New-York tribune., 1921-04-11
Not a Rum Leak Found
Despite Sackett's Squad
Samples Beverages in
Resorts the Entire Dav
Lid on Manhattan
Is Clamped Tight
One Liquor Arrest on Dry
est Day Since Roosevelt
Was in Power, in 1896

If Inspector Sackett's announced in
tenton Of making Sahara out Of
Coney Island was not completely car
ried out last night. it was only, accord
ing to diners at the resort, because
Inspector Sackett's twenty plainclothes
men we're incapable physically Of ab-
sorbing all the ginger ale, ncar-beer.
sarsaparilla. celory tonic and similar
beverages with which those in restau-
rants were trying to quench their
thirst.
so far as alcoholic drinks we're con-
cened, Coney was desert, and would
have been if Inspector Sackett's men
had passed the entire day at home
reading the comic supplements News
of his intention had reached the res
taurant and hotel men, and they eau
toned every patron as he entered not
to tap any private stock that he might
be carrying.
But Inspector Sackett's men, accord
ing to those who sought meals at
Coney Island, were not content with
reading comic supplements; they in
sisted upon acting the part, as one OBJ
server said. and throughout the day
went from table to table lifting first to
their noses and then to their lips every
glass of colored liquid that met their
sight.
Fling Liquid at Policemen
At Stauch's and other big restau-
rants, it was said, several men from
whose tables the policemen had
snatched glasses, hurled after the
visitors what liquid remained in the
glasses and only for the restraint ex-
ercised upon them by their compan-
ions, would have followed up this long
range attack with their fists.
No fights were reported however.
and neither were any arrests made in
the resorts. In spite of the fact that
they arc said to have shifted and tasted
every beverage in sight all day long,
Inspector Sackett's plaiuclothes men
found not a single violation of the
prohibition law throughout the day.
Coney was not alone in its aridity.
Experts asserted that New York had
not seen another such day since the
blue Sunday of 1896, when the late
Theodore Roosevelt, as Police Commits
sioner, enforced the excise lawsto the
limit, with the consent and approval of
Tammany Hall.
Manhattan Saloons Stay Closed
AS in Coney, the word had gone
abroad that the special squad charged
with enforcement of the prohibition
law would be active and scarcely a
saloonkeepcr in the whole city un-
locked his doors all day. Places were
closed which probably had not been
idle for twenty four consecutive hours
in the last twenty-five years
Those who carry their own" either
left 1t at home or were so cautious in
its use as not to be detected even by
head walters, most of whom were
under instructions to be particularly
vigilant Nowhere except at Coney
cused of snatching drinks from tables
In the whole city there was only one
arrest for violation of the prohibition
law during the day. The prisoner was
the proprietor of 8 saloon in West
115th Street, and he is alleged to have
had pint of whisky in his possession.
"We arc attacking the liquor sellers
IN four different ways" said First
Deputy Police Commissioner John A.
Leach, who has charge of the enforce
ment of the prohibition law. "Eirst, by
the uniformed palfOineH, Inen DY the
detectives from the inspectors Offices;
then by the detectives of the chief in
spectors staff, and finally by the spe-
cial squads
"All of the four sets Of policemen
are working in the same territory and
each is check on the others. Among
them liquor drinking in violation Of the
law will be wiped out Reports so far
show that the patrolmen and detcc-
tives are doing their full duty and that
the law is being enforced"
Inspector Sackett's men made twelve
arrests Saturday night at the resort,
all Of the prisoners being arraigned
yesterday in Coney Island police court.
One OF them, the first to be arrested,
CONTINUED on pago three,