New-York tribune., 1920-01-23
II. s. Aids Hunt
Gang in Fake
Revenue Raids
Arrest of Band Is Expected
Soon; Cafes Held Up;
Biz Harvest Taken From
Intimidated Saloon Men
Impostors Use Tin Badges
sl.25O.OOO Worth of Cali.
fornia Wine Seized
Within Last Few DAYS

J. J. Quigley, assistant supervising
pohibition enforcement agent said
Yesterday that he expects in q short
time to arrest the ringleaders Of the
nne which is victlmising saloon
keepers by posing as revenue agents.
Fo. three weeks the Federal authorj-
ties have been trailing these men. Mr.
ouigley is convinced that the swindlinp
operations are being carried on by one
Of TWO who were employed in the
revenue service some years ago. work
Ing now hand in hand with several
old.tme gangsters.
The gang has been working in So
lcns in Ninth, Tenth, Second and Third
avenues Mr.. Quigley's staff has learned
Of ave actual instances Of their work,
and from another source three more
cases have been verified. If all reports
are confirmed, the total will probably
reach one hundred, Mr.. Quigley said.
Raiders Work in Pairs.
4 tin badge IS the chief stock In
trade Of the fake raiders. They oper-
etc In pairs, walking along the avenue
until they see a saloon with a prom:s
Ing appearance.
They enter and try to buy drink
II they succeed they fash the badge
and declare that they are prohibition
enforcing officers: 1t is then the ber-
tenders cue to throw up his hands.
say he'll never do it again and ask
il he can do anything for the gentle
nen-
In one case this saloon keeper offered
The fake agents q case Of vino as 6
bribe. They accepted, went out and
found two women friends and returned
to the back room, where they eos
drunk. In other instances the boot
has been a cash present, amounting.
Mr. Quigley thinks, to anything from
500 to $500.
When the bartender refuses to offer
bribe at the proper time the fake
agents serve him with summons
This is what real agent would do in
most cases II the raided proprietor
seemed to be fairly responsible citi
zen. This, and other instances which
indicate that the swfndlers know the
ropes, have led Mr.. Quigley to believe
that they are men who formerly were
IN the service.
Quick to Pass Word
Some Of the tricks which bartenders
may use when the real raids begin on
4 large scale have been revealed by
.hese swindltng operations. In the
raids on Ninth Avenue Monday night
he word travelled from saloon to sa-
oon by telephone so fast that after
he fake agents had been to three
'laces the tleld was closed, and they
Iuit-
One Of the queerest features Of the
'ituation, according to Mr.. Quigley,
9 that the saioonkeepers failed TO
!emand the credentials Of the supposed
federal agents. Every revenue man
md prohibition enforcing agent car
leg an engraved pocket certificate,
which any raided person should de-
nand TO see This is the same that
las been carried for years by tho rev.
,nue agents inspecting saloons and
collecting taxes, and therefore should
" familiar to every saloonkeeper.
California wine worth about million
md q quarter dollars has come into
New York during the last week and has
oeen seized upon its arrival. MIR Quig-
ey admitted yesterday. Kentucky
Thiskv IN smaller amounts has also
arrived, he said This liquor was in
ended for export, but was delayed In
ransit until il was too late.
Liquor Held Up for Permits
Four carloads day, on the average,
,ave arrived from California Each car
contains $50 barrels, each Of which may
1e approximately appraised at $500.
This liquor Is held by the Federal
agents III bonded warehouses until the
'wners have taken out licenses to sell
/. for medicinal or sacramental pur-
'oses. Some owners OF arriving liquor
AVE ALREADY received such permits,
kr. Qu.gley said. and they are permit
ed TO retain their property. Others
lsve Until January 27 TO apply fo1 per
nits.
Whtsky Ready fur Sick
Royal s. Copeland, Health Commits
fonr, yesterday took a.eps 20 insure
u adequate supply % medicinal