New-York tribune., 1918-01-11
Prosecution Results From
Investigation of the ''Un-
derground Route"
kilograms Incriminate
Accused Is Released in Gus
tody of Lawyer and
$4,000 Bail Set

Pincus Friedman, an aged seller of
Jewish prayer books and prayer
shawls at 172 Rivington Street, was
arrested last night on the first warrant
issued under the Federal food law,
charged with breaking Section s Of the
law by selling sugar Wholesale without
license. United States Commissioner
Hitchcock released him in the custody
of Frederick Newman. lawyer, for
appearance at 10 o'clock this morning,
bail being fixed at $4,000.
The prosecution is the result of an
investigation by the Federal Food
Board officers Of the underground
route" by which dealers in New York
were believed to be bringing sugar
direct from New Orleans instead of
through the International Sugar Com
mittee.
1t is charged that Friedman sold
sugar to retailers at from IS to 20
cents pound.
Found Sugar Waiting
Chairman John Mitchell of the board
stated last night that Investigators
had found eight barrels and twenty
packets of sugar on Pier 49, awaiting
removal by Friedman, while the steam
ship Pasco moored at the pier, had
cargo of siNty-cight barrels, thirty
three packets and fourteen sacks of
sugar, all consigned to the prayer book
dealer. He said the total amount
awaiting removal was 10000 pounds.
Papers found in Fricdman's store, said
Mr.. Mitchell, revealed that Friedman
had already sold about $4,000 pounds.
Included in the evidence to be sub
mitted by the board are six kilograms,
five from one NJ. 1eies, and ono from
one Nainsten, OF New Orleans, rclat-
ing to large shipments of sugar to
Friedman. In i've of the kilograms
there was an insistent demand for
money. "Send money; wire if want
more" and "Wirc SAT- balance due
me-" and "Wirc money if want more"
and finally "Never received letter or
check; will discontinue buying
One of them, dated January 9. from
Weinstein, read: Received three hun
dred seventy five Can find lump. Wire
money if want more. Answer"
Another, from Tees: "No money re-
ceived. Shipped this morning with S
S. FL Paso, seventeen barrels lump,
4,448 pounds, at eleven fifty, amounts
to $3.50, balance s4S7, totalling one
thousand seventeen dollars. Wire
money if want more. Spell name right"
Another, from Teles again: Twelve
hundred received. Total shipped,
twenty eight lump, fifty sacks. Will
ship more. Mail check"
Investigated Two Weeks
The statement issued by Mr.. Mitchell
last night told the story of the investi-
cation, which was started wo weeks
ago by q rumor that retail dealers were
buying sugar from a books tore on Riv-
ington Street. The first tangible clew
was label from a sugar barrel which
showed that the sugar cane from Telcs
and was consigned to Friedman.
The investigation of another com
plaint." the statement said, "discloscd
that Friedman had been receiving tele-
grams from some one in louisiana
It describes the visit Of investigators
to tho store and the discovery of docv-
ments, among which was letter from
the Morgan Line advising Friedman
that twenty barrels rad been brought
to Pier 40 by the steamship Creole. In
vestigators found that the sugar hac
already been removed from the Creole
but they found some still on the pier
and also discovered FL Paso's cargo.
Friedman is seventy years old ant
lives at $40 East Fifteenth Street The
penalty for the offence with which he
is charged is a fine of $4,000 or two
years in jail or both.
Mr.. Mitche announced, also that he
had asked Washington revoke the foot
trading license of the Harlem Sugal
Company, 2445 Eighth Avenue, for sell
ing sugar at from ~ to Is cents
pound, wholesale.
Abraham Klirsfeld is president O
this company, S. Axelrad treasurer anC
5. klirsfeld salesman. All three ar,
natives of Austria-H Hungary, the Klirs
fields being naturalized and Axelrat
having taken out only first papers, 81,
Years ago, and three years after his ar
rival in this country.