Omaha daily bee., 1919-12-29
k|NGP|N AND
MORE
ARE CAUGHT
Two of Those in Custody Are
Described by Federal Agents
Who Made Arrests as New
York Business Men.
MORE DEATHS SUNDAY
FROM LETHAL MIXTURE
Others Are Reported Near
Deaths Door Greatest
Number of Fatalities in
Connecticut Valley.


New York, Dec. 2S.-Federal
agents late tonight arrested five
men whom they claimed to be the
heads of an organized band which
they claim to be responsible for the
Widespread sale of wood alcohol con-
coctions through FIVE states. One OF
the men arrested was described by
the government agents as "the king
pin of the ring" Two of the 11en
in custody were described as New
York business men.
For 10 days, since the first fatali-
ties were reported from wood alco-
hcl poisoning, Col. D. L. Porter. SUI
pervising revenue agent for New
York, and H. B. Dobbs, special fed
eral agent, have been working on the
theory that the poison that has
caused scores of deaths throughout
New England and New York orig
mated in this city. The arrests to-
night were made in widely separated
parts of the city.
Three of the prisoners arrested
are Adolph Panarelli. a wine and
liquor dealer; John Romanell. an
undertaken, and Samuel K. Saleeby,
a druggist.
Four Men Arrested.
| Chicopee, Mass, Dec 2o.-United
States Marshal Edward J. Lyden
has arrested four men on federal
warrants, two charging violation OF
the wartime prohibition act and two
illegal transportation of liquor from
state to state. The arrests resulted
from his investigation into the
deaths of more than Sc persons in
the Connecticut valley since Christ
mas from drinking wood alcohol
contained in mixture sold as
whisky.
Four more deaths had resulted
since early Sunday from alcoholic
poisoning, three in Holyoke and one
in Chicopee, bringing the total for
the Connecticut valley, not includ-
ing Hartford, to 81, divided as fol-
lows:
CHlCOPEE, 36, including two
women.
, HOLYOKE, 9. ., Il
SPRINFIELD, 4, including one
woman.
GREENFIELD, /.
THOMPSONVILLE, Conn, 2.
HADLEY, Conn, 3.
Released on $500 Bonds.
Those under Arrest on the federal
! warrants are John Nasazewski OF
Chicopee and Harry Shapiro of
Springfield, truck drivers, who are
charged with bringing the liquor into
I the valley; Adam Ostrowski and
John w. Starzyk, both of Holyoke,
, charged with violation OF the war
time prohibition act. They will be
arraigned before United States
, commissioner Monday morning. All
were released under $500 bonds.
Marshal Alfred Caron of the Chi
copee police left today for New
, Haven, Conn, with warrants charg-
5 ing murder against four men who
have been arrested there. The war
|. rants were sworn out, the police
, say, on information given by Will
: liam Baker of Chicopee, who is
held on a manslaughter charge.
, and Shapiro.
} Although several new cases of the
f poisoning were reported Sunday the
Y number decreased considerably over
, Friday and Saturday. The number.
t however, increased in Holyoke.
Two More Cases Reported.
Hartford, Conn, Dec. 28.-Deaths
from wood alcohol poisoning TODAY
remained at IS, the total recorded
, Saturday. Two more cases OF per-
sons suffering from the effects OF
poisonous liquor, were listed at hos
pitals. -Four of eight persons iii
here. were reported tonight in a
: critical condition.
Chief of Police Farrell tonight
announced that all saloons would be
, closed tomorrow. Seven men are
being held, four OF them charged
with murder.
A woman died in Meriden. Conn.
today from the effects of poisonous
liquor.
District Attorney Schoonmaker Of
Ware tonight announced the death
or three Hadley residents. two al
whom n an ante-mortem statement
are SAID to have declared he had
; bought the liquor in the Hsdley
hotel. Edward Lyons, proprietor OF
I the hotel. Mr.. Schronmaker eaid. ad.
mltsed buying FIVE gallons OF the
liquor. from Alex Perry of Chioopee.
proprietor OF the American house
who is under arrest on a charlie of
manslaughter.
One death occurred in Helyoke
tonight
Six Men Are Held.
New Haven, Conn, Dec. 2S.-Six
. men were arrested in connection
5 with the sale OF wood alcohol
, whisky" which they are alleged
to have shipped from this city to
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