Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-24
ARREST EXPECTED
IN BOOTLEG KILLING
Dry Agent Is Still Under Sus-
picion-Several Witnesses
Are Questioned
SHEVLIN Is INVESTIGATING

New York. Aug. 24.-Police Captain
Frank A. Peabody. who has been in
charge of the police investigation Of the
murder of Frederick =. EckCrt, or Rob-
crt Eckett, the "bootlegger' who was
killed on Staten Island Friday night or
Saturday morning. said last night that
n federal prohibition agent was under
suspicion. Several witnesses were qucs-
toned yesterday. An arrest is expected
shortly.
The witness deemed the most impor-
tant was Alexander Solomon. truck
man. Manhattan, who had been named
early in the investigation by the widow
Of the murdered man and by others.
Solomon was alleged to have met soy
eral men in Manhattan on Friday night
Eckert was found on the following
morning.
The other three witnesses were
mike" Shuie, sallonkeeper of
Orange; Frank Connors. a hackman of
Orange. and Mike" Benedito. an ex-
pressman of the same place. They arc
supposed to have. been business asso o
ciateS Of Eckert.
The detectives apparently made no
effort during yesterday to question the
two federal prohibition agents who were
accused Of being among the associates
Of Eckert in highway robberieS OF
whisky dealers and the retail distribu
ton of the plunder.
Supervising Federal Prohibition
Agent James Shevlin said yesterday
that thorough investigation of tn,
night whisky traffic on Staten IslanC
and in New Jersey was in progress. anC
that rumors rejecting on members o.
his force would be traced to the bot
tom. He left early yesterday for Wash
ington. where general Overhauling o
prohibition enforcement methods is il
progress in the internal revenue Office
which has been flooded with complaint
that federal agents establish themsclve
in the "bootlegging" business with tn
liquor stocks which they capture il
raids.
Another of the witnesses qucstione,
by Mr.. Molloy was a New York no
liceman, who said that he had hear,
ECkert, while a prisoner in the Tombs
say,
Il am going to sQueal on those dr.
ub'hH ~ WY NOH cOIlt 10 luc iron
for me-.
From another witness the authoritic
heard story that Eckert had on on
occasion, while moving shipment q
whisky in Staten Island, been forced I
pay tribute of $3.50 to one federal agcp
d and $3.50 to another.
> "ECkert was a tool in the hands Z
clever men. Mr.. MoIoy said. "Thc
n probably were afraid that he was abo,
n to squeal on them, after he was re-
i leased. and il was necessary for the
. own preservation to make away wit
e him."
n He added that he had learned thf
= Eckert, when h" took part in raids q
IS whisky smugglcrs, sometimes represent
ed himself as federal agent and cx
e hibited shield of the Internal RevcnI
Il Department.
among other things" said Mr.. Mo
q 10y, "he showed Il bogus telegram pun
e porting to appoint him prohibition OF
IS forCement agent and signed 'Shevlin.
Charles Kane. owner Of the automC
1t bile in which the murdered man WI
It found. who was arrested on suspiciC
Y that he had reported the theft of Il
machine, before the murder was foun
in order to mislcad the police and di,
n connect himself from the case, continu,
: yesterday to refuse to answer question
y William Moloney, proprietor of Il
ID Manhattan Hotel at South Beach wi
le was arrested at that place, was all
Al silent.