New-York tribune., 1920-02-05
u. S. Lets Booze
Ship Go, Seizes
4 Whisky Cars
Release of the Yarmouth's
$4,OOO,OOO Cargo Con-
signed to Havana Result
of Washington Advice
Kentucky Shipment Held
New Director Here TO Issue
Permits; Drug Store
Liquor May Be Cheaper


left Manhattan to look over the situa-
tion in Connecticut and Rhode Island
food of happenings which threatened
to swamp his department broke loose.
Yesterday was the busiest day for the
Internal Revenue agents since the lid
really went on.
First, the "booze ship" Yarmouth, the
Black Star boat which belongs to the
North American Steamship Corpora
tion, was released and permitted to
continue on her cruise to Cuba, where
the Eighteenth Amendment doesn't
"take."
Then Frank dc Mayo's little black
bag was investigated by George A. Bar
ron, a Custom House guard. Frank
and his satchel We're taking the air in
Battery Place, and inside the satchcl
were two gallons of wine. They are
not there now.
solve Oil' Shipment Seized
Half an hour later two patrolmen
uncovered cargo labelled "olive oil"
on a moter truck at 157th Street and
Third Avenue There were nineteen
fve-gallon cans on board, and the lot
was confiscated when the patrolmen got
olfactory evidence that the labels were
camouf1age.
And, on top of all this, Assistant Su-
pervisor Quigley seized four carloads
of whisky on Pier %, North River
The day brought the refusal of Po-
lice Commissioner Enright to make
any statement regarding the part the
city police will play in enforcing the
law, and, at the same time, Charles r.
O'Connor, Federal prohibition director
for New York, city and state. opened
his office at % West Twenty
Street. Mr.. O'Connor will issue the
necessary permits for the sale Of al
cohol
In New jersey three saloon keepers
were arrested on a charge of having
whisky on their premises at Perth
Amboy, and Orange bobbed up with a
new low record for arrests during the
month of January, only three persons
registering at the Orange Jail, and only
one arrest being made for intoxication.
Among all the activities, the Var
mouth held first consideration with the
enforcement officers. United States At
torney, Francis G. Cafney talked over
the telephone with Prohibition Commits
sioner Kramer in Washington, and with
Superintendent Shevlin at New Haven,
before the announcement was made by
Mr.. Quigley that the Yarmouth would
be permitted to continue to Cuba with
her $4,000 600 cargo of whisky and wine.
1t was assumed that the Washington
authorities decided the Yarmouth could
not be held in view of the fact that
she originally left United States juris-
diction prior to the advent of the
Eighteenth amendment, and was obliged
to return to the dry" zone because of
accident
The craft lies at the West Eightieth
Street pier. whore she will take on coal
for the voyage South. She is expected
to sail to- o-morrow. No attempt was made
yesterday by the enforcement squad to
unload her but she is heavily guarded.
Promoter Before Grand Jury
The release of the Yarmouth's cargo
did not end the problems of Marcus
Garvey, negro promoter and president
o. the Black Star Line. The Federal
Grand Jury, which is investigating the
alleged disappearance of several gallons
Of whisky from the ships hold, called
Garvey as d witness, but the shipowner
refused to produce the ships manifest
and other documents regarding his en-
terprise which the jury called for. He
was taken before Federal Judge John
c. Knox, who ordered him to bring in
all the papers and advised him that
while his corporation could not claim
immunity it would be his privilege to
submit claim for personal immunity.
Frank de Mayo, whose little black
satchel was seized in Battery Park, was
arraigned before United States Com
missioner Hitchcock and held IN $500
hail for having liquor in his possession
and transporting 1T.
John B. Martucc, chauffeur of 496
East 1S9th Street, and Renato ISABELLA,
truckman, of 1895 Belmont Avenue, The
Bronx, who were arrested by Patrolmen
John Lutkin and Charles Nicl,ess, of the
Morrisania station. when their truck
with its load Of "olive oil" stalled at
Third Avenue and l57th Street, were
held by Commi ssioner Hitchcock in $500
4 bail each. The patrolmen became sus-
picous when they found the "olive oil"
cargo was IN feed bags. The men
stated that they had been engaged by
stranger to take the "OliVe oil' to an
address in The Bronx. They are
charged with possessing and trans
porting.
The seizure made by Assistant Super
visor Quigley was shipped from Louis
vile and is consigned to "order." 1t
is marked for medicinal purposes but
it is charged that, the law was violated
by failure 20 obtain a permit for trans
portation. The contents of the four
cars were taken to q bonded warehouse,
Y and each truckload was accompanied by
an armed guard, and trailed by a pro-
cession Of wistful spectators.
Mr.. r. O'Connor signalized his ap-
pearance by statement TO the public
in which he emphasizes the necessity
of every dealer in liquor possessing a
permit.
Good Whisky To Be Cheaper
In another statement issued from Mr..
Shevlin's Office the public is Informed
that "the average citizen is indeed fool
ish to buy either moonshine or bootleg
whisky" and druggists are urged to
apply for permits to handle liquor on
prescription. If druggists comply with
the law, the statement says, they may
distribute, under physicians prescrip-
tions, "better whisky and at a more
moderate price than was possible under
former conditions"
Luigi Orsi, 81 East Sixty-frst Street,
was arraigned before Commissioner
Hitchcock, charged with having six bar
rels Of wine in his possession. Detec-
tive Thomas c. Dowd, of the 5th In
spection District, made the arrest. Orsi
was held in $500 bail.
$.-...::lar disposition was made by the
Commissioner OF the cases of Dominick
Rabbuffu, a saloonkeeper, of lao West
End Avenue and his bartender; of Mrs.
Kittie Moore, charged as the owner of
saloon at i,400 Unionport Road, and