New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
Iron County Officials
Hold Up Prohibition
Agents and Take COnfis-
Gated Wine From Them
u. S. Authorities
Plan ''Clean-Up''
Men Are Picked to Start
on Armed Expedition
Against Violators Today

CHICAGO, Feb. PA rebellion
against prohibition" has broken out in
Iron County, Mich, and the county, led
by it's prosecuting attorney. is in "open
revolt" against Federal authority, Major
A. V. Dalrymple Federal prohibition
director of the Central States, notified
Washington to-day.
A prohibition agent and a party of
Michigan state constables were held
up February 19 by Iron County
officials and wine they had confiscated
was taken from them, according to word
brought to Chicago to-day by Leo J
Grove, of Marquette, supervising pro
hibition agent for the upper peninsula
Major Dalrymple appealed to Attor-
ney General Palmer to order warrants
issued for the arrest of the county
prosecutor, two deputy sheriffs, two
police officers and three other resi-
dents of Iron River, a mining village
While awaiting word from Federal
authorities Dalrymple issued orders
for company of picked prohibition
agents to gather here tonight prepara-
tory to starting tomorrow on an
armed expedition which, he declared
will "clean up" iron County. The
Michigan state constabulary will be
asked to cooperate in the expedition.
Troopers Seize Wine
Grove, accompanied by Lieutenant
r. G. Strope and Troopers Masters and
eleven barrels of wine at mine two
t,n toJ -,
Major Dalrymple to-day. The wine is
said to have been made by John, Peter
and Steven Scalcucci. wealthy Italians
who own several business ventures at
Iron River.
Grove loaded the liquor into q sleigh
and started to move it to Caspian
the headquarters Of the state con
stabulary in that section of the PENN
sula
When the sleigh reached Iron Rivel
it was met by Prosecuting Attorney
p. A. McDonough, Deputy Sheriffs
Chard and Jesse Allen. Police Chief
c. Fl. Sensiba and Police Captain
Claude Brown.
McDonough, according TO Groves
report, told the prohibition supervisor
that he was "under arrest for trans
porting liquor" and ordered his mer
W SciHe Luc WlIe. GiONG put up q
fight. but was overpowered. The wine
he says, was returned to the Scalcucc
brothers by McDonough, who, the re
port adds, told the brothers TO post al
armed guard over it with orders tc
shoot if the Federal agent tried tc
regain possession.
Palmer Asked to Act
After receiving the report Majo.
Dalrymple asked that Attorney Genera
Palmer instruct the United State.
Commissioner at Marquette, Mich, t,
issue the warrants. Grove reported
that District Attorney Myron H
Walker, at Grand Rapids. had ordered
the commissioner to issue no warrant.
without first submitting them to him
which takes from five to fifteen days
Samples of the wine seized in tn,
raid, taken some time ago, tested l.
per cent alcohol.
Iron River is q small village in the
mining country Il few miles from the
Wisconsin line. The population of the
county is largely composed of Italian.
and Sicilians, according to Grove, ant
"bootlegging" has been rampant in the
hills and woods for months.
The Michigan state constabulary
tried to "clean up" the county a few
months ago and Captain Marsh, of the
constabulary, was shot by "bootleg
ger"
Attorney General Palmer, who
stopped i'll Chicago tonight for few
COufinueG on, merit NINA