New-York tribune., 1921-12-11
Jury Denounces
Police Trickery
In Liquor Cases
Fifteen of a Accusations
Where <Frame-UJp' Tactics
Are Suspected Dismissed
by Brooklyn Grand Panel
Home Invasion Resented
Misrepresentation of Dry
Agents Attacked; Stegman
Held Over Newark Charges

The adoption of subterfuge and mis-
representation by police and prohi-
sition agents which might mislead
druggists and others having a right
70 handle alcoholic concoctions was
placed in the same category as search
ind seizure without warrant by the
Brooklyn grand jury yesterday. The
Jury declared unequivocally that it
would not indict in cases where sus-
>ects had been misled or framed" by
enforcement officers. 1t also decried
the invasion of private premises by
the police and agents.
As a result of this stand the Jury
sismissed fifteen cases out Of twenty
seven.
The grand jurors are understood TO
have expressed themselves as deter
mined to do their best to restrain boot
hggers, moonshiners and open liquor
sellers, but declared they would not
tolerate invasions OF the police Of the
tights of citizens.
Druggist Bares Police Ruse
One dismissal which shows the mis-
representation of facts as charged
~ jurors amounted to frame up" is
that of Albert Green, a druggist, of
s4S Third Avenue, Brooklyn. Green
sold policeman q pint Of whisky
without prescription. Green testified
that the policeman said he was the
messenger of man who had left a
prescription short time before. Be-
lieving another clerk had the prescrip-
ZION, Green sold the policeman the pint
Of liquor and was arrested.
Another case was that of William
and John Kassack, brothers, of 289 Van
Brunt Street. Mrs. William Kassack
reported that the brothers were dis
filling whisky in their room. The
police found toy still which produced
drink of whisky after several hours
effort. The men had been fifteen days
in Jail and the jury seemed to believe
that fifteen days was long sentence
for toy still.
The case of Antonio Lupo, a shoe
maker, of 1913 Fourth Avenue, was
dismissed when the jury learned that
ihe police had entered his home with
cut a warrant.
Liquor Bribery Alleged
Max L. Stegman, clerk in the De-
partment of Parks in Newark, who was
Indicted Friday with four former gov
srnment employees and eight other
persons on charges Of bribery and con-
spiracy to violate the Volstead act by
fraudulently withdrawing liquor for
sale, surrendered himself yesterday.
He called at the United States Mar
shal's Office, accompanied by counsel,
Joseph Seigler. He was held in $4,000
bonds by Deputy Federal Court Clerk
Reilly. Stegman is to appear Decem-
Der 10 before Federal Judge Charles r
Lynch.
A new arrest in the case came yes.
terday, making the sixth indicted man
whose name has been made public.
Stegman, it is charged, paid $4,000 to
corrupt Registry Postofice Clerk Mar
Gus l.. W. Norris, who intercepted a
letter to Prohibition Director Brown,
It is said, and remailed it to Sandfor8
Wax, alleged to be Stegman's accom-
plice. The letter contained alleged
fraudulent permits for verifcation.
Wax was arrested yesterday.
Ralph A. Day, New York State Pro-
Aibition Director, reported yesterday
that he had added four agents to his
staff, and would put six more to work
next week. He has reservations for