The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-27
VISIT HOTELS AT NIGHT
Hostelry Where Bryan Stops
Found Selling Hard
Liquor Over Bar.
NAY TAKE PROPRIETORS
Warning Issued That War
Dry Law Must in Future
Be Observed.

big squad of agents of the De-
partment Of Justice went through the
White Light district yesterday and
last night serving John Doe warrants
on bartenders and walters in saloons,
hotels and cabarets that are alleged to
have been doing what they could to
satisfy those who feel that they must
have red liquor regardless of the war
prohibition law.
The campaign conveyed word in
terms not to be disregarded that the
Government means business in en-
forcing the war law, which, it is a
matter Of common knowledge, has not
snce it became effective on July in
convenienced anybody with thirst,
a nodding acquaintance with barkeep
cr two and the wherewithal to meet
the increased tariff.
Up to midnight last night there had
teen twelve arrests. This number, how
ever, represented but a small part Of tie
Total caught In the campaign. The
men who were sought begin their work
at the time when most people are quit
ting for the day and it was not until
the dinner hour that the agents really
got down to business. Then they rode
through the old and new Tenderloins in
squads serving warrants.
All Warrants Served.
The agents were empowered to use
their judgment whether to make actual
and order the defendants to appear oe-
fore Commissioner Hitchcock this after
hoon. They had altogether forty-one
warrants Practically all of these were
served.
The agents worked quietly. They did
not interfere, SO far as appearances were
concerned with the business of any of
the places they visited. but they did,
nevertheless, serve to cut deeply into
the service of whislIey and wines at
places where there had been but little
caution before. 1t was pretty hard for
even well known patrons to get a hard
drink along Broadway at midnight
The warrants were issued as the re-
suit Of an investigation conducted FRI
day and Saturday nights The agents
found that whiskey was as easy to get
as before the war prohibition law be-
came effective. They roamed the white
light district, picking such places as lay
hrst In their coursc-hotel barrooms, or
dinary barrooms and cabarets OF many
kinds. Prices were high and varied
greatly, they said, but otherwise there
appeared to be no restraint on the serv-
ing OF liquor
Eight men were arrested in the after
noon In time to be taken before United
states Commissioner Samuel NJ. Hitch
cock and arraigned. All of these save
one were connected with small street
saloons
The one exception. was thomas Nc
Lane, bartender In the Hotel Chatham,
In vanderbilt avenue, at Forty-eight
street The Chatham is a newcomer
among the group Of big hotels that have
oeen put up in the nelghborhood OF the
Grand Central Terminal. 1t caters to a
clientele that finds the expensive ac-
eommodations OF the Ritz. the Biltmore
ana the Commodore a bit too much in
Ihe possession of the transient public
us odrroom Is a mere cubbyhole that
oners buffet service to those who know
Where to find It The hotel is favored
py prohibluonists, and William Jennings
bryan Is frequent guest
Gives Himself Up.
AcLane appeared before the Commits
honer Voluntarily He had heard that
warrant had been issued charsing him
win selling a glass OF sherry wine to
IN agent Of the Department Of Justice.
ne was held in 500 bail for examination
Friday.
The other prisoners were: Peter Nc
ri
way near Forty-eighth street; John H
brunnlng proprietor. $40 Westchester
avenue Thomas Byrne, proprietor 95
amsterdam avenue; Nicholas Roma,
bartender, Lion Gaze, brUaoway- and
tlVth street; Thomas Quinn. bartender,
amsterdam avenue and Manhattan
street; John Breen. bartender. 1901 AM
Herdam avenue Andrew Lata, barten-
street
rour more arrests were made at night
N "hlch the prisoners were taken to
loHce Headquarters. They gave their
names as John j. Carney, 703 Columbus
avenue Adolph Moltz. 242 East Fifty
nfst street; Edward O'Connor, 80 Con-
mht avenue. and Peter Walsh. 17S East
Eghtieth street.
An OF the defendants except Brunning
were released in $500 ball Brunnlng
was held in $1,000 bau because the com
p'a!ht charged him with selling whiskey
nHh an unusually strong kick to It, The
Nnefs were accused of selling whislsey
WINE. Dispensers of beer the alco-
HoNc content OF which is a matter for
equation at the brewery. were not made
subjects Of investigation.
me war prohibition law prescrlbes
maximum penalty On imprisonment for
one year and fine OF 81 1000 or both
S directed against the actual sellers
T Hquor John f.. Joyce. Assistan;
United States Attorney. said that th'
y ass in which barenders are the de-
!sh1ants would be Investigated to see T.
ue proprletors had knowledge that win
a"u "hisKey was being sold across Their
oSts' Where the evidence warrants. h.
Su' prosecutions would be begun un
yer Section SS2 OF the United State,