Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-07-22
JEALOUS OFFICERS
HALT HIGH DEMOCRATS
'olstead Act No Respecter of
Persons as Automobile Par.
ties Learn When Returning
from Funeral in st. Adams
No Contraband Liquor Found

prominent democrat and high official in
'h'ttenden county feel uncomfortable
Yesterday afternoon when it was used on
,nern with the whip end near Checker
Derry in Milton. Three Jealous officials
caused more CONSERVATION than has been
ioosened in many years among the higher
dignitaries in this section in their effort to
learn whether Intoxicating liquor was be-
ing brought to Burlington.
Many prominent citizens went TO st.
Adams yesterday afternoon TO attend the
funeral of the late G. w. Burlcson. and
IN returning chose a much-trav eled path
from Montreal to the Queen city. On this
path three officers prepared a trap in order
to catch and smugglcrs. who might be
coming in. Two were stationed near the
road in a secluded spot, we'll shielded by
pushes. while a third was stationed on n
NIL with a field glass so that he could
see a machine coming from a distance and
give the others the signal. The result was
that every prominent federal officer. who
was anywhere around. fell into the trap.
as did also many other prominent off,
Gals.
inc first car to come along contained
Mayor j. Holmes Jackson. Judge j. =.
Laid and l.. W. Fennell, deputy collector
of customs. with Mrs. Fcnncll. The first
ny hutN VI WIdL WAS nap
pcning was when a dusty looking in
dividual stepped out of the bushes and
waved to him. His Honor thought he was
saluting and salutcd back. only 20 find
that the salute was a command TO stop.
The first apparition vas followed closely
by a second and it took only about two
seconds TO see that both were, armed with
revolvcrs. which protruded from their
belts in a conspicuous place. They looked
like robbers who meant business. but
they quickly explained that they were on
the lookout to see il the occupants Of the
machine had anything of n contraband
nature in the way of liquids. Mayor Jack
son said that he was glad to say he had
nothing Of the kind but il they were look
ing for anything of that nature it might
be well to look in the fourth car in the
roar. The mayor knew that this car con-
tanned Charles H. Darling. former COL
lector Of customs, and ex-assistant secre-
tary Of the navy. as we'll as other things.
The first car was allowed to move on and
the officers took up their wait in the
bushes.
IT was hardly a minute before another
car speeded swiftly up the road and the
officers were quickly in the middle of the
road in a threatening attitude. This ma
chine contained nothing but United States
officials. In the front scat sat V. A.
Bullard. district attorney, whose duty it
is to prosecute all violators of the Vol
stead act. In the rear sat Henry Conlin,
clerk Of the United States Court. where
all such violators of the law arc to be
tried, and with him was NJ. G.. Leary.
United States referee in bankruptcy. A
sickening look came over the faces Of
tho customs officers and they went back
to their retreat.
Tho whistle came again and the men
with the law again stopped a rich looking
machine. There was no doubt IN the minds
of the inmates Of this car that the time
had come for them to dispense with their
rolls without even getting as much as
usual for their cash, and it is said that
one man had his ready possessions in his
hand when one of the accosters said some
thing about searching the car for liquor
and being clothed with tho authority Of
the United States. Four pairs of eyes.
which had been popping from their
sockets. returned. and took on a dazcd
expression. Finally up spoke James r..
Kennedy. internal revenue collector, who
has charge Of tho enforcement Of tho Vol
stead act. 81 wouldn't he seen with a
drink" said ne. Then the men in the
road recognized one of their superior Of
ficers. Seated with Mr.. Kennedy was
Harold Lockwood. who has direct charge
of the enforcement of the same Nolstead
act. He argued to the men in his service
that such a thing as a drink ne didn't
have. Lynn Hayes and T. B.. Wright were
the other two men in the car and they
quickly told Of everything they had and
where it was. They passed on and one
of the men was heard to remark, there's
no fooling. we really need a drink after
this"
The next car which came along con.
tanned Judge Charles H.. Darling and
party. They were accosted but the old
spirit wasn't in the officers. Whatever
they did. didn't take long for both had
worked for the judge when he was col
lcctor OF customs. The government hires
a heap OF men, remarked one to the
other as they walked away, and so far as
is known that closed the afternoons
activities around "Checkerberry."