The diamond drill., 1920-02-28
FEDERAL PROHIBITION ENF0RcER
MIsREPREsENTED CONDITIONS
ADVERTISED OPEN REVOLT
McDonough Insists That The Peo-
pies Rights be Not RuthIessIy
Set Aside in This County

Because he couldn't or wouldn't
show his credentials TO Prosecuting
Attorney McDonough and was thus
opposed In his attempt TO seize some
home made wine. l.. Il. Grove, an al
legged prohibition enforcement officer
stationed at Marquette. reported that
Iron county is in open revolt against
the enforcement OF the Eighteenth
Amendment to the federal constitu-
tion.
The sensational story told by this
man lead to all kinds OF reports being
circulated and TO the request for fed
erai warrants from Attorney General
Palmer This brought great scare
heads in the metropolitan daily pa
pers on Monday. About all there is to
the matter is the headlines, for Iron
county was never more peaceful or
less inclined to revolt against the pro-
hibition laws than now.
Story OF the AFFAIR.
The contention over the scallcucci
wine is an old one and is best told in
last weeks resume of the affair given
in the Iron River r-Stambaugh Reporter
as follows:
The story goes back to Feb. 18th
when the state constabulary raided
three places, those of Vincent Dom
ninio. August Orezio and Scalcucci
Bros. all OF Iron River. Seven bar
reis of wine were found at Donninio's
home, two and one half barrels at
Orezio's and nine barrels at the home
OF Scalcucci Bros. Each is described
as a public place by the state men.
the two former places because board
ers are kept and Scalcucci's because
the building is used In part as a store.
Secured Warrants In Crystal Falls
Warrants TO search the places were
issued by Justice Davidson of Crystal
Falls. Samples were taken of the
wine found at Dominic and Orezios
homes. Upon the discovery OF the
wine at the store OF Scallcucci Bros.
the constabulary telephoned to Prose-
cutor McDonough for instructions
where to store the goods. He imme-
diateiy notified them not TO conhscate
the wine. that they were exceeding
their authority in searching the place
A wordy row ensued between Sergeant
Scavarda, who was I'm charge. and
Prosecutor McDonough. An agree
ment was finally reached whereby the
prosecutor promised TO arrange a
hearing and make a public statement
TO explain his action.
The hearing was held wednesday
afternoon in Justice Curleys court
at the Iron River Town hall. A war
rant had been sworn out against
Steve. John and Peter Scalcucci
charging them with unlawfully pos
sessing certain vinous liquor. No
charges was brought against the two
other parties, as their cases were iden-
ticai and the disposition OF one meant
similar action for the others.
No witnesses were put on the stand
but each defendant filed an affidavit
with the prosecutor confessing they
had In their possession eight barrels
OF wine. testing from flve to fourteen
per cent alcohol. according 10 tests
made by the constabulary from
samples The affidavit further stated
that the possession OF so much wine
was due TO the fact that they had
been unable TO sella carload OF grapes
imported last fall and rather than per-
NIT the grapes 10 spoil, they manu-
factured them into wine, upon advise
from the Internal Revenue Commits
sioner. through pamphlets. which stat
ed that such action was not In viola
tion OF law.
McDonoughs Recommendation.
"It In my recommendation that the
court dismiss the case" stated Pros
ecutor McDonough in his plea to the
court. THE law provides that any
man may keep In his home for his own
personal use and the use OF his family
and bona flde guests. liquor contain
ing more than one half Of one per
cent. II Is my contention that the
place where the wine was discovered
can well be defined as private and
within these rights. No evidence OF a
sale wss obtained against these men.
The three brothers with their fam
iIies make their home over the store.