The New York herald., 1920-01-07
ELEVEN INDICTED
!. HERE AS SELLERS
OF WOOD ALCOHOL
Federal Agents Link Prisoners
with Poison Whiskey That
Killed Scores.

An indictment for eleven men who, rev.
the wood alcohol ring that distributed the
liquid poison that caused scores OF deaths
in New England during the holidays was
returned yesterday by the Federal Grand
Jury In the Southern District. The men
named In the indictment constitute the
group who have been rounded UP in the
last two weeks by agents working under
Colonel Daniel l.. Porter, chief of revenue
agents. They are William II. WolIer, Jr.,
Cosimo d'Ambrosio, Samuel K. Saleeby,
Edward X. Ware, Salvatore Esposita.
Adolph Panerelli. John Romanelli. Nathan
Salzberg, Frank Lucibello, Carmine Licen-
ziato and Luigi Puca.
The eleven are charged with conspiring
to violate the Wartime Prohibition ace, I'm
that they conspired to sell for beverage
purposes ten drums of wood alcohol. The
Indictment names Nathan Salzberg and
Frank Lucibello rs having como from
Hartford and New Haven, respectively, TO
New York and having conspired with
Adolph Panerelli to obtain the wood
alcohol 1t also states that Cosimo
d'Ambrosio, John Romanellt and Carmine
Licenziato conspfred TO transfer tho con-
tents of ten drums of wood alcohol to
llWcHly~On0 WuiSkey DdTrClS anu latCr us
tribute this fluid to other persons.
Concurrently tho Federal Grand Jury
In Brooklyn yesterday. returned indct-
ments before Federal Judge Thomas Ives
Chatficld against the eleven men on the
same charge Bail for Saieeby, Romanelli
Ware and Woller was held at 100000 de-
spite arguments by George Gordon Battle,
attorney for Saleeby and Ware, that II
be reduced because IL was prohibitive.
Mr.. Battle ana counsel for tho other men
guaranteed to have their clients in court
when wanted. but Judge Chatfcld de-
clined to reduce the bonds.
1t was reported that Romaneili, with
Panerelli and Woller, whose confessions
enabled tho government agents to clear
up the case, had turned government evi-
dence.
According TO Joseph F. Mufaueen. As
sistant United States District Attorney
and Harold y. Dobbs. revenue agent, the
band who first stole the wood alcohol and
then distributed it through the Connecti-
cut valley, leaving trail of blindness and
death, has been practically rounded up
although there may be some additional ar
rests.
Louis Hoffman, living at No. 3s3 Third
street. was held by Magistrate Levine yes-
terday i'm Morrisania Court for further ex-
animation in the case of Rabbi Mendel
Knee, fifty-six years old, of No. 753 Trim.
ity avenue, Bronx, who became blind from
drinking whiskey which contained wood
alcohol. Three other men involved in the
case were discharged.
According to testimony presented yes.
terday, tho whiskey which was said tc
have been purchased by Rabbi Knee con.
tanned forty-six and half per cent OF
alcohol, twentyeight and a half per cen'
Of which was wood alcohol. Hoffman i:
alleged to have bought the liquid as wood
alcohol and later TO have sold 1t as whis-
key. His bail was fixed at 5000.
AS a large motor truck came off the
ferry in Jersey City shortly after mid
night yesterday police seized 1t and upor
inspection OF IL discovered fifteen barrel,
of wine. The chauffeur, Morris Slamo
WITT, of No. 10l Norfolk street. was ar
rested and held for the federal authoritie,
by Judge William V. ODriscoll in tn.
Second Criminal Court. Jersey City. Slam
owItz said the truck belonged to s. Jorio
Of No. 475 Broadway, and that he received
the barrels at No. 1855 Greene treet.
was said by the Jersey police that he wa.
TO deliver the stuff to an address In River
street. Newark.