New-York tribune., 1920-01-25
Shevlin Opens
Drive to Stop
Sale of Liquor
Raid on Park Row Cafe
With Seizure of Spirits
Among First in Series
of Arrests in Roundup
No Mercy for Niolators
BrOOme Street Cellar Is
Found to Contain 500
Gallons of Western Wine

The promise made yesterday by
James s. Shevlin. Federal prohibition
enforcement agent, on his return from
Washington, that the national prohibi-
tion law would be rigidly enforced and
that all violators would be sent to jail
irrespective of position or politics, was
fulfilled almost Immediately.
Only few minutes after Mr.. Shevin
had told reporters that the work of
his agents would go on swiftly now
that the red tape in his organization
telephone in his Office reported a raid
on violators of the Eighteenth Amend
ment. This was followed closely by a
report Of another.
Roundup Of Spirits
William D. Allen, Robert Connolly
and John H. Davis, agents working
under the supervision of Mr.. Shevln,
made Il RAID yesterday afternoon on
Ranken's Cafe, at 20 Park Row, not far
from the Department of Justice, and
which was a famous rendezvous for
city and Federal officials in former
days. On the fourth floor of the
building they found seven gallons of
IS per cent proof colored spirits.
In Rankin's cafe the agents discov-
cred one of the most novel means of
serving friends" that has come to
their notice since they started their
war on liquor law volators in July
Forcing their way through a concealed
door behind lunch counter and op-
positc the bar :hey squeezed through
narrow passageway until they came
10 another door. On opening this they
found themselves face to face with an
elevator. Near by were a bottle of
colored spirits. six glasses and a
pitcher of water.
The bartender told the agents that
the booze was not being sold, and that
on the fourth floor he had another
bottle which he had brought from
Long Island and was keeping there for
lis own consumption. The agents i'm
lnediately went up stairs, but instead
of finding one bottle .hey came upon
seven gallons of colored spirits, which
were confiscated and removed to the
Custom House.
Signals Brought Stimulants
According to the agents. friends of
the place were served at the elevator
after knocking on the door. After the
order was given the attendant operat-
ing the elevator went to the fourth
floor and soon returned with the much
desired stimulant.
L ne agents arrested SIgmund kreU-
ter owner of the place, and Frederick
II. Bruno, the bartender They were
ordered to appear before United States
Commissioner Hitchcock at 10 O'Clock
tomorrow morning.
In the meantime Carmina De Biaso.
of 3l5 Broome Street, was arrested bv
agents operating under Inspector Fe-
nelly, of the I'd District. In two vaults
IN dark, moist basement we're nine
barrels and five demijohns. containing
almost 500 gallons of California wine.
The agents had been watching this
place for several days.
De Biaso told the agents that ONLY
part Of the liquor belonged to him and
I hat 200 gallons of wine was owned
by Diego Cerrillo. the landlord who
lives in Brooklyn De Biaso was
arrested. The barrels were sealed.
Seven cases of assorted liquors.
found concealed in oil cans when
inspectors Hokcnsen and Schmidt made
search Of the Ward liner MORO
castle at Pier Il. East River, Friday
night, were delivered to the seizure
room at the Custom House yesterday
morning. No one claimed ownership
of the contiscated contraband and no
arrests could be made
Liquor From Ship Held
The inspectors boarded the Morro