New-York tribune., 1921-03-27
S,ocks Val,led at Millions
Taken by Prohibition
Men May Be Returned,
Due to Legal Ruling
Dry Agents Told
To Be Cautious
Decision by U. S. Supreme
Court Awaited on Stat
Us of Old Liquor Laws


E Unless recent ruling Of the United
st,tes Circuit Court of Appeals is re-
u,sed by the United States Supreme
Court prohibition officials will have to
rstore to the former owners millions
ii dollars worth of liquor confscated
ii ill parts OF the United States, it was
mia BY authorities here yesterday.
Some estimates fix the amount to be
returned as high as four-hfths of the
quantity seized by the government
s;uce prohibition went into effect.
u is pointed out that the bulk of the
sontrabrand liquors taken charge of by
revenue agents was seized in New York
City.
The decision Of the 4th United
States Circuit Court OF Appeals, hand
Cd down on March 10, held that the
yolstsad act nullifed and repealed the
did internal revenue statute under
xhich much of the wet goods was con-
iscsted. Enforcement agents have
been seizing entire stocks from deal
srs and individuals under this revenue
statute whenever a violation has been
found. Under the Volstead act only
noucr involved in the actual violation
nay be seized. it is held.
Big Seizure Is Stopped
Assistant United States Attorney
Robert A. Peattie said yesterday he
vas inclined to believe that the deci-
sion would hold. 1t is known that he
advised Ernest Langley, supervisor of
postpone seizure of 100000 worth
Of liquors planned for yesterday after
noon until he has received complete
information regarding the case from
the national supervisor.
) 1t is believed one of the immediate
effects of the decision will be great
errtai.ment In seizures of liquor, which
often run into millions of dollars worth
weekly for the whole country. 1t is
understood that United States attor-
neys are advising more cautious pro-
sedurc on the part of revenue agents.
An idea of the huge quantity of
liquor which may be returned can be
obtained from an unofficial inventory
of the amount of whisky and red wine
ln the Knickerbocker warehouse. This
Inventory made yesterday is of liquors
sized in Manhattan and the Bronx
enly. It gives the quantities as 62,000
eases and 5000 barrels Of whisky and
5000 barrels Of wine. Much .miscel-
aneous liquor, such as gin, brandy,
cognac, champagne and other wines, is
stored there, but the amounts could
got be learned.
Enright Calls Dry Conference
Police Commissioner Richard E. En-
night has called conference of the
District Attorneys of the five counties
N greater New York and the Corpora
ton Counsel for the purpose of decid-
ing upon methods of procedure for eff
tkctive enforcement of the new state
dry laws. The conference will take
place at Police Headquarters at II
o'clock tomorrow morning.
The new dry bills, emb bodying all the
provisions of the Federal Volstead act
and placing prohibition enforcement
souarely upon police authorities, are
expected to be signed by the Governor
q few days.
In the letter received by District At
!orney Edward Swami, Of Manhattan
Police Commissioner Enright says:
Your presence is earnestly requested
70 consider and agree upon an efficient
method Of procedure for the prompt and
enective enforcement of the liquor Law
Is amended by the present Legisla-
ture."
It was reported from Washington
Yesterday that 500 blank permits for
lne purchase of liquor from wholesal-
erS were stolen from the New York
pronibition Office on the night of March
y. They have not been recovered and
no arrests have been made, 50 far as
could be learned.
Stolen from O'Connor
Prohibition agents all over the coun-
" were advised of the theft by the
Internal Revenue Department and in
nructed to watch for attempts to use
sae permits. They are numbered
se!rially from 11S501 to 10000, inclu-
l4l0A.
The permits must have been stolen
rom the office of Charles r. O'Connor
Sederal director of prohibition enforce
%ent IN this state, but nothing coulc
os learned of the theft further thar
Tnat was contained in the general
essTm ~ sent out from Washington by
rc!,onlbltion Commissioner Kramer. Mr.
Sonn0r was out of town Yesterday