The New York herald., 1921-11-01
TAMMANY IS FAST
IN RUM PERMIT NET
J. C. ROsenthal Attested
Signature of the Mythical
william A. Collins
JULIUS MILLER'S MAN
Action of a Commissioner of
Deeds Puzzle to Pro-
hibitiOn Agents.
LEVY CONTROLLED PERMIT
Link Between Bootleg Ring
LEVY CONTROLLED PERMIT
Link Between Bootleg Ring
and Political 'High-Ups'
strengthened.

Further evidence to establish a
business and political connection be-
tween Abraham Levy, head of the
Beaver Club Of Harlem, which is
boosting the Tammany municipal
ticket, and his ring Of alleged boot
leggers, and certain men in Tammany
was revealed yesterday.
Abraham Levy with his brother
Benedict and Herman Rather. one of
the Harlem mans lieutenants, is held
in $4,000 bail on charge Of having
in his possession fraudulent permits
for liquor Withdrawals. The charges
were brought by Howard r. Kiroack,
Federal prohibition agent, who alleged
that among other permits Levy was
said to have controlled, was one in
favor of a william A. Collins, sup
posed to be a wholesaler at 267 West
126th street, but who, Government
agents declare, never existed.
Investigation disclosed that on at
least one withdrawal application for $50
cases of liquor the signature of the sup
posed Collins was attested by Julius c..
Rosenthal, q commissioner of deeds for
New York county. Rosenthal has been
active in the Seventeenth Assembly dis
trict, where he Is known as the right
hand man of the two leaders-Nathan
Burkan and Samuel Marx-devoting
particular attention in the east side OF
the district to the fortunes of julius
Miller. the Tammany candidate for
President of the Borough of Manhattan.
In fact, Rosenthal has been said to be
the active director Of the Miller cam
paign, although the titular manager Is
Alderman William 7. Collins. Rosen-
thai for weeks past has been directing
the Miller activities from the Wichita
Club at 1543 Madison avenue, the East
Side headquarters for the district.
An Assumed Name.
The point puzzling the prohibition
agents Is how Rosenthal, a certified COM
missioner Of deeds, came to attest the
signature of "William A. Collins" In
view of other evidence they have in
their possession, namely, a letter and
an affidavit by Abraham Levy directed
to the United States Mortgage and Trust
Company to the effect that the name
William A. Collins as he had used 1t
was an assumed name, adopted by his
brother, Benedict Levy for business pur-
poses.
Rosenthal is In business at 56 West
Forty-fifth street as broker Of moving
picture scenarios. He lives at 124 West
Hath street and is listed in the city
directory as assistant secretary OF the
A -t1t..
and Publishers. He was formerly @
lawyer, but was disbarred by tie Appel
late Division in 1910 following charges
Of misappropriation of funds belonging
to a client. Presiding Justice Ingraham.
writing the opinion. said Rosenthal was
guilty of both forgery and embezzle-
ment.
Rosenthals connection with Demo-
cratic politics in the Seventeenth Assem-
bly, district dates back for a considerable
period. during most Of which he has
been booster for julius Miller. when
Miller was a member Of the State Senate
Rosenthal was known in the district as
"the Senator's man." and he Is credited
with being responsible for bringing Mil
Ter out as a candidate in the present
campaign by impressing his availability
on Marx and Burkan. These last named
laid the matter before Boss Murphy, with
the result that Miller's nams emerged
from the famous telephone Booth con-
vention opposite the Job o. Borough
President julius RosenthaPs registra-
ton as a commissioner of deeds was
filed in the County Clerks office on
June 8. 1920.
Another interesting coincidence In the
whole chain of political bootlegging ac-
tivities the Federal investigators have
uncovered appears in the similarity Of
names. AS told in THE NEW YORK
HERALD yesterday. one of the eight per-
mits alleged by the Government to have
been controlled by Levy was made out
in favor of Abraham J. Rosenthal. The
application described this Rosenthal as a
wholesaler" OF 70 East 1i5th street,
and penciled notation on a report OF
an inspection of the 115th street premises
indicated that the application originally
had been recommended by Sen. Fraw-
ley." Former State Senator James j.
Frawley. now Assistant Public Admin
istrator for New York county was
formerly the leader of that portion OF
what Is now the Seventeenth Assembly
district, presided over by Nathan
Burkan. and in which julius Rosenthai
is now so active directing things from
the Wichita Club.
Levy Does Some Attesting.
Abraham Rosenthal was holder of
serial permit No. B510, and on at least
one withdrawal application for seventy
five cases of whiskey from the Rugby
Dlstlllery Company of Louisville Rosen-
tLals signature was attested by Abra-
ham Levy. who besides being the holder
of liquor permits of his own. joint
owner of Photographic studio and
theatre ticket agency in Harlem. chair
man of the Beavers Club. boosting the
Tammany ticket. turns up also as a
Commissioner of Deeds for New York
county.
Both the Collins and Rosenthal per-
mits. as well as a third Issued in the
name of Albert Mckenzie. who the Gov
ernment agents declare. has been dead
since September. 1919, were approved by
former State Prohibition Director
Charles r. OConnor.
The Government agents base their
contention that Abraham Levy actually
controlled the Abraham Rosenthal with
drawal permit largely on Levy's attitude
following the seizure of seventy cases OF
Bacardi rum by the police. when he ia
alleged to have announced himself as
the owner OF the liquor. They point TO
the failure of Rosenthal himself TO come
forward and. although Levy produced n
permit In the name of Rosenthai, which
although having originally expired. had
been extended by Michael Lynch chief
clerk under Prohibition Director O'Con-
nor. Magistrate Ryttenberg held him In
s2.50O bail for the New York County
Grand Jury ON q charge OF Illegal pos