The Washington herald., 1921-10-09
HEAVIEST PENALTY
FOR rum LEADERS
URGED BY OYSTER
Wants No Quarter for
Rings Alleged MAS
ter Minds"

Forty thousand dollars in fines or
an aggregate sentence of eight
years in prison for the four alleged
ringleaders IN the gigantic whisky
ring" believed at last to have been
broken by police and revenue Off
GERS, will result from the capture
yesterday morning of a score of
bootleggers, agents, and their GUS
toners in a series of raids. IL the
desires of city officials, as repre-
sented by Commissioner James F.
Oyster, are translated into court
sentences.
Commissioner Oyster, who per-
sonally directed the raids, yesterday
urged mo mercy" and stated that
he believed in the imposing of the
maximum penalty in each case
United States Commissioner Isaac
r. Hit said last night that the
conspiracy to defraud the govern
ment" charge. on which the four
master minds are out on $1,000 bond
each, may entail a total fine of S4o,-
600. or two years in prison for
each of the ring found guilty. These
four cases will probably mean jury
trial. he said. and may not come up
for several months.
The First step.
Prohibition Commissioner Haynes
and Acting Chief General Prohibi-
tion Agent L. q. Mutt said that yes
terday's raids mark the first step
in breaking up the largest whisky
ring" in the East, with ramifica-
tions in several Of the larges cities,
including Atlantic City andI Phila-
delphia.
Police believe the bootleggers ar
rested yesterday are the leaders OF
the poYerful gang that has brought
thousaAds of gallons of alcohol into
the Capital. Automatic rifles, il is
claimed, have been used TO protect
the lawless traffic which has used
high powered automobiles running
on regular schedule with Washing
ton as the center.
OF the large number of prisoners
taken in the early moEpinG raids. a
survey OF police precincts last night
showed less than a score of persons
formally charged. Bonds Of Will
lam J. Butler. colored. of Sa4 T
street NORTHWEST, the master mind"
of the ring, according to the police:
his brother. Edward: Silas jefferson
and Arthur Patrick. were fixed at
$4,000 each by Commissioner Hit
when they were charged with con-
spiracy in attempting to defraud
the government and illegal trans
portation. possession. and selling Of
intoxicating liquors. Each Of the
others was allowed liberty on $500
bonds, charged with illegal possess
sion. A number were detained only
short time because of lack ~ suf-
tcient evidence to warrant charges.
Material Seized.
The raids. according to the 20
lice and revenue officers eliminated
in an investigation which has lasted
FOR weeks. Revenue officers from
all over the country were assembled
here yesterday. Reinforced at vari-
Gus precincts by small armies OF po-
lice. the officers We're sent out early
yesterday morning when a Federal
agent. who had obtained the conf
dence Of the bootleggers. gave the
signal to headquarters by long-dis-
tance telephone. The raiders searcIr
ed thirtS-one places, gathering In
zone automobile. $50 gallons OF alco-
hol, forty quarts of GIN, forty gallons
OF corn whisky. seventy quarts of
liquor. one gallon of f1avoring ex-
tract Tor gin, and three Office safes.
Headquarters of the ring, accord
ing to the police. was at l0l5 La
mont street northwest. where an Of
fce was found completely furnished.
The bootleggers had maintained a
bookkeeping system and had adding
machines and typewriters. In safes
the police say they found valuable
papers discriminating members of the
ring In other cities.
A Stream Of Automobiles.
Police ana revenue officers eS~
planned that the leaders Of the gang
operated a steady stream of auto
mobiles transporting liquor into the
District Evidence presented before
Commissioper Hit yesterday after
noon revealed that the bootleggers
had 10 their possession when arrest
ed maps of the District dividing
the ,city into routes for their "cus.
toners" such >as he larger dairies
and ice companies use Every day
thousands Of dollars poured into the
Golfers Of the gang from the sale
Coxfi.asd ON Pnna T.no.