Col
w. c. Haskell, sealer of weights
and measures of the District,
through his assistant, Leo S.
Schoenthal, yesterday issued war
rants for four dealers in olive oil,
charging them with dispensing
short measure.
FACE COURT TO-DAY.
They will be hailed into Police Court
to-day to answer the charges and stand
good chance of being given the
heaviest penalty the court can impose,
the sentence ranging from so to 500 on
each count
Those whose names were learned last
night are F. R Sari, of 14Oe Fourteenth
street northwest who also runs a branch
store at 2z2 Fourteenth street. and d.
N
establishment in Center Market The
other two dealers are well known, and
their names are not mentioned because of
the air Of profound mystery that sur
rounds the case.
In the Police Court yesterday Ber-
nard S. Green was arranged on the
charge Of leaving two ounces Of olive oil
out of can. The case was continued
until Thursday. Every officer connected
with the District Court was interviewed
last night, especially those who have in
charge the issuance OF warrants, but no
additional Information could be cleaned
1t was said the warrants would be
found at police headquarters, where they
were sent for execution, but all knowl-
edge of them was denied there. Cor
poration Counsel Thomas was out Of
town yesterday. Col Haskell was also
absent, and his assistant Leo Schoen-
thai, could not be located last night.
Just why there seems to be so much dark
ness surrounding the warrants was not
explained.
Accused of Short Measure.
D. NJ Gatti is charged with selling to
the quart a quantity of olive oil four
ounces short, of a brand called Purity"
He refused to make a statement last
night although acknowledging that he
was served with a warrant, early in the
day. He would not say whether he was
to go to court to-day or not
F. r. Sari told reporter for The Wash
ington Herald that he was entirely inno-
he had been served summons to appear
h1f4 he 81
Office this morning.
Il bought my olive oil from a New
York firm" said Mr.. GATH. II had no
idea it was short measure, until an Off
Ger came to me this morning and told
me to appear before the sealer Of weights
and measures at the District Building to
answer charges of false dealing"
Mr.. Sari was much aSitated. fearing
he would lose his trade when it became
known that he had been arrested for
short measure He protested he did not
know he was selling measures of oil from
three to five ounces short.
My own brand. known to my trade
as 'Sari.' is all right" Mr. Sari protest
ed. THE last shipment 1 got from. New
York dealers is the brand in question
ure the commodity, as 1 thought it was
all there
Will Return Balance.
He said he had never been served
with a similar piece of paper before, and
added that his first duty this morning
would be to ship back to New York the
balance of the olive oil.
Col. Haskell is determined that pro-
duce dealers who fake weights and
measures shall come in for their Just
deserts. He has his eye continually on
the dealers who are IN the habit of i'm
posing on the community false-bottomed
baskets in solids and "small'' measure
in LIQUIDS. Not day passes but some
employe OF his Office brings information
OF merchants engaged in crooked work
although there is oftentimes insufficient
evidence to convict in the courts
1t is expected that several more ar
rests will follow to-day, as 1t Is under
stood that Col. Haskell has on his off,
cial list the names of several men,
known to Washington housekeepers as
dependable dealers, who have been max
ing money by cheating these trusting
buyers.
Mr.. Sar said that many dealers were
In the habit of selling an olive oil TO Gus
toners that was way under measure for
the price of full measure, and thereby
running the trade of other dealers who
were trying to make an honest living. In
other cases. he said, the oil was diluted
and a further profit realized
At an early hour this morning, Leo
schoenthal said that he could give out
no information to the public unless he
was authorized by Col Haskell or the
He would not tell the
names of the other two or more dealers
who had been served with warrants.