The New York herald., 1921-03-03
WHSKEY WORTH
$5OO,OOO SEIZED
IN BRONX GARAGE
Stock Includes 1000 Cases,
30 Barrels, Along With
263 Barrels of Wine.
OWNED BY ACQUINI, INC.
Fusillade From Pistols OF
Dry Agents Sends Guard
Flying to Bushes.
SUPPLIED BARS, CHARGE
Relative OF Owner Protests
Seizure, Asserting Goods
We're Held Legally.
SUPPLIED BARS, CHARGE


Volstead act was made yesterday az
ternoon in a supposedly abandoned
garage at sSs University place, The
Bronx, after several pistol shots had
forcement agents.
The liquors confiscated, which have
g. wholesale value OF 100000 and at
least s1.0oo,oo0 If sold over bar. in
est brands Of bonded whiskey. fifty
barrels of bourbon and rye whisk~y
made in Kentucky several years ago,
and two hundred and sixty-three bar
rels of imported and domestic wines.
The whiskies and wines were the
property Of Giovanni Acquini. Inc,
wholesale liquor dealers with a ware
house at 3s9 Broome street. who
leased the garage some months ago,
and are also holders of permits for the
unlimited removal OF liquor from
bonded warehouses throughout the
country, although no removal by such
tober ! last.
Mistaken for Robbers.
For some time reports had reached
Dan J. Chaplin, chief prohibition en-
forcement agent that saloons and other
places in The Bronx were buying large
amounts of bonded whiskey OF the best
brands and we're selling It openly over
bars. But II was not until a week ago
that tho source OF some Of the supply
was discovered. after the seizure OF sew
eral cases Of whiskey in Bronx saloons
on the bottles OF which were legitimate
labels OF brands alleged to have been
withdrawn from bonded warehouses sew
eral months ago by Giovanni Acquini,
Inc.
The investigation was put in charge OF
Izzy Einstein and slx other local liquor
sleuths. who approached the Bronx ga
rage just before sundown yesterday,
only to find their way blocked At the
double barelled shotgun, who said after
ward he took the agents for robbers
The agents demanded entrance. and on
refusal a fusillade of shots was fired
IN the air BY Einstein. Moe Smith. Her
man Wtttenberg. Moe Kern. Fred Stoher.
Joe Dunn and BIZ Hall. The watchman
dropped his gun and fled to the brush
nearby. where he was overtaken by
Smith. He gave his name as Mike. lie
was not placed under arrest
The seven agents found the garage.
which is large two story affair, dlled
with the ~hiskies and wines. apparently
with not the slightest effort at con-
cealment. The barrelled goods occupied
part OF the lower floor and the cases
OF whiskey were neatly packed on both
floors. each brand being separated. Elm
stein and his aids gsspcd at the sight.
though they have made many big
seizures in the last year.
Einstein told reporter for TIE Ngw
York HERALD last night that the Broome
street warehouse of Acquini had been
used only rs a source OF supply for the
Bronx garage, which had not been au-
thorized to be used as Il cache for dis
tribution OF liquor for apparent non
beverage purposes. IL Is alleged by Mr.
Chaplin that more than 100 forged per-
mits have been unearthed for the re-
moval or liquor from the Broome street
address TO the garage, and also permits
OF purchase 10 supposedly legitimate re-
tail and wholesale drug firms in The
Bronx and vicinity.
Relative Protests Seizure.
As part OF the rich haul was being
removed 70 the ESnlckcrbocker Ware
houses In First street a man who re-
fused to identify himself further than
that he was a brother-in-law Of Acquini
appeared at the garage and protested
q gainst the Seizure az Illegal
The Government has made n big mis-
take in seizing the liquor" no said.
my brother-in-law has a permit TO
transfer the liquor from his Broome
street address to this place and Is doing
a legitimate business"
Perhaps your brother-in-law can ex-
plain in court tomorrow about all these
forged permits and why 50 much OF his
liquor is being sold over bars said
Einstcin. There Is no record IN the
office that he received a per
NIT to remove booze from Broome street
to this place. The liquor he has been
is supposed 20 be for medical
purposes only. 10 be sold TO druggists
and hospitals. There must be thou
sands OF hospitals and drug stores in
The Bronx 70 supply
The Acouini concern has held unlim-
tied wholesale removal and sale priv
ileRes for more than nine months. II
was sad at prohibition headquarters
last night Although no liquor under
such permits has been allowed to be
withdrawn from warehouses since last
October. II Is estimated that this par
ticular company has dealt in liquor
valued at between s3,ooo.ooo and So
700, 900. based on tho amount on hand
In the vacated garage in the Bronx.
Prohibition officials sad this was the
srgest seizure sc, made in the city and
was only the beginning of the running
iown OF other alleged illicit dealers who
nave dealt In lust as large quantities
,f nqtor since prohibition became
IA tlonwidc law Many Arms holding
srge permit papers arc slso being in
zovt,ra~f on Niuh Page