The sun., 1919-10-25
LADIES OF CHORUS
In BOOZE GRAFT
Beautiful Blondes Are to APP
pear Before Grand Jury
on Monday.
KNOW OF RING METHODS
Prominent Restaurateurs Also
Will Tell Their Stories of
Brides in Court.


most formally as Jane Doe in the sub
pUna made out by the United States
District Attorney, win appear more or
less trippingly before the Federal Grand
Jury on Monday to tell what she knows
about the way some OF the booze graft
was spent. Several OF her will be there.
in fact. for the testimony OF chorus girls
IL expected to be of great value In con-
rection with the investigation of the
workings OF the graft ring which
cleaned UP the town." as Bill Flynn
PUTS It.
John NJ. aTinton has the names Of
three or four young women OF the chorus
who helped the men under Indictment as
conspirators to Illustrate the war time
prohibition law spend the profits OF their
enterprise, and Mr.. Minton has some
reason to believe that the girls are per-
fectly willing TO tell what they know.
In the course OF his investigation Mr.,
Minton learned that Richard Yancey.
described by him as the brains OF the
clique. was in the habit of giving par
ties which lasted until the young morn
ing and in which expense was no OBJ
jest The chorus girls mentioned are
supposed to have knowelge of the meth
eds employed by the graft ring to collect
from restaurant owners and saloon men
probably 100000 as tho price OF pro-
lection for the illegal sale of liquor.
Restaurateur. to Appear.
The girls were supposed to show up in
the Grand Jury room yesterday, but Mr..
Minton. the special assistant Federal at
torney appointed by A. Mitchell Palmer.
Attorney-General Of the United States,
TO uncover the boone graft. decided to
postpone their appearance until Monday.
A number of restaurant men whose
names are familiar to the public were
also instructed to appear on Monday.
Not all of them paid graft. Mr.. Minton
said yesterday, but most of them are
said to have knowledge OF how the
game was worked. Among the witnesses
to be called Is a man who was on
friendly terms with Messrs Yancey, Al
len. Pignuola. Polling and McCarver, the
1--WE men indicted. and who Is said to
have made a deposit of $4,000 in a GER
tain bank last week. That sum probably
does not represent the weekly take OF the
clique. Mr.. Minton thinks that collec-
tons may have amounted TO more than
$4,000 a week, since the operation Of
the scheme covered not only the i've Dor
oushs Of New York. but Long Island and
New Jersey as well. He Is slowly
acquiring precise information as ?he
names Of more and more contributors are
added to the list.
Mr.. Minton expected 10 have talk
with Charles p. McCarver. Mr.. ''Pinky''
McCarter OF Nashville. Tenn. who ad-
naits that he is sentimental person, but
rejects every suggestion that he took a
dollar of graft money In his work with
Pignuola and Polling. the other agents
Of the Department of Justice named as
conspirators Minton was too busy. how
ever, to see "Pinky" yesterday, and
rLx,s' In b. Ne
Edward Swami. District Attorney. The
reason for the call was that AIR. Swarm
had heard that McCarver named an As
sistant District Attorney as one OF tn .
persons Interested in the booze graft.
"Pfnky" Says He's Innocent.
Il never at any time took from any
person any money, property or anything
Of value In connection with may work
- an agent of the Department of Jus
tice." McCarver told Mr.. Swami. More
over do not know of any person. in or
out OF office, who took money for pro-
tecting liquor sellers never said that
an Assistant District Attorney was
mixed up IN the graft
TT has been stated that q member OF
my staf was interested in a cafe up
town which paid graft said Mr. Swami
do you know anything about that?"
mot thing" said "Pinky." earnestly
Mr.. Minton said later that he had no
direct evidence involving the Assistant
District Attorney whose name had been
mentioned.
The man called me up last night"
said Minton. "and was so earnest. so
passionate. l might add. in denying that
no had any sort OF connection with the
graft game that ] was really impressed
He may be perfectly innocent. Wen
know all about II within a few days"
McCarver feels that Injustice has been
his portion. He observes that the habit
of bathing. an innocent diversion, can
get man into dangerous company He
explains that the only reason he ever
called on Richard Yancey In Yancey's
room at the Hotel Commodore was to
take hot bath. "Pinky" says he doesn't
care for cold water bathing and that
when Yancey invited him TO use the hot
water facilities of the Commodore he
gladly accepted the invitation.
More arrests are expected as the in
vestigation develops. Mr.. Aiinton saya
plainly that the five men under indlct-
nent were not the only persons that
benefited from cheating the war timn
prohibition law. He intimated, also. that
the investigation is spreading to other
cities where liquor has been sold alrnos,
as openly as here in New York. He has
heard that several men. including one
in the Federal service, made q trip 10
the South recently, calling on distiiIing
interests.
Graft at the Source.
From the information / have" said
Mr.. Minton, 81 would not he surprised
to learn that efforts were made 10 coll
lect graft at the source. that is TO saw. 10
collect from wholesalers and distlilers az
well as from retailers The more vs
r. into the boozs graft the bigger II
gets"
Before the inquiry Is completed prac-
tcally every cafe and restaurant nro.
prietor in New York will be asked 10
appear before the Grand Jury, and n,
addition TO these, Mr. Minton said a
number OF lawyers that Interested them,
selves in soliciting immunity for clients
VIII be requested TO give testimony. A
number OF very prominent men have
been mentioned as appealing to Federal
officials In behalf Of places that were
violating the law.
30 far the revelations Of booze kraS,
seem to have made little difference IN
the traffic. II was about as easy 10 ret
drink yesterday az on any day before
the exposure was made. In some OF the
better known uptown places caution was
used and only patrons perfectly well
known were served. Tho smaller places
especially the saloons. did not seem 10
Dc apprehensive. Their attitude No.
mat only few days more remain for
liquor selling, since the Volstead Law
WY go INTO effect at midnight on Mon
osE' and that tho authorities probably
wiz h't interfere until that time.