Evening journal., 1921-06-01
P. 0. USED IN
WHISKY PLOT
Conspiracy Unearthed in
New York Covered East;
Two Held Under Bond
OTHER ARRESTS
ARE EXPECTED

NEW YORK. June 1.-The story
OF one Of IT, biggest and most suc-
cessful bootiegging plots unearthed
since Federal prohibition went into
effect was revealed when two men
were held in high bail by Samuel
NJ. Hitchcock, United States Com
missioner.
The daring Of the whisky ring far
exceeds any past exposure Of the
kind, for its operations reached into
the main pOstofiice in this city,
where the mails were tampered with
and letters placed in the hands Of
the plotters bearing upon the re-
moval OF liquor from distilleries
and bonded warehouses through
the country.
The letters were addressed to
Charles r. O'Connor, Federal Di-
rector Of Prohibition for the State
OF New York. and were taken out
OF the mails through the conniv-
ance OF a postal clerk. whose name
has not yet been made public. owing
to the fact that ne may give inn
portant information bearing on the
latest scandal Of forged removal
permits.
The communications were from
distillers and wholesale liquor firms
scattered through the East making
inquiries as TO the gcnuiness Of
withdrawal permits calling for the
removal Of unlimited quantities Of
whisky to be sold for medicinal pur-
poses as required by law. The per-
mits bore the forged signatures OF
Mr.. O'Connor. who retired from
last week.
The workings Of this millionaire
boouegging ring" is replete with
forgery Of permits and letters and
bribery of a hitherto trusted post
Office employe which has resulted in
the removal of thousands of gal
Ions Of whisky that has found a
ready market n this and other cities
for the thirsty.
John Benefore, alias George Burns
was released in S250O0 bail
and Thomas Malone. alias Harry
Brown, in $4,000 bail, furnished
by a surety company after they had
been arraigned before Commissioned
Hitchcock on a complaint made by
Postonice Inspector Francis L. Reidy
charging them with the serious Of
tense Of conspiracy in tamperinl
with the mails.
The two men were arrested yes
terday in the general postofhce b.
Mr.. Reidy and three other Inspector
Just before Bonofore had pockete'
special delivery letters addressed &
the prohibition director from dis
tillers in Pennsylvania, for which h
had signed after they had beei
handed him by the clerk involved.
According to the complain
AGAINST the two alleged plotters, IN
conspiracy was hatched on or abot
January / last, and has been in fu
sway since then. Tonight no go'
srnment official would even venture
guess as to the quantity Of liquo
removed through the ramifcatior
led by Bonofore and Malone, whic
cover a period Of five months.
From other sources il was charge
that men known in and to the illic
LIQUOR trade in this city have bee
working hand and glove with Bono
fore and Malone, whose arrest Is
blow at the already depleted stoc
of whisky now being sold on the ST.
owing to activities Of the police
the enforcement of the Mullan-Gal
Try law.
David V. Cahrl. Assistant Federi
District Attorney. who has charge Z
the case, declared II would hay
been impossible for the two men
dispose OF the vast quantities
liquor withdrawn without the aid
well organized gang Of bootegge
with plenty Of funds at their di
posaL He hinted that otheR arres