New-York tribune., 1912-02-22
Commissioner FarIey'S Party
Seizes $4,000 in "Joy Water"
MANY PLACES ARE CLOSED
State Official Determined, he
Says, to Break Up the
Speak Easies."

Eight raidjng parties in automooiIes' uh-
der command of william w. Farley o'a'e
Excise Commissioner, descended yesterday
unon forty-fve wine cellars, restaurants
and hotels that had been found selllhs
nnuors at retail, without paying the state
q tax. More than 1000 gallons OF wine IL
casks and barrels and countless bottles
filled with every known variety or JOY
water" worth in the aggregate more than
$4,000, was seized.
In most instances the places were closed
and the seal of the State Of New YORK al
fixed on windows and doors, while In teW
cases. where the business done was 100
small to warrant the proprietor paying the
state tax of $3.50, the goods confscated were
csrted awav TO a storage warehouse.
MANY of these places, selling only light
wines" said Commissioner Farley at the
close of the long days work, would gladly
pay the state small license. There is no
reason why there should not be small
priced liquor tax for just such places. and
II such a law were placed on the BOOKS
the state would be richer annually by tens
of thousands of dollars. l am In favor OF
such an amendment to the present Excise
law. But until they pay the state tax
IneN VIII ISl uO buSlllSoS "AAA'N u 80 80
fce"
But as one who is In a position to know
later remarked:
"The small wine dealer pays tax just
the same, which goes into private purses
regularly once a month. The wardman Is
a thing of the past. but the system still
lives"
Raiders Start Out in Automobiles.
The raiders started sharp at 1920 o'clock
yesterday morning from the Marlborough
Hotel, where Commissioner Farley made
his headquarters. In one automobile were
Commissioner Farley and James J. Nolan,
of Albany. counsel to the department; Dep
uty Commissioner Thomas F. McAvoy and
Charles Firestone, local chief counsel to
the department.
On each car was a lieutenant or SER
seant of police. sitting beside the chauffeur,
While inside were detectives and special
agents Of the state Excise Department.
After leaving the Marlborough the auto
mobiles separated, going to various sections
Of the town.
The first place visited by the party head
ed by Commissioner Farley was the Cri-
terion Hotel, in 10th street, next to the
German N1lldRSs lIlo NVhh W tAAO
icebox ard kitchen, but found nothing save
lemon pop" and ginger ale and some
empty beer bottles. A thorough search OF
the entire hotel, whose liquor license was
recently taken away from 1t, revealed not
q drop Of intoxicating drink. Every room
was searched, but In vain
"Well. It's plain that this place was
tipped off," said Commissioner Farley,
little chagrined. But its good friend was
too late, for the warrants issued by SUI
preme Court Justice Vernon NJ. Davis, on
which we are making these raids, were
granted on evidence obtained in these
places"
One Place Was Deserted.
The next place visited was an illegal re-
cert existing within a stones throw OF the
Tenderloin police station. 1t, too. had been
tipped off," 1t was said, and the women
inmates had deserted the house. a big place,
with the word 'hotel" painted on brass
sign.
The third place visited by Commissioner
Farley had also been warned, 1t was de-
clared This was the Hotel Royal in 44th
street. Two dozen bottles of wine, however,
were found in the place.
The fourth place visited was that OF V. P.
Norcia. No. 9o2 East 1O9th street He has
wholesale liquor license. but no retail.
Forty-two barrels of imported Italian wine
and twenty-seven cases Of various kinds OF
liqueurs we're seized.
One hundred barrels Of choice wines were
seized at Enrico Mattiolfs wholesale liquor
store, at No. S46 East 21st street, and more
than twenty cases of vermouth and other
liquid goods.
At l. Krinskys place, No. 81 orchard
street two hundred barrels Of wine, wine
press. demijohns bottles and empty grape
crates were seized.
At the pure grape Juice" store Of Sam"
Joseph, at No. 70 Orchard street, the raid
ers pushed by a group of men playing
dominos, and, breaking open an iron door,
found twenty barrels Of wine secreted in a
blind alley.
Commissioner Farley said that the Illicit
sale Of wines and liquors would be broken
up. He said that his agents had evidence
against "speak-easys" in nearly every
county OF the state.