New-York tribune., 1920-01-30
Guards Posted
On $4,800,000
Liquor Cargo
Federal Agents Placed on
Liner Forced to Put Back
While ON Way to Cuba
With Wet Goods Aboard
Operating Still Seized
Six Illicit Manufacturing
Apparatus Taken i'll Day;
MANY More Are Marked

The seizure of still in actual op
Grafton and the placing of guards on
poard the steamship Yarmouth. lying in
the Upper Bay with S4.S00,000 worth
of liquor in her cargo, were the
features of yesterday in the campaign
of prohibition enforcement
Frank Less, bartender in a saloon at
Federal Prohibition Agents f. S. Lang
ley and Edward Dermody, charged with
selling liquor. John Meurer, proprietor
of the saloon, has been ordered to op
pear before United States Commission
err Hitchcock.
Anthony Mongelluzo, owner of a sa
loon at so Myrtle Avenue, Flushing, is
alleged to have sold a glass of wine to
two detectives of Inspector Ryan's staff.
He was arraigned before United States
terday and held in 81, 900 bail on each
Of two charges, selling liquor and
maintaining a nuisance.
Still on Gas Stove
j. Baptste, of 447 East Eighty
seventh Street, was arrested and taken
to the District Attorneys office after
tho discovery of q still in operation on
Baptiste's gas stove had been made by
Federal Prohibition Agent John f.
Monahan. The seizure Of other stills
through the day brought the total in
the office Of James S. Shevln. super
vising Federal prohibition agent at the
Custom House, to six Two stills were
seized in the morning. at $50 Seventh
Avenue. Brooklyn. by Agents Robert
+. Connolly and William D. Allen. One
was seized at Mariners Harbor, s. L.
by Agent William j. Mcclure, and one
was seized at 6S Lexington Avenue by
Agents Walsh and Donnelly None of
these four stills was in operation and
no arrests followed the seizures 1t
was learned yesterday that the greater
part of the stills which have been
seized to date, and which are of mex
pensve construction, came from
Binghamton.
Regarding the stills, hundreds of
which are said TO have been sold to
purchasers in the city, Mr. Shevln
advised all who own such stills to
bring them to Room SIS at the Custom
House and surrender them, as the pos
session of them is forbidden by law,
except in connection with chemical
laboratories. Unless such stills are
turned in voluntarily. said Mr. Shevln.
the prohibition agents now in the field
Will check up the purchasers from data
in Mr.. Shevlin's Office, and contsca-
tions and arrests will follow.
Guards Put on Liner
Acting under instructions received
from Washington, Mr.. Shevlin ycster-
day put guards on board the steamship
Yarmouth of the Black Star line. The
Yarmouth cleared for Havana on
January II Sith her cargo of liquor,
but only proceeded as far as Cape
May, wher she sent q wireless call for
help. A revenue cutter went to the
assistance Of the ship and towed her
back to New York, where she is now
undergoing repairs. AS soon as the
ship came within the jurisdiction of
this port. she was taken in charge by
the customs authorities.
The reason for the placing of guards
aboard the ship was not made spublic
by Mr.. Shevlin, but it is believed that
the step was taken because of a
suspicion that some of the liquor
aboard the ship had been taken off
since the Yarmouth returned to New
York
The Yarmouth. which is of British
registry. is operated by negro crew
under command of negro skipper
and is said to be owned by negroes
of this city
According TO a statement given out
yesterday, holders of liquor certificates
must make a report of "receipt from
sales" under the liquor tax law even
though they have sold none under war
time and constitutional prohibition.
cY TO- nrti ! H.
Gates discontinued traffic on July
last says the statement. "when the
wartime prohibition became effective
but held their certificates in order to
be in a position to resume traffic in
case Of lifting of the ban. Other
persons for the same reason took out
certificates on October l. 1919, which
expire on February l, 1920. Many OF
these certificate holders believed that
having discontinued the sale of liquo,
or having carried on no traffic unde,
their certificates. they were under nc
obligation 20 make reports Of receipt.
from sales under Section ga os tn,
law-the section which provides FOR :
tax upon the volume Of business.
Reports Must BE Made
This belief is erroneous. and ever,
certlhcate holder who has failed It
make reports under such circumstance,
Is just as liable for the penalties pro
vlded IN the statute if he has faile,
10 make reports as certificate holde.
VINO mas continued to traffic"
William Masters, forty-two. Of 3,
Ellis Street, Chicago. died on board tn,
Ward liner Mexico yesterday nornin,
shortly after the steamship reache,
| quarantine from Cuba His death wa,
declared by the ships surgeon. DR.
Henry p. Geibs. to be due to alcohol,
insanity and followed five days in Cub;
ana return trip, in which Master.
created reign Of terror on board IN,
Mexico. After threatening nassar'oor.
and crew with iron spike and
butchers cleaver, he was overpoweret
and put TO bed, but died twentv bo,r.
later. "'"' =