El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-09-26
Washington Cop Guards $780, 900
Worth Of Booze That Can't Be
Used; BOotLegger Makes 49, 900

] ILTAsHINGTON. D C.. Sept. 2s.-How
w would you like to have the re-
Isponsibnity Of guarding 100000 worth
Of liquor, which you were not allowed
to use or dispose Of in any way?
That is the situation Of Edward D..
Hesse. chief clerk OF the Washington
police force. and guardian angel Of all
the liquor which the capital cops take
from the bootleggers, and others
This liquor confiscated under the
Reed amendment, which applies 10 the
District OF Columbia alone. The
trainers of this law failed to provide
any method for the disposal Of con-
fiscated liquor But the trainers Of
the national law. which goes into ef-
feet next January. did no better. An
official Of the internal revenue de-
partment was asked how liquor con-
fiscated under this law can be dis
posed Of without violating the law
and he said he did not know. unless
the liquor was destroyed. But 10 de-
stroy il would be an enormous eco
nonic waste. tt would mean pouring
millions Of dollars IN alcohol down
sewers.
All kinds Of Booze.
The collection contains numerous
brands of liquor. There is cheap, vio-
lent bootlegging "likker," and there
are also some high class brands OF
rye and bourbon which would bring
fancy prices IL placed upon the mar
ket It is all bottled in half pints and
quarts Mr.. Hesse says he never saw
so much booze at any one time before,
even in the wettest days Of the cap
itaL
A number of persons from whom
liquor was taken. contend that II was
- L.. IL
they have entered suits against the
police clerk TO compel him TO return
it. But a large part Of the liquor viii
never be claimed
Hospitals Ask For II.
Mr.. Hesse is very much opposed to
that this would be a willful waste OF
something that could be made use OF
for medicinal or scientific purposes.
The alcohol alone is worth much
money and could be used industrially.
Several Of the hospitals in the District
OF Columbia have asked for supply
of the liquor. but the law does not
permit the clerk TO dispose Of II in
that fashion.
individuals also have tried to get
some of this collection to use for
purposes. The other day a
one Of the police precincts and said
that her son was very i'll with "tlu-
She explained that when he had it
year ago the only thing that helped !
him was whisky, and that she did not
have the money to buy whisky now. Z
She asked the officer in charge OF the !
police station If he would give her ]
just one good dose for her son from Z
the confiscated supply.
Some Washington physicians agree !
with this negro woman that good 4
whisky is the only thing that viii 7
cure influenza They are strongly ad- !
vocating that the liquor in the hands !
0f the police be placed at the disposal /
1f the medical fraternity for their pa
tents in case Of return Of FLU" this I
tall
This liquor in the possession OF the /,
police has been piling up ever since {
he national capital went dry on Oc-
-oDer 81. 1917. under the terms OF the I
sheppard law This act made Il pos
sible for an individual TO bring liquor
nto the district for his own personal !
use, and under that heading a great /
Quantity Of spirits was brought in. It I
was very difficult for the police under 4
the Sheppard law 10 get evidence
against any one doing an illegal i'm
porting trade as invariably the ex-
use was that the liquor was being
brought in from Baltimore and other
nearby wet towns for personal use
Arrested But Couldn't Convict. !
The police made several arrests I'M Z
Ter this law, but they soon gave up I
trying to prevent importations be- /
cause the courts would not convict. /
For example. a negro man was ar I
rested by the police on the highway
leading into Washington from Balti- !
more with 500 half pints Of liquor in 1
his possession He asserted that it /