New-York tribune., 1921-04-12
Leach Warns of Dangers
in Carrying Liquor as
10 Indictments Are Re
turned for Possession
New Law Yields
32l Prisoners
More Than $4,000 Rum
Seized in Brooklyn; US.
Agents Told to Get Busy

New York is going to be dryer than
it has been even in the last few days,
according to First Deputy Police Com
missioner John A. Leach. He said, with
pride in his tone, yesterday that his
men had made 321 arrests of reputed
violators of the prohibition laws since
the MullanGage act became effective
in New York on April a. Commissioner
Leach also spoke of the sixteen indict-
ments charging violations of the new
state liquor law that were handed by
the April grand jury yesterday to
Judge John F. Mcintyre in the Court
of General Sessions.
Bench warrants were issued for the
persons named in the indictments, but
their identity was not made public. All
are charged with having intoxicants in
their possession without permit from
the proper Federal authorities. The
indictments described the felony of the
indicted in this language
"Thc said defendant on the Sth day
of April, 1921, in the County Of New
York, unlawfuly did possess certain
intoxicating liquors to be used for
beverage purposes, to wit--one gill Of
whisky and one gill Of certain intoxi-
eating liquor, a more particular de-
scription of which is to the grand jury
aforesaid unknown which said
intoxicating liquor so possessed con-
famed one-half of 1 per cent or more
Of alcohol by volume"
166 Complaints Await Action
Assistant District Attorney Unger
said last night that he had received 166
complaints up to 10 o'clock yesterday
morning and that he would seek in
dictments in score of cases TODAY
He was in the grand jury room for an
hour and half yesterday. He expects
to pass more and more time in the
grand jury room as the local enforce
ment machinery is speeded up.
Commissioner Leach, some Of whose
plain clothes rpm-hunters passed Sun
day in Coney Island cafes and restau-
rants tasting the contents of glasses
and tumblers with which men and
women diners were quenching their
thirst, issued a fresh warning before
going home for the night. He said
that automobiles in which liquor was
transported, with or without the
knowledge of the owner, were liable to
confscation.
Leach made it clear that if taxi
cab chauffeur, for example, should pick
up at the Pennsylvania Station fare
who carried a half pint flask of whisky
in his hip pocket the taxicab might
be seized by the policeman who dis
covered the violation. Mr.. Leach said
that cars seized in such cases might
be replcvlned but added that this pro-
cess was expensive and tedious. He
SAID he knew of one instance of con-
fiscatlon of an automobile where the
owner had transported a guest with
liquor in his possession.
Mr.. Leach had another warning for
members of the Police Department. He
said that if violations that result in
arrests by special detectives or others,
are of such nature as to indicate that
the patrolman on that post might have
secured the evidence and made the
arrest the patrolman will be held ac-
countable. Suspension and even more
severe punishment will be the lot of
the negligent policeman, he cautioned
Big Seizure in Brooklyn
Detectives in Brooklyn demon strated
in the course of busy day that seiz-
ureS are apparently more easily accom-
plished under the Mulan-Gage law
than under the Vostead act Casks
cases, barrels and hogsheads of liquor
with n value estimated at from $4,000
to 100000, were found in a saloon ir
205l Pitkin Avenue.
The raid was made by Detectives
John Kcss'nr and Max Isaacson, of In
spector McDonald's staff. They were
assisted by four policemen. Kesslel
was making an examination of the
liquids behind the bar, his curiosity
having been excited by the presence OF
swarm of patrons in the place, wher
he found a small quantity of wine.
No warrant is necessary under the
state act to search saloon premises
Accordingly the detectives ordered the
customers out of the place, stationed
policemen at the front and side door.
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