The New York herald., 1921-12-30
Printing Plant Turns Out
Necessary Papers Hard
to Detect.
WOOD ALCOHOL KILLS 8
Bootleg Whisky Blamed for
Holiday Poisonings-Raids
in HObOken Net $4,000.

Efforts of the Federal authorities to
stop the leakage of liquor through the
forgery Of withdrawal papers have
failed completely, it was learned yes
terday. Facts made public by Ralph
A. Day, State Director, indicate that
at least $4,000, 900 worth of liquor, and
perhaps many times that amount, has
been illegally released recently. Mr.
Day has been in office a month.
The flow of illegally released whisky
Is believed to have something to dc
with the large and increasing number
OF deaths reported during the last few
days of persons who have died from
drinking wood alcohol and doctored
bootleg whisky. Three more deaths
were reported yesterday and last night
making a total Of nine in all who have
died since Christmas Day. Some Of
ficials are inclined to believe that the
bootleggers who have obtained some
of the illegally released liquor have
taken advantage of the opportunity ia
doctor 1t with wood alcohol and other
| poisons.
1t was stated that the bootleggers
are operating on system so perfect
that they are able to counterfeit every
| official paper and document used in
the withdrawal OF liquor, and that the
| conspiracy against the Government
| lnC f.,,
| ference with the registered mails. Col.
Catrow, Mr.. Days chief assistant,
| stated that it is Impossible to esti-
mate how much liquor is being taken
out Of the warehouses and distilleries.
Only through addition OF the amounts
released by about thirty forged permits
has it been possible To place minimum
figure on these release
10000 Cases Likely Taken Out.
The forgeries In each permit called
for the release of at least 1000 cases of
liquor. 1t was admitted at prohibition
headquarters that these may form only
hundredth part of the forgeries sue
cessfully carried out.
The bogus papers were discovered in
checking up the records of warehouses
Certain warehouses were asked to ac-
count for discrepancies in the amount
of liquor released by them and the
amount charged against them by the
prohibition authorities They produced
sets OF withdrawal papers which could
be recognized as counterfeit only
through the most expert examina ton.
Prohibition authorities believe that the
papers used are all prepared at a CEN
trail printing establishment. which Is the
heart of the bootlegging organization.
Such data as the directors office has
obtained have been turned over to Hugh
McQuillan, chief OF the special intelli-
gence unit of the Internal Revenue Bu-
reau, whose men already have uncov-
cred several large liquor conspiracies.
AS Col. Catrow explained the scheme,
whenever application Is made for the
withdrawal of quantity of liquor
greater than one barrel. or fifteen
cases, the warehouse upon which tho
permit is drawn is required to write to
prohibition headquarters by registered
mail, requesting verification of the per-
nit. The liquor is not to be released
until the warehouse receives a letter Of
approval signed by the state Director.
Bogus Registry Receipts.
According to Col. Catrow. not only are
the withdrawal permit papers counter
feited, but reproductions are made al
well of registered mail receipts and of
the directors letter of approval At some
time after the letter is sent by registered
mail to the state directors office. re-
questing verfication OF the permit II Is
intercepted, Col. Catrow said.
Heretofore, in conspiracies in which
the forgery of liquor permits was
charged. there has been implication OF
clerks in the State directors office. Di-
rector Day said yesterday that he had
removed the possibility Of a leak In that
connection by changing the girls charged
with receiving the registered mail.
It was not stated at the directors
office whether this precaution had been
taken after the discovery of the forgeries
described by Col. Catrow. The postal
authorities have been communicated
with. Col Catrow said. on the theory
that the interruptions have taken place
before delivery Of the registered mail at
prohibition headquarters
The letter OF approval purporting to
come from Director Day In one forgery
was 80 carefully counterfeited thai two
misplaced dots In the mimeographed
form in which this letter is always sent
out were exactly reproduced In the bogus
letter. The paper used. bearing coun-
terfeit letterhead of the Internal Rev
enue Bureau, is OF even better quality
than that used by the Government. Re-
productions of the bureaus franked en-
velopes. with the warning of penalty
OF $500 for private use. have also been
made.
No official statement could be had at
prohibition Headquarters concerning tho
part the warehouses may have played In
these alleged forgeries
Two men charged with having con-
tracted with General Agents Estcs. Wien
and Fabricius to furnish them with fifty