Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-15
FEDERAL AGENTS RENEW
SEARCHING or TRAINS
Thorough Scrutiny Is Given Baggage
So. on Arrival at Elba
fgs.N Station.
MECH LIQUOR CoNFIsCATED
No Arrests Are Made, as No Passen-
ger Is Found Hardy Enough to
Claim Ownership of Suspected Par
5cceIs and Suit Cases.

Due to the untiring efforts of the
Federal authorities. very little whisky
Is being transported into this State.
Agents of the Department of Justice
made their usual visit Saturday night
and yesterday morning and welcomed
the crowded trains from Washington.
After going through the trains and
making a careful and thorough search,
they bade the train good-by. the raid
having resulted in the seizure Of n
considerable quantity OF ardent spirits.
Although Washington goes dry on
November /. and the saloonkeepcrs are
bending their every effort TO dispose
of the quantity which they have in
stock, the continued raids of the spe-
cial agents of the Department OF JUS
tice hap. been conclusive proof that
very little OF II is coming into the
State Of Virginia.
Apparently the agents OF the depart
ment in this city receive their infor-
nation before the arrival Of the trains.
and on almost every occasion are on
hand to meet these trains and place
their stamp Of approval before the
trains leave Richmond.
LIQUOR CoNFISCATED.
BUT NO ARRESTS MADE
The raids Saturday night and Sun
day morning resulted in no arrests.
because no one could be found who
would claim ownership Of the forbid
den spirits. 1t seems that the boot
legEers have become considerably
wiser as the result of sad experiences.
Consequently, as rule. they stack
their suit cases or packages loaded
with ardent spirits in the end OF the
coaches, and in The event that F'eieral
authorities make a search, they play
the part Of the innocent and interested
bystander.
Although the 1895 train arrived late
at Elba from Washington, three spe-
cial agents OF the Department Of JUS
tice were ready about lis yesterday
morning when the train pulled in.
quick thorough and orderly search re-
suited in the seizure OF large guam
tity of liquor. All onlookers TESTIFY
to the fact that the search was the
cause of no confusion. and that none
Suspicious packages
we're not claimed, and the Federal
authorities had no trouble in ascertain
ing their contents.
SEARCH EXTENDS TO
SLEEPING AND PARLOR CARS
In this raid the sleeping cars were
not omitted, and in not single case
was there any complaint of embarrass-
ment nor did the special agents meet
with any objection. One spectator
said last night that it seemed very
much as il the people carrying bag
gage liable to seizure had begun to
realize that they were taking long
chances and seemed ready to reconcile
themselves TO its loss.
In one particular case 1t seems that
some people would have passed mus
iva inr, DO hC
-. Federal agents Il they had only
KEY, Qu!e1 at.e- he agents had passed
men hr tor me G-st time. However.
enc .. tht negroes who wished 10
Keep ~; Int p-eitase - being absolutely
f--rrs-- cried GU Use good crap
f'oss Tals remark aroused :he sus-
Is.ekprs e. T. special agent, who went
s,acE - see = everything vas we'll
i stems -ha, Re had suspected some
rni7ig wrong :h+ arsi time. when he
vent nack - FOUND that two negroes
hat placed Two suit cases on the seat,
ih.o hkd spread ,he!- overcozts on top
OF n. suic cases and were quietly
sitting upon their ;rnprovised sofa. At
lie reoues; 9. the special agent they
Quickly got Up from their seat and
disciairrsd any knowledge of the
Ownership % III -liquqr.
SEARCH Il CoNEINrED
ON SUNDAY MORNING
No; satisfied with the results OF Sat
GrdaY night, the Federal agents re-
newed their efforts yesterday morning
when the Richmond Fredericksburg and
Potomac train from Washington ar
rived at Elha al 1850 o'clock. This
time there was but one agent and
again the raid proved productive OF
large results. In fact, the quick, ex-
perienced and orderly search was a
surprise 10 many of the onlookers. and
according 10 the statement OF one OF
the passengers is just the reason why
ardent spirits are becoming very
scarce, even on the trains coming in
from Washington, which is soon 10 go
dry.
The raid yesterday morning resulted
IN the uncovering of a very ingenious
device invented by colorcd boot
logger This man had a canvas bag
made that would hold several quarts
OF liquor. After filling this bag he
had placed il around his shoulders and
then put on loose coat over it How