New-York tribune., 1921-03-01
Boston Agents
Plan Dry Raids
On Hotels Here
Drive Aimed at Bootlegging
by Bellhops in Largest
Places; DrugRound-Up ON
New Evidence Expected
Mccarthy Faces Contempt
New England Prosecutor Says
He Must Tell of Bribes;
40 Newark Cafes Visited

New England prohibition agents, who
have promised to do their best to dry
up New York City. have planned raids
on some of the largest hotels here. it
was learned yesterday. 1t Is under
stood that these raids will aim at put
ting an end to extensive and profitable
bootlegging operations engaged in by
bellhops and other hotel employees.
1t also was intimated that several
important narcotic raids will result
from evidence discovered during the
Wholesale raids Saturday night. AL
though 1t was not mentioned at the
time, the raiders were accompanied by
members of the Federal narcotic squad,
and it was said unofflcally yesterday
that the narcotic agents uncovered sew
eral important centers of retail traffic
in drugs.
Raiding activities shifted from New
York to Newark yesterday, when at
noon fifty special enforcement agents,
commanded by Special Agents Harry T.
Sands, of Washington, and Harry Lof
tus, Of Philadelphia, began entering
forty nine places armed with search
warrants. The warrants were based
upon evidence gathered during the last
two weeks.
Confusion in Court Proceedings
The New England forces were tied up
yesterday at the Federal Building The
day was spent arraigning the 1875 per-
sons they arrested. Dissatisfaction was
expressed by the agents over the in
itiai prosecution proceedings.
The defendants were arraigncd be-
fore United States Commissioner Sam
uel Hitchcock. and a majority Of them
waived examination and were held in
bail of $500 and $1,000 to appear be-
fore the United States District Court
Wednesday. But there was consider.
able confusion and trouble expert
enced in making out the complaints, as
the validity of the search warrants
were attacked in some instances, and in
other cases difficulties of Identification
arose. In some cases walters arrested
charged with selling liquor ten days
ago claimed that they were not in the
employ Of the place specified in the
complaint at the time OF the alleged
violation, but had been hired since
then.
William j. Mccarthy, supervisor Of
prohibition enforcement for New Eng
land, was reported working in New
Jersey yesterday. 1t was said that he
was closing in on one of the members
Of the alleged whisky ring which the
New England forces say they have un-
covered.
Dispatches from Boston quoted AS
sstant United States Attorney Shea as
saying contempt proceedings will be
brought against Mr.. Mccarthy if he
fails to appear before the grand jury
there to-day and give evidence relative
to his story of alleged offers of brhcs
yhicr he said aggregated Sl,000.00O
Boston newspaper men under whose
"H turc the interview appeared in
Sunday papers have been subpnnaed
and it was reported that United
States marshal is on his way here to
serve Mr.. Mccarthy.
Validity of Warrants Attacked
At the proceedings in the Federal
Building, George Donnellon, counsel for
the Retail Liquor Dealers Association,
and Charles II. Gritfths, representing
several prOprietors of we'll known
cabarcts, attacked the validity of the
search warrants used in entering their
clients places. Mr.. Griffiths cited as al
example of alleged improper warrants
the one authorizing a search Of Thomas
Healys Golden Glades, Sixty-sixth
Street and Columbus Avenue. He said
the warrant authorized a search Of the
plclHlSc al QUO COlumDuS avenue, some
distance away.
Mr.. Grffiths said he believed that
not one out Of four of the persons ar
rested Saturday night would be held
He said he learned that in some cases
agents surrendered the original war
rant to defendants instead OF copy
and consequently these warrants are
missing as court exhibits.
Customs inspectors on the staff of
the Surveyor Of the Port confiscated
400 bottles Of Irish and Scotch whisky
in saloon in East Fifty-th Street
yesterday, they reported. The liquor
it is alleged, was smuggled from q ship
One man was arrested.
Two men, who gave their names as
Anthony Nicorus and Antonio Di Fran
cisco, were held in $4,000 bail each
yesterday by Magistrate Levine IN
West Side Court. They were arrested