The New York herald., 1921-01-14
FOUR DRY AGENTS
TAKEN IN CROOKED
$4,000 RUM DEAL
SalOOnist and Two Aids Are
Also Arrested in Brook
lyn in 1000 Case
Transaction.
FOUR TRUCKS SEIZED
Using Forged Permits and
Offering and Accepting
Brides Charged Against
Accused Men.
ROSS DEMANDS CLEANUP
Asserts Prohibition Office Is
Filed With Crooks and
Honeycombed With
Graft.
loss DEMANDS CLEANUP

UIdll.
Four prohibition agents and three
other men were arrested yesterday ~
Brooklyn charged with being con-
cerned in conspiracy for the removal
of 1000 cases of whiskey throusn
forged permits and tho Offering and
accepting of bribes.
The arrests We're made under the
direction of Hugh McQuillan, chief Of
the "Shoo Fly" squad sent from Wash
ington by Internal Revenue Commis-
sioner Williams to investigate dry law
graft.
The prohibition agents taken into
custody are:
William II. Hurley. an inspector in
the office of Charles X. O'Connor. New
York Federal director of prohibition
in charge of the issuance Of permits
for the manufacture, removal, trans
portation and sale of liquor for non
leverage purposes.
Frank Streppone OF els East li7th
nor since July 10, 1920.
John j. Dunn. an enforcement agent
under Daniel Chaplin, chief enforcement
officer for this district
Samuel Eilperin. enforcement agent
since February !, 1920.
The others arrested are:
Mamie ii. Kessler. wholesale liquor
dealer. lis West Twenty-eghth street.
charged with being the head Of this par
ticular bootleggers' ring.
Samuel Cohen. an employee OF Kess-
Ter. charged with handling forged per-
mits for the removal of liquor from the
Essential Chemical Company of 50 CooA
street. Brooklyn.
Phillip Cofley OF Troy. also an en-
ployee Of Kessler, who from June 80 TO
November II was an inspector in Dircc-
tor OConnor's Office
Ex-District Attorney Taken.
Director o'Connor said Hurley was
formerly District Attorney of Seneca
county. lie came here from Seneca
Falls on June .. 1920. and since thea
has been one OF the Governments moss
trusted liquor hunters.
At the same time the arrests wer.
being made the Federal Grand Jury in
Manhattan found indictments against
Miss Regina Sassone. a former trusted
clerk in Director O'Connor's office; kc-
ward Donegan. contractor Of Brook
iyn, and Slgmund (Beansy) RosenfelG.
a gambler.
Donegan is charged with having paid
a bribo OF $500 to one OF NcQuillars
agents and is now at liberty under
10000 bail. Miss Sassone. Il is alleged
stole valuable office records and turned
them over to Doncgan who used the
papers for the removal and sale ct
LIQUOR valued at more than $1,000 90.
RosoneclG was indicted Oh tho charss
OF offering a bribe OF $1,000 TO husl up
the scandal iic and Miss Sassoue are
out on 5000 bail each. The accused
trio probably will be srraisned to-day.
'.ff there are any crooks IN my office
am glad TO have them nailed, and on
the other hand " they are innocent
am sorry" said Director o'Connor when
Informed OF me arreset Of Hurley ana
Streppone Mr. O'Connor added thai
Hurley had come to him from Seneca
Falls with the best recommendation. as
did streppone. both OF whom up to this
time. he said, had performed their Tors
with The utmost satisfaction.
Chief Chaplin said the arres; OF Dunn
and Eilperin. who have been working IN
Brooklyn for a month. was probably
damn good piece OF slcuthiug. and mas
the excellent work continue Since com.
ing 10 New York a month ago Shiei
Chapin has discharged more than thrT
enforcement agents. some of whom were
wearing diamonds and expensive clothes
and has moro or less good sized bans
accounts An enforcement agents yearly
salary. including allowances. Is sLioV
place watched for Weeks.
Yesterdays arrests came as the result
of the shsdowine for some weeks ot tao
prohibition agents by four ~ Chief Mc.
Quilian's men. The chase ended IN ana
outside OF the Essential Chemical Con-
pany's warehouse al 10 o'clock yesterday
morning
Kessier already e. under indictmeu,
charged with having paid oribe OF tsoe
10 Special Agents Goldlng and Seib
month ago. The agents accepted the
nnonev aud turned IL over 70 chief Nc.
Quillan. according 10 the indictment
since then Ecsslcr's place has been uu.
der surveillance. kessler's permit privi.
legcs we're cancelled several weeks ago.
Early wednesday q truck loaded with
200 cases OF wldskey az The Essential
Chemical Company's plant and was tol-
lowed 60 a garage at 1902 Boston road.
Tho Bronx The driver was questioned
hv two OF Chief McQuilan's men. lie
showed a permit Tor the removal Of the
LIQUOR from tie Brooklyn address 10 20
spring street Manhattan. Later, II -
alleged the permit was found 10 be
forged.
The following is Chief McQuiilan,
story OF the case
we nave information that Kessler
arranged for the purchase of 1000
cases OF bonded whskey from Essential