Evening star., 1918-07-21
REPORTER VISITS
BOOTLEG SECTION
Runs Against II Whisky Ped
dIers; Pays Dollar for
Half Pint.
HOW PLAN is WORKED

hUW fLAN 10 WonhID
Although W ashington has been on
the prohibition map for nearly nine
| months, alcoholic beverages are al
most as easily obtained as they were
when the. .barrooms dtsployed their
free lunch'' signs. But the quality
| of the goods now being peddled by
the bootleggers is way below par and
| the price extortionate.
A canvass of the National Capitals
| most notorious bootleg district last
night by a reporter for The Star re-
| vealed many tricks of the botleggers
for disposing of their goods and cor
roborated all stories related In Po-
lice Court by members of Maj. Pull
| mans liquor squads. and a little
more 1t was also revealed that much
of the whisky now being retailed by
LIQUOR venders at 81 and $3.50 a half
pint, sold in Washington in pre-pro-
hibition times at SS cents quart,
while beer. which then sold in any
cents. bottle, now is retailed by the
bootleggers at rs cents. although
somewhat diluted.
Reporter Meets II Bootleggers.
During The Star reporters trip
through Southwest Washington last
night he was accosted by seventeen
bootleggers, eager to dispose OF their
goods. Four Of them were women,
asked the standard price of 81 half
pint, while several claimed they had
"100-proof" goods in bottles which
had not been. tapped" by the Balti-
more wholesale houses and wanted
$1.50.
known since November l. 1917. as
Bootleg avenue" was the center OF
activity. Crowds of men and women
congregated on the street corners and
in front of business establishments.
particularly the restaurants, and re-
mained until a policeman or plain
clothes man was sighted. Then they
quickly disappeared into the stores
or in some nearby alley.
Notwithstanding the enormous popu-
lation Of Southwest Washington. a
stranger is recognized as easily as
If he were in some small country
village ard Is watched by some OF
the residents from the time he crosses
Maine avenue until he departs. Some
of the men even follow a newcomer
in an effort to determine whether he
is working as police agent.
Match or Cigarette Camouhage.
While walking down AZ street The
Star reporter was stopped by four
different men. Three Of them asked
for match and one a cigarette. The
reporter supplied them with matches
and the cigarette and all wanted to
know, What are you looking for?"
When he told them he was in search
of whisky they inquired as to how
much he was willing to pay for it
and the quantity he wanted. After a
subterfuge the reporter got away
without purchasing any liquor. While
standing at the corner of Sd and
Maryland avenue he was given a sig
again. the old camoufiage match
game"-by thirteen other supposed
liquor venders.
Pays 81 for Half Pint.
Before departing from Washing
toms mo mans land" the reporter
made purchase of half pint of
| BLACK and Green" whisky and paid
the enormous price of 81. The boot
man. whose trystfng place was in
front of a dairy on Maryland avenue.
The reporter stopped and leaned
against tree when the liquor vender
nonchalantly walked past him several
Then he walked up and inquired:
Looking for a drink" The reporter
nodded his head and the bootlegger
said. Wait over there for few min
utes," pointing to dark spot across
minutes with half pint Of bottled
in-bond whisky. wrapped in about five
pounds of old newspapers.
Not only were the liquor venders ac-
tive in making sales. but many others
were making journeys to Baltimore
up their liquor cellars" for the week
end rush. Twelve colored men, each
carrying seemingly heavy valises,
were seen to leave q Washington,
Baltimore and Annapolis electric line
car at 14th street and New York ave-
nue. about $3.50 o'clock yesterday aft
ernoon. Other trains were seen to
pass through the streets carrying al
most all colored passengers in the
rear cars: Some weIe Baltimore
Bone-Dry Law Only Remedy.
Several police officers and court Of
ficials have declared that the District
will. not be rid Of the law-defying
band Of bootleggers until a bone.dry
law Is put into effect. 1t has been ex-
planned that virtually all OF the boot
leggers are persons who have spent
the most part Of their lives in penal
institutions and will not work, and
consequently will not stop the profit
able practice because they face a few
months imprisonment II caught. The
heavy penalties imposed on some Of
the convicted liquor venders last
week by Police Court Judge Hardison
are expected to have some effect to-
ward decreasing the bootlegging evil.
So for Quart of Whisky
Paid to Bellboy in Hotel
by Government Witness
Eight dollars is what a government