The sun., 1919-10-24
RESTAURANTS
ASKED TO TELL
OF BOOZE GRAFT
Bribers Expected to Appear
Before Grand Jury and
Thus Escape Clutches.
HALF A MILLION PAID OUT
McCarver Says He Only Pro-
tected His Friends, but
Levied No Tribute.

There has been a theory for long
time that 1t pays to pay little atten-
tion to what Uncle Sam says, espe-
cially when one gets into trouble. The
theory would seem to be supported
notably in the. case of "Pinky" Nc
Carver, who had little session with
q Federal Judge and a capable young
special prosecutor yesterday in con-
nection with the booze graft scandal
that has startled the town.
Pinky-or Charles p, to employ the
more formal designation of the Grand
Jury Indictment naming him as a con-
spirator and grafter-is one of the
three active agents of the Department
OF Justice who. with two men outside
the service, are accused by John NJ.
Minton, special assistant Federal At
torney, and William J. Flynn, chief
investigator of the department, Of
working one Of the richest shenanigan
games In the graft annals Of the city
The Federal Grand Jury already has
information which tends to show that
the five men indicted collected prob
ably 100000 from restaurant keepers
and saloonmen interested in cheating
the law and gouging the public.
Reverting to the mutton, as the
French have 1t, to the special case, in
deed, of Pinky McCarver, 1t appears
that this young man was about to start
South for his health when some OF
Chief Flynn's agents picked him up at
the Pennsylvania Station late on
Wednesday night. The fact that he had
ony just come from the South and in
bounding health seemed to make no
special difference. He felt the call of
the magnolias and was skinning a siz-
able bill from his roll and preparing
10 negotiate for a ticket to Nashville
when a hand rudely dropped upon his
shoulder. He was nice about 1t, though
and when Mr., Minton put him on the
grill yesterday morning McCarver helped
turn himself over. He paid attention to
what Uncle Sam wanted and got his re-
ward presently.
Purely q Friendly Interest.
To Mr.. Minton McCarver admitted
that he had protected. or caused to be
protected, certain saloon keepers en-
gagged in illegally selling whiskey.
But never took a dollar" said McCar-
yer earnestly. Il never took dishonest
dollar in my life. l had some friends
In the saloon business and I didn't want
70 see them get the worst of it while
others in the trade were running wide
opn and making a lot of money. II
was just friendly interest on my part"
Aren't you a very sentimental person
10 be an agent Of the Department OF
Justice?" asked Mr.. Minton.
We'll. maybe / am. Yes. l suppose
! am sentimental" said Pinky, but ]
was born that way"
He admitted frankly that he has had
knowledge for a long time OF the game
being played by Richard Yancey and
Morton p. Allen in collision with Pig
nuola and Polling, agents OF the De-
partment of Justice. He said he had
suspected" for a long time that Dick
Yancey was getting the sugar"-get-
ting it by the barrel, and that others
in the ring were finding the times very
helpful. He said the graft situation
had been predicted by experienced Fed
eral detectives long before Chief Flynn
hoped upon the job, and one Of these
wise old sleuths was quoted as having
said:
There never was a prohibition law
yet which didn't open the door &c
crookedness; which didn't make a foo
OF the law and corrupt officials"
Hopes to Learn More Later.
Mr.. Minton, not so much interested
in The philosophy OF the situation as ir
getting the goods on crooks, passed ovel
the comment and continued to question
McCarver about the ways and wiles o.
his pals Of the service. He couldn't ge
much. to tell the truth. That is I,
say, he couldn't get so much yesterda,
morning; but he has hopes, has Mr.
Minton. He thinks that Pinky's minC
needs repose and that Pinky will com,
across like a good boy at the prope
time.
To reward him for paying a littl,
attention to what was said to him b,
Uncle Sam Mr.. Minton had Judg,
Learned Hand knock $500 of his bail
The first notion had been to stick
$4,000 bond upon Mr.. McCarver blu
after he acted so nicely in the talk will
Mr.. Minton the Judge sliced It down t,
$1,000, and that was easy for a senti
mental person with so many friends a
McCarver. He is coming around to se
Mr.. Minton again to-day.
Chief Flynn, who finds it about a
easy to pussyfoot around New York a
the Leviathan would find II to get VI
the North River without anybody see
ing her. was very active yesterday II
interviewing certain influential restau
q u
90 much a week 1t was limited tina
Mr.. Flynn was advising the restauran
persons to hasten down to the Fedora
building and knock three times at tn
door of the Grand Jury room 1t wa
limited also that he told them also the
were In for rough experience II the
didn't talk.
You know me, gentlemen" MI
Flynn is quoted as having said las
evening. II don't indulge In foe
threats. But the Government has a.
most no sense Of humor. The Govern
ment doesn't know how to take a jok,
II some Of you think 1t is funny I
make the new dry law look like
sieve then you've got a shock coming I
you. You are due for visit to A,
lanta. I'm not Joking. You're briber
and l can prove It. Come across O
go up"
There's the ticket the Government 1
writing. II demands the punishment @
officials guilty of disloyalty and IT seek
tn aNN . - IL A..