New-York tribune., 1921-01-04
Many Prominent Men
Named in Confessions
of Two Arrested for
Gigantic Liquor Plot
Evidence Found
In Chicago Hotel
Other Headquarters Here
and in Jersey City; Prof
ifs Are Placed at Millions
Special Dispatch to The Tribune


important arrests in the history of
wholesale traffic in illicit liquor were
made to-day in raid on two rooms
In the Morrison Hotel, led by Commits
sioner Frank D. Richardson.
The arrests revealed information that
Mr. Richardson says directly connects
2 Chicago Congressman with the boot
leo business and uncovers an elaborate
code system used by the three head
ouarters in New York, Jersey City and
Chicago.
The men taken into custody by Mr..
Richardson are John Costello and James
Shea private detective, of New York.
On the person of the two men Mr..
Richardson found the names of the
Congressman and William Henning,
The Commissioner Immediately ordered
Henning arrested.
May Arrest Congressman
he was locked up at the North Hal
sted Street police station. The facts
concerning the Congressman were laid
before District Attorney Clyne. War
rants may be taken out tomorrow
morning
The arrest Of the two alleged "brains"
Of the country's biggest whisky run
ming combination is expected by Mr.
Richardson to show a number of gov
ernment employees and high salarie
officials as leaders in the illicit liquor
traffic. The profits derived from the
operation of the combination reach into
the millions, Mr.. Richardson said.
The code used by the men was given
to Mr.. Richardson after he had grilled
them several hours.
Costello confessed and gave the
names of many we'll known men. Mr.
Richardson is withholding them pend
Ing further investigation.
In the pocket of Shea was found a
rubber stamp with the signature of
Ralph ". Stone, enforcement officer
for Illinois, and another stamp with
the signature of w. F. Van Mater.
prohibition director of New Jersey,
Both stamps mad been used bv the
wholesale in obtaining withdrawals of
liquor from the warehouses in Ken
tuc.y, Pcnns lvania, Illinois and New
York.
Among the words used in the code
were storm" meaning Ralph w Stone :;
Delay" meaning Collector Of Internal
Revenue Harry W. Mayer; Flour"
Yrr- Il
ssrdson, the bootlegs used the word
"Riot"
Under $4,000 Bond Each
The arrest was the result Of dis
covery by Mr. Richardson, when he
examined permit that came through
MS office. He said he mad known that
the Congressman alleged to be involv-
ed wa interested in the affairs Of the
men who had obtained the whisky on
the permit.
The Commissioner took the permit
to the printers, whose union label was
on the permit, and learned the work
mad been done for a man living at The
Morrison, who had come here from Jer-
sey City. 1t was found that Costello
mad registered from that city. Then
Ar Richardson surprised the two
ttnsy were taken before commissioner
Mason, who placed them under $40 900
BONDS each. The men were unable to
give the bond
An effort 20 obtain bond for them
vas made o. Congressman Stanley d.
Aunz, acting in his capacity of attor-
neg. Congressman Kunz also sought
% have Mr. Mason reduce the bonds,
ou' Commissioner Richardson object
ed District Attorney Clyne assigned
,wo assistant district attorneys to aid
A.. Richardso
Inc arrest Of the men and their al
ieged confessions have uncovered the
mysterious source of the large amount
" y, hquor that has been coming into
Nnicago during the last two months,
fccording 10 Mr. Richardson Pre-
s,oussy Mr. Richardson had wired New
ttto'< authorities TO raid the Offices Of
.,ass and Martin and TO take Martin
'aso custody Il they found him. Off
o.a's IN Jersey City were notified in
s'ssrnment code as to the persons to
"s arrested and queried there.
Seek Source of Supply
A.. an satished that the arrests to-
Lsy VIA clear up the source of the
tss,se booze supplies that have been
ip,y;sang New York and Chicago" Mr..
Aienardson said.