The New York herald., 1920-01-03

William d. Allen, Jr., famous rnoonshint
trailer OF Kentucky. was sent ints
Brooklyn yesterday by the United States
Customs officials to clean out the Illicit
liquor places in that borough and withir
a few hours a dozen raids had been made
and the proprietors of five well known
downtown saloons and cafes arrested.
With "Moonshine Bill" as Allen i.
called in Kentucky. went a picked force
of ten hill rangers from the South. They
were selected following a shake-up in the
revenue office in Brooklyn in which eight
men were transferred. 1t was reported
that leak had been discovered in the
federal office through which saloonkeepers
had been warned Of proposed Secret Ser.
vice movements.
Word soon was passed from Red Hook
to Greenpoint that the United States Of
ficials were out for a cleanup. Scores Of
saloonkeepers forthwith locked their doors
and closed bars over which real liquor
has been passed freely for weeks without
regard to the Volstead enforcement law
There was no suspicion In any OF tho
Brooklyn cases that poison drink was
being sold.
Cooperating with the Secret Service. the
police of Newark, ~. j., yesterday ar
rested William Landow after he had con-
fessed to the police that most OF a quantity
Of alcohol for the Metropolitan Barber
Supply Company with factory at No
SO Cabinet street. that city, had been SOLD
to saloonkeepers.
Confession Lands Saloonkeeper.
Abraham Amsterdam, a saloonkeeper. Of
No. 7S Price street was arrested after
Landow In his confession had named thC
saloon man as ono of his lareest custom
ers Landow said he had used some of the
alcohol bought in Manhattan, for tho
manufacture OF lilac water, a hair toniC
and other barber's supplies But he found
he could cell the stuff, which cost him x
a gallon for $50 for drinking purposes. and
stopped making tonic for the hair. Brands
of "whiskey" made from this supply Is no
fatal. II frequently causes illness but not
blindness and is the variety sold common'
iy throughout the city for months. It IL
the only kind manufactured since las'
July except the poison variety. *
Federal officials said the conditions ir
New York generally were much improved
probably because the public has become
alarmed by the danger OF drinking In pub
lie places.
The Brooklyn raid made a great sensa'
tion In that borough. Before II was known
outside the Customs Office that the rev.
enue agents had been transferred, tive
Of the men just arrived from the South
walked into the Assembly. NJ No. 3Os
Fulton street, a favorite meeting place
for officials and politicians In the Borough
Hall section, and ordered two glasses oi
sherry.
The drink vas served and paid for and
the agents saw. according to their sworn
statements, Joseph Competelli, waiter
turn the money over to Nicholas II. Mid
dleton. one of the proprietors who was act.
ing as cashier After pouring out tho
sherry, the revenue agents arrested Md
dleton. his partner, William Dannenfeld
the walter and bartender All were taker
to the Federal Building, where they fur.
nished bail.
Woman Proprietor Seized.
At about the same time, other reve
nue. agents travelling In pairs wer,
making a tour OF the sal ons in tn,
Borough Hall and Williamsburg sec
tions. One place popular with tie OF
ficials In the district Is conducted by
Mrs. Rose sherman, at Court and Liv,
ingston streets. After the fedora
agents had been served with drinks
they arrested Mrs. Sherman and Charlie.
Tracey. bartender.
Among the others against whom the
officials filed complaints were:---James
Levine, OF No. ga Court street: Josep
Competelli. of No. 216 First street: Johr
Ludwig, of No. 106 Seventh avenue
tContinued on Page Four, Col. Three