Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-03
Federal Agents Examine
Suit Cases and Question
Passt n gers - Only
One ArrestMade.

In Richmond last night shortly before
IL o'clock over the Richmond. Fred :
ericksburg and Potomac Railroad sub
mitted his baggage to the searching
scrutiny of Department of Justice op-
crativcs bent on the confiscation of
liquor. After carefully going through
baggage of passengers. the operatives
boarded the train while it remained
standing at Elba Station and went
through the day coaches. Suspicious
looking. or wcighty suit cases were
opened by the secret-service men. and
the train thoroughly searched for
whisky. No attempt was made, how
ever. to examine passengers travelling
in parlor or sleeping cars.
Similar steps were taken by the
Federal agents when the later train
from the North arrived in Richmond
shortly before o'clock this morning.
Operatives were detailed TO Richmond
several days ago by the Department
of Justice. in Washington. to enforce
the provisions of the Reed "bone dry"
law. While their work IS In coop
Grafton with the Richmond Police De-
partment in preventing the illegal
transportation of liquor, they work en-
tirely independently of local officers.
FEDERAL OFFICERS STATION
THEMSELVES AT CAR STEPS
Three Federal officers arrived at
Elba Station last night some time be-
fore the arrival OF the train from the
North. When it stopped. one oper-
ative stationed himself at che steps
of the day coaches. AS the passengers
stepped to the ground the agent quick
ly felt the suit case or travelling bag,
demanding ut the same time to know
what the baggage contained. In prac-
tically every instance the passengers
answered the inquiry promptly.
When suspicious- looking suit cases
were found. the passenger was taken
aside and asked to remain for few
minutes while the operatives continued
their work. No attempt was made by
any one to evade tho officers, but the
raid last night was productive of only
a small amount of liquor For sew
eral days the Federal agents have been
operating, and the word has been pass
ed down the line In the underworld
that close watch is being kept on all
stations. For his reason the arrests
considerably less than for the past
BOARD TRAIN AND THOROUGHLY
SEARCH ALL DAY COACHES
Satisfying themselves as to the con-
tents of the baggage OF all passengers
alighting from the train, the opera
tives boarded the day coach for ne
groes and quickly searched all bag
gage. From that car they passed on
through the train, until the parlor
and sleeping cars were reached. BY
that time the train had gotten under
way, and they jumped off in order
that they might further investigate
the travelling bag of a negro woman,
who had been "nabbed" almost as soon
as the train stopped.
The officers found that her bag con-
tatned Ave quarts Of whisky. She
gave her name as Pearl Henderson,
and said she was on her way to her
home in the country. Federal officers
finally decided to turn her over to the
city authorities. and she was locked
up at the Second District Station last
night for hearing In the Police Court
this morning. TIE officers also con-
fscated package Of liquor. which was
unclaimed In the excitement over the
raid. This was also sent to the Second
District Station.
On the arrival OF the Atlantic Coast
Line Railroads through train between
New York and Florida. shortly before
o'clock tEis morning. tho secret-ser
vice men did similar work. They were
assisted by severa! Richmond officers,
who have been assigned to this work
by Major Werner. Several passengers
were closely questioned ut Elba Sta
tion. but no liquor was found and
no arrests made.
FIND EMPTY SUIT CASES
ON SEARCHING TRAIN
One man. who was said t.v the police
to be we'll known here, was inclined
to question the authority Of the officers
in attempting TO discover the contents
OF a package ho carried. when they
failed to produces n search warrant
The officers did not stop. however. at
his admonitons. Trouble vas appar-
emily averted when friends placed him
in an automobile.
The officers boarded the train, and
during the short run between Elba and
Byrd Street went through tho day
coaches. They found, it was said, a
number Of empty suit cases. 1t was
presumed that the liquor had been
thrown from the train before It
reached Richmond. One man was ar
rested and suit case filled with pints
Of liquor confscatcd He said that
he was bound for Southern point, but
was held in this city. Many pints and
partly empty bottles Of liquor were
seized by the officers and destroyed.
No arrests were made where the pas
senEcr had only one quart.
While officers made no attempt 10
search the sleeping cars of the through
train. 1t was stated On excellent au-
thority that there was a considerable
supply passing through the city. In
several instances the passengers were
said to be travelling to Florida. They
had been warned that 1t was unlawful
to transport liquor through dry ter
ritory but had disregarded the warn
Ing. and their baggage was said to be
well-stocked.
In addition to the secret service men
operating at Eiba Station last night,
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