The New York herald., 1921-10-29
2 BOOTLEG ARRESTS
BARE TRAIL LEADING /.
TO OHICHPOLITICIANS.
Part of $5OO,0OO Graft Is
Traced to Chests of Pres
ent Campaign.
PLOT is WE'LL EXPOSED
$4,000 Cases of Whiskey and
Other Rum Freed On
Forged Permits.
FOUR ARE HELD IN BAIL
Accused of Offering $4,000
Bribe to Prohibition En-
fOrcement Agents.
FOUR ARE HELD IN BAIL

Two arrests which Federal prohibi-
ton agents said last night were only
preliminary to an uncovering of a
wholesale bootlegging plot of gigantic
proportions, the ramifications of which
ran far along the trails of several well
known politicians featured yesterdays
drive against Illicit rum dealers. The
men arrested are Herman Rather.
alias Patrick Ryan, and Benedict
Levy, alias william A. Collins, both
of whom are charged with having in
their possession forged permits for
Withdrawals of liquor. Rather was
held in $40, 900 bal, and Levy in $2.50O
for a hearing before United States
Commissioner Hitchcock to-day.
The arrests were made as the result
of weeks Of investigation by Howard X.
Kiroack. special agent Of the Depart
ment of Justice, who. 1t was said. has
uncovered evidence to show that at least
$4,000 cases of whiskey and other liquors
have been withdrawn on forged permits
on which It Is alleged graft OF $40 to
$12 a case, or a total of between S500.00O
and 100000. has been paid. Some OF
this money is said to have gone into the
campaign exchequers Of New York poll
ticians. Many of these Withdrawals. 1t
was said last night. were made on per-
mits which long since had been revoked.
Benedict Levy, who when arraigned
yesterday was represented by Lorenzo
C. Carlino of 100 Broadway, is said to
be a brother of Abraham Levy. who has
photograph studio and theatre ticket
agency at 2102 Seventh avenue, adJoin-.
ing the Alhambra Theatre. Assistant
United States Attorney Robert Il. Nc
Cormicl, who is In charge OF the cases
for the Government late yesterday after
noon obtained warrant for the arrest
Of Abraham Levy. but 1t was not served
after Attorney Carlino promised to pro-
duce him at 10 o'clock to-day.
Said to Head Ring.
Abraham is said to have been a whole
sale liquor dealer before the advent of
cation Is that he headed ring of subor
dinates and controlled seven liquor per-
mits besides the one issued under his
at sol West 145th street. Rather. ac-
cording to the Federal authorities. was
one of Abraham Levy's lieutenants in
the alleged ring.
Among these permits. 1t is alleged, is
one issued to one Albert Mckenzie. who
died in August 1919, and is said to be
buried in Evergreen Cemetery. Others
are made out to William A. Collins and
Milton Stern, names which the Govern
ment agents contend are fictitious. The
Collins permit. the application for which
was attested by J. G. Rosenthal as a
Commissioner of Deeds of New York
county. gave the address of the appli-
cant as 267 West 126th street. McKen-
zie's application showed him to be doing
business at zoe West 146th street and
Stern at EOS ST. Nicholas avenue. All
of these places prohibition agents said
last night, either were locked UP or va
cant when Inspectors called to check up
on the permits.
The other permits under which 1t is
alleged Abraham Levy controlled largo
Withdrawals of liquor were made out In
favor of his brother, Benedict said 20 be
doing business at 302 West 145th street
Abraham J. Roscnthal, at 10 East 115th
street; Antonio Fazio, at 312 West 125th
street, and Antonio Fator. at 2543
Seventh avenue.
CnrIinO Makes Denial.
Mr.. Csrlno denied last night that any
process had been issued against Abraham
Levy. so far as he was aware. but af-
frmed his intention to have his client
in court whenever his presence was re-
quired.
Edmund J. La Brecque. vice-president
and secretary of the La Brecque Com
pany. which operates warehouses in 100
Front street, Newark, was arraigned
with three other men before United
States Commissioner Emery in Newark
yesterday, and each was held In $4,000
bail. They are accused Of offering pro-
hibition enforcement agents $4,000 for
their aid in the use of forged with
drawal permit for alcohol.
The other men accused with La
Brecque are Sylvester Camerono of 1875
Seventy-seventh street, Brooklyn: John
A. Barratt of 65 East Nineteenth street
and Joseph Epifane Of 500 Riverside
Drive The Federal authorities arc also
holding Miss Frances Tracy "a. OF 124
West Seventy-1rst street. as a material
witness. They said that she had nothing
TO do with the alleged bribe but IL being
held because of her friendship for Epi-
fame. La Brecque Is already under in
~ L.