The New York herald., 1921-12-23
CREW DRINK DEEP
FROM SHIP LIBRARY
Sailors Aboard the Freighter
HOboken Refreshed Thirst
With Books.

The sailors aboard the freighter Hobo
ken are scholarly crew. Customs Off
GERS who raided the vessel as she lay
in the East River yesterday observed
several of the men sauntering about with
bulky volumes under their arms, and
the investigation that followed disclosed
that the crew has been drinking deeply
from the ships library. A long shelf
filed with 1.-THE Memoirs or Santos" was
found. There were three half pints in
each volume; Of paper or print not a
leaf or a line. Altogether the officers
found several dozen bottles.
Their attention had been drawn to the
vessel by the extremely merry demeanor
of the crew. They never seemed hap
pier than when they carried books. and
the two things together set the inspect
tors to scratching their heads.
The customs men say there has been
marked increase during the last few
weeks in the amount of liquor coming
into the port by water, and they are
making determined effort to check
the entrance OF more. Some of the
liquor which finds its way to New York
docks is made at sea, the customs men
say. When the steamship Palermo was
raided few days ago the officers found
aboard her 742 bottles of what the
labels said was we'll known brand of
brandy. Besides the liquor they dis
covered hundreds of similar labels.
Some "Drys" Felons.
Samuel M. Hitchcock, United States
Commissioner, when releasing three of
four men arrested In n raid on Reisen-
weber's Restaurant, Fifty-eighth street
r.-~l~l l...r txVl.N
declared yesterday that some enforce
ment agents who are trying to gather
evidence for violations of a misde-
meanor are committing felonies.
''Their conduct" he said, "is out
rageous to the public. and steps should
be taken to curb it,"
The men whose bail he discharged
were Charles Jones. manager of the res
taurant Charles Schreimer. cashier, and
Louis Zalud head waiter. The prisoner
held was Alexander Koch, a waiter, who
was released under $1,000 bail for a
hearing on the charge Of selling liquor.
In Yorkville Court. Magistrate Nc
Quade told two detectives their testi-
mony was altogether too flimsy and dis
charged two defendants who were
charged with having sold drinks of
liquor at twenty-five cents apiece.
Among eight prisoners brought in yes
terday by Agent William p. Lords
squad I'm Brooklyn was Alderman John
T. Moehringer. Republican, of the Fifty
third district, Brooklyn, and his bar
tender, Philip Stoebel. They were ar
rested In Moehringers saloon at 9S
Wyckoh avenue. The agents said they
bought whiskey at fifty cents glass.
Moehringer was defeated last month for
reelection. His present term is the only
one he has served. He was later given
summons on his promise to appear be-
fore the United states Commissioner.
Hotels Never Guilty.
The Hotel Association of New York
City, at it's annual meeting at the
Commodore Wednesday night, passed a
resolution condemning "the constant in
references spread broadcast in the
daily press and accredited to the Fed
eral prohibition authorities that the
hotels of this city are in any sense at
any time guilty of violating the prohi-
bition law" The resolution stated that
the hotels have not only lived UP 10
the letter of the law, but have "suf-
fered tremendous financial losses
through conditions with which every one
in New York city, except apparently
the Federal enforcement officers. ap-
pears TO be thoroughly familiar"
1t was announced at prohibition head
quarters that John s. Parsons, chief
/ of field forces, and William S. Bogart,
chief of the legal department. superin-
tended the destruction of quantity of
liquor Mt the knickerbocker warehouse
yesterday. Barrel heads were knocked
In and bottles smashed to permit an
assortment Of whisky, gin, wines and
beer to flow down the drains of the
warehouse. Several hundred gallons
we're destroyed.
Tho Weskora Hotel at Osslning was
raided last night by agents who seized
| $4,000 worth of liquors and wines. Sum-
monses were left for the proprietor.
George Eagle. and a waiter. Accord
| ing to agents, this is the second time
within ten days that they have found
violations of the liquor law at this
hotel.