The New York herald., 1920-01-23
HOW FAKE AGENTS
FLEECE SALOON men
U. S. Prohibition Official Says
Some of Tricksters Were
Former Revenue Employees.
SHOW COUNTERFEIT BADGES
Hears Frightened Proprietors Have
Paid as High as $500
When Trapped.

| s.
Shake down artists" is the appelIation
by which the Internal Revenue agents
designate the sharpers and. blackmailers
who have been victimizing saloon keepers
Extensively of late by impersonating gov
ernment officials. The HERALD yesterday v
avenue between Twenty,third and Seven
ty-fifth streets, but their sphere of sillfcit
activity, it now appears, has extended to
all sections of the city.
| John J. Quieley, assistant prohibition
agent for this district, was o1 COM
mand of the prohibition outdoor forces
yesterday, James Shevlin the local super
vising agent, having 9npe to Washington
with Colonel Porter for a conference with
John Kramer, the federal commissioner
and his assistant, Robert Gaylord.
I'VE have received lot of complaints
concerning these shake down art,sts I"
said Mr.. Quigley, mot from the victimized
saloon keepers, for they would not be
likely to- advertise themselves as having
been selling liquor illicitly, but from friends
and acquaintances OF the saloon keepers.
There are apparently about six men in
| the Matchmaking combination and we have
| reason to believe that the leaders, at
least, are men who formerly were agents
in the revenue service, who may be said
Ito know the ropes.
Soon to Make Arrests.
I'VE believe we are close on their trail
and hope to make arrests within short
time. There are five. instances of this
kind of blackmail that we actually know
Of and if half the reports that come to
us be true, their number must run into
the hundreds.
''The blackmailers are not exactly
pikers' either. for we hear of instances
in which frightened propietors have given
up sums ranging from 800 to $500 in the
hope Of 'squaring' themselves.
"All these 'shakedown artists appear
Ito be equipped with badges which are
either genuine Internal Revenue badges or
else cheap limitations which will pass
muster when suddenly flashed on a
frightened man.
THE fake agents operate in pairs and
enter a place that seems to them likely to
yield graft. They wheedle some sort of
or bartender. Then they flash their fake
badges and tell the saloon men they have
him dead to rights. The proprietor usually
does the rest and meets them more than
half way If he is willing to square the
offence.
Gave Up Case of Wine.
I'VE do know of one instance, on
Wednesday night, in which the boss
bought off the masquerading agents by
producing for their benefit case of wine
The two crooks Immediately brought in
two women companions and then the four
installed themselves in the back room of
the saloon and despatched the case Of
wine, or most of 1t, at a protracted sitting.
"We have been told also of an instance
in Ninth avenue where the ostensible
agents OF the government found and
carried away a bottle of whiskey and at
the same time, as an evidence of good
faith made out and served upon the bar
tender what purported to be a summons
to court to answer for his violation of the
law. This piece of effrontery was per-
petrated last Monday night.
"Proprietors who have been duped are
likely to keep quiet about it. They are
not keen to appear in the light OF suckers,
and they know that any complaint on their
part would only brand them as law
breakers.
Every legitimate agent of this depart
ment is compelled to- carry not only ms
badge but also his pocket credentials.
which bear the signature Of the Collector
of Internal Revenue. Any citizen has
the right to demand that such credentials
be shown before yielding to the demands
of ostensible agents of the law
Wines StiII Arriving Here.
California wines to an aggregate Of
about four carloads n day still are arriv-
ing here, Mr.. Quigley said. These ship
ments have been intended in good faith
for export to other countries but have
been delayed in transit across the conti-
lnent- All is now being seized and stored
lin bonded warehouses as fast as IL arrives.
To recover their property it's owners must
now take out permits after convincing
the authorities that none OF the wine is
intended for use for beverage purposes.
A. carload averages about $50 barrels,
Mr.. Quigley said, and the wine is worth
about $500 a barrel. With an average o.
about four carloads coming in on each or
the six days since the expiration of the
time for export clearance last Friday
might, Il appears that within less than the
week wine from California to an aggregate
value Of more than 100000 has arrived.
| Mr.. Shevlin. before leaving for wash
ington, said that in the event of spread
of influenza in this city there Is plenty
of spirits available for all legitimate de-
mands for medicinal purposes. One large
chain of drug stores, which heretofore
has not supplied liquors, has applied for
permits for stores in the most densely
populated districts Of the city.
United States District Attorney Ross of
Brooklyn. announced yesterday that from
investigations made by Department or JUS
tce men he has evidence that many drug
gists in Brooklyn are charging as much
as 81 a pint for whiskey on regular pre-
scriptions
"If there is any way to stop such high
charges will apply the remedy" he said.
'It is possible that a druggist might be
prosecuted under the Lever act. which
forbids any ono overcharging for neces-
saries. This law has been considered In
relation to food and clothing. but in the
case of a person who has reached cli-
max in a case of pneumonia or some other
disease LIQUOR becomes OF greater neccs-
sity for tho time being than either food
or clothes"