New-York tribune., 1920-08-26
u. s. Demands
Liquor Facts
I'm Eckert Case
Federal Attorney Asks for
Evidence of Dry Law
Violations in Connec-
tion With Cab Murder
Another Arrest Is Made
Staten Island Prosecutor
Denies That Officials Are
Improperly Interested

Although some progress was made
yesterday in the inquiry into the
murder of Frederick p. ("Robert")
Eckert, the alleged whisky runner, who
was found shot last Saturday in an
automobile on Old Tom Road, S. T.,
nothing was done toward investigating
the existence of the whisky ring and
the Wholesale traffic in liquor which
the murder disclosed
Alfred Norton, Assistant District At
torncy of Richmond County, said yes
terday morning that he was going to
visit Leroy w. Ross. United States Dis
trict Attorney for the Eastern District
of New York, at his office in Brooklyn.
The purpose of his visit was believed
to be to introduce MIR. Ross to the
methods of boot-legging in Staten
Island and to lay before him a few
facts. Mr.. Norton started out, osten-
sibly for Brooklyn, about II o'clock
yesterday morning. At 3 o'clock Mr..
Ross said he had not seen Mr.. Norton.
Ross Not Given Evidence
Mr.. Ross said that no one had pre-
sented to him any evidence Of Illicit
liquor transactions on Staten Island.
But he continued, 81 have taken a
great deal of interest in this case.
However, it is not up to me to take
action. | have not seen any violation
of United States laws. | suppose pro-
hlbltion enforcement agents are work
ing on the case. They have not COM
municated with me-
Il should be very much interested if
some one would come in with evidence
of whisky running on Staten Island.
We don't make Investigations here; we
haven't ,1ffi ciort fOrCo
When he was told the names of two
men alleged to be trading in Illicit
liquors he said it was news to him.
One of the persons is relative of a
Richmond County official and the other
is on the police force.
After Mr.. Morton failed to appear,
Mr. Ross sent letter last night to Jo-
seph Maloy, District Attorney for Rich
mond County, who has charge Of the
Eckert case, and asked that Mr.. Maloy
furnish him with al 1.-The evidence
available in connection with prohbi-
tion violations in Staten Island. He
said he would take immediate steps to
prosecute every case wherein the Vol
stead act was violated.
Mr. Ross's letter was the only exhi-
bition of interest yesterday on the part
of the authorities in the wctness of
Staten Island. Whether James Shevlin,
Supervising Prohibition Agent. has
done anything, is not known. He was
not in the city yesterday. There is a
report that he has sent four of his best
men to Staten Island to try to get
something on the whisky ring. 1t is
not reported that any dry raids have
been made on Staten Island since Eek
ert's murder and the presence of dry
agents has not been corroborated.
Chauffeur Arrested
Max Katz was arrested late Tuesday
night by Detective Sergeant James
Graham and Detective James McKet-
trick. He is a chauffeur, and was held
on a short affidavit charging him with
murder. 1t was on Mrs. Eckerts COM
plant that he was arrested
The whole murder mystery is soaked
in liquor deals. 1t was said yesterday
that short time ago Eckert tried to
seize, with the aid of prohibition
agents, $500 cases Of whisky from a
Baltimore & Ohio car in the freight
yards in Tompkinsville. AS the story
goes, the agents were interrupted by
the watchman and before they could
return with some sort OF a search war
rant the man to whom the liquor was
consigned came and took it away.
He is an Italian. With two others
ne was brought to Staten Island and
questioned about Eckert's death. Mrs.
Eckert had told the District Attorney
that one of them might have been in
the party seen by the night watchman
of the manufacturing plant close to the
place where the death car was found
Mr.. Maloy was away yesterday for
the greater part Of the day In the
morning, however, when asked about
the whisky ring, he did not seem in
terested. He also said that the idea
that Staten Island public officials had
anything but a proper interest in the
details OF The Eckert case was not
worth commenting upon
Two other persons have been charged
with the murder Of Eckcrt. They are
William Moloney, proprietor of the
hote at which Eckert and his wife
lived for some time just prior to his
death G3 under the name of Hayes, and
Oharies Kane, hackman, in whose
automobile Eckert was found.
Mr. Maloy said yesterday that he was
considering the possibility of having
a grand jury called to investigate the
murder.