The New York herald., 1921-06-01
bOOTLECGERS LOOT
MAIL in Big FRAUD
Arrest Of Two Men in Main
Post Office Here Reveals
Liquor Permit Plot.
CLERK AN ACCOMPLICE
Letters Of Inquiry Stolen and
Forged Approvals Semitic
Warehouses.
CLERK AN AcCoMPLICE

The story of one OF the biggest ana
most successful bootlegging plots un-
earthed since Federal prohibition went
into effect was revealed yesterday
when two men were held in bail by
United States Commissioner Samuel M.
Hitchcock. The daring Of these plotters
far exceeds any exposed in the past as
their operations reached into the main
post office of this city, where the mails
are alleged to have been tampered
with and letters placed in the hands
Of the plotters bearing upon the re-
moval of liquor from distilleries and
bonded warehouses throughout the
country.
The letters were addressed to Charles
r. O'Connor, Federal Director of Pro-
hibition for New York State. and were
alleged TO have been taken out OF the
mails through the connivance of a postal
clerk. whose name has not been made
public, owing to the fact that he may
give important information.
The communications were from dis
tillers and wholesale liquor firms scat
tered through out the East making in
du'rieg as to the genuineness OF with
drawal permits calling for the removal
of unlimited quantities of whiskey to be
sold for medicinal purposes as required
by law. The permits bore the forged
signature OF Mr.. OConnor. who retired
from Office last week.
The workings of this alleged bootleg
ging ring is replete with forgery Of per-
mits and letters and bribery OF hith-
erto trusted post office employee, which
has resulted in the removal Of thousands
OF gallons OF whiskey that has found
ready market in this and other cities.
Trapped I'm Post once.
John Bonofore, alias George Burns,
was released in s25, 900 bail. and Thomas
Malone. alias Harry Brown. In $4,000
bail. after they had been arraigned be-
fore Commissioner Hitchcock on COM
plant made by Post Office Inspector
Francis L. Reidy charging them with
conspiracy In tampering with the mails.
Bonofore said he lived at the Lafayette
Baths and Malone declared he was stop
ping at the Hotel Claridge.
The two men were arrested yesterday
morning in the General Post Office in
Eighth avenue by Mr.. Reidy and three
other inspectors just after Bonofcre
had pocketed four special delivery let
ters addressed to the prohibition direc-
tor from distillers in Pennsylvania for
which he had signed after they had
been handed him by the clerk involved.
According TO the complaint against
the two alleged plotters the conspiracy
was hatched OH or about January last
and has been in full sway since then.
Last night no Government official would
even venture a guess as to the quantity
OF liquor removed through the operations
a period OF five months.
From other sources IL was learned
that men known In and TO the Illicit
liquor trade In this city have been work
ing with Bonofore and Malone. Their
arrest Is a blow at the already depleted
stock OF whislSey now being sold on the
sly.
Arrest of "Higher-ups" Hinted.
Assistant Federal District Attorney
David V. Cahill. who has charge of the
case, declared that IL would have been
vast quantities of liquor withdrawn
without the aid Of well organized gang
Of bootleggers, with plenty of funds at
their disposal. He hinted that other ar
rests will take place within a few days.
followed by sensational Developments
which may involve men well known In
public and political life OF the city and
State.
The conspiracy was exposed by the Post
Office inspectors. In cooperation with
Hugh McQuillan chief OF a special squad
OF men sent here nine months ago by the
Internal Revenue Department at Wash
ington TO run down Illicit liquor trafiick-
ers. dishonest prohibition enforcement
agents and even women clerks In Mr..
O'Connor's office, number OF whom are
now out of Jail on high bail awaiting
trial.
In order to carry on the latest con-
spirscy the men arrested yesterday are
alleged to have entered into an arrange
ment with the post office clerk. or pos
sibiy clerks. 80 as to obtain letters Of
inquiry from distillers and bonded ware
houses postmarked from cities where
spurious withdrawal permits would be
sent.
The forged permits were forwarded 10
destinations in nearby states either by
mail or presented by persons sent from
this city. to await advice apparently
from the Prohibition Directors office
here regarding the forged papers. The
system worked smoothly for weeks until
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