New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-24
Eckert Murder
Links Dry Aids
I'm Whisky Ring
Prohibition Agents Worked
With Bookkeeping Gang
in Staten Island Liquor
Running, Police Hint
Shot Stopped Informer
Maloney and Kahn, Held in
Connection With Case.
Will Cci Hearing To-day

Authorities investigating the murder
o. Frederick =. t"Robevt'D Eckcrt,
alias Bob Hayes, the alleged whisky
runner who was found dead last
Saturday morning in stolen automo-
bile on Old Town Road, Staten Island,
seemed more certain than ever yester-
day that prohibition agents were work
ing with the Bookkeeping gang.
The theory of the police is that
Fckert was about to give information
concerning his companions and that
they adopted the surest method of
stopping him.
Several men were brought to District
Attorney Joseph Maloy's Office in
Staten Island yesterday. Three of
them were held as material witnesses.
Thee police say they were in Molo-
ney's Hotel on Friday, the night before
Eckert was found dead.
Two Men -xe Sought
According to the police lhey are Mike
Shuie, saloonkeeper; Frank "Chuck"
Connors, hackman, and Mike Benc-
detto, an expressman. They all come
from the districts around Orange, n. j.,
where Eckert used to live and where
he had garage. They said that they
lust dropped over to Moloney's that
night" They knew Eckert it is al
legged.
At present the authorities are seek
ing two men. They have their names
and descriptions. When they are found
it is believed that the case Will come to
a rapid and startling conclusion.
1t was learned yesterday that Eckcrt
had telephoned TO his Wife, Airs. rior-
ence Hayes Eckert, at o'clock Friday
night He told her he was with Will
st which he and his wife had been
staying. He said they had a car. He
was found dead in touring car be-
longing TO Charles Kahn, a hacknan
Moloney and Kahn are held in connec-
tion with the murder. Their case comes
IN for hearing to-day IN Staplcton
Kahn drove the car in which
Eckert's body was found to funeral
at Calvary Cemetery in Queens on
Friday morning. Mr.. Maloy said that
Eckert got into the car on its return
at Catharine and Madison Streets,
Manhattan. The prosecutor cues
mon, of 105 Monroe Street, who, he
thought, had seen the car and its
passengers. Solomon had seen an
automobile but it was not the right
one
The police do not believe that
Eckert was killed on Old Town Road,
or near there. They doubt very
much that the other men in the auto
mobile meant to leave the car where
it was found, with their victim in it.
II is quiet around Old Town Road
Pistol shots would have been heard by
the night Waterman at a nearby
manufacturing plant. Added to this,
ii was made known that the automo-
of the rut in the side of the road
where it was found, and that the
ground under the rear wheels was
torn up as if an effort had been made
to keep on going.
Mr.. Maloy said he would be busy all
night arranging his case against Kahn
and Moloney. He said that he had
talked with James Shevlin, Supervis-
ing Prohibition Agent, concerning the
whisky drumming on Staten Island, and
Mr.. Shevlin had promised his help.
August Hasenfiug, attorney for Shev-
lin, an assistant and a revenue agent
yesterday afternoon.
Shevlin Starts Inquiry
Mr.. Shevlin has assigned four men
to assist in clearing UP the insinua-
tons that revenue men were partners
in Eckert's dealings. He said that he
had received several reports from diff
ferent persons that Eckert was boot
logging on large scale, and should he
find that the ramitications of the
scheme led to Manhattan he would put
his whole staff on the case if neces-
sary.
Mr.. Maloy has said that a revenue
agent by the name of Mcclure was the
one who Informed the police on August
Il as to where Eckert could be ar
rested Mr.. Shevlin has requested
that Mcclure, who used to work
Staten Island and is now in Westches-
ter tell what he knows of the Eckert