Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-06-29
MILLIONS SEIZED
BY DRY OFFICERS
IN NEW ORLEANS
All Buildings, Machinery. Vats,
and Accessories of Six
Brewcries Conhscated.
HUNDREDS OF employees
THROWN OUT OF WORK
Charged With Making Beer
Which xceed S Alcoholic
Content Permitted by Law.
lEy Associated Press

10y associated t'rcSS.
NEW ORLEANS. LA. June 2s.--
Government agents today seized the
six brcwcrics raidcd SATURDAY. and
formally declared all the brewery
pr"prty, both real ana personal, un-
der government ownership The
seizure is declared to he the laru-
est made in the United States under
the Nolstcad act
The brcwcr!cs are charged with
making and selling beer which cx-
cccded the alcoholic content per
mittcd by law. Saturdays raid ex-
tended only TO the confsca,ion Of
thousands OF barrels and cases Of
cereal beverage"
All Property Taken.
Today's seizures include all build
ings. machinery. watts. trucks and
other brewery accessories. as we'll as
the valuable sites occupied by the
plants. Tho value OF the property
totals millions OF dollars.
Both operations were under the
'''''haph va local
prohibition enforcement officer as
sisted by squad OF some thirty
special agents. assembled here from
various other States Reports to-
night said three brewing company
officials had left for Washington 10
make formal protest against the con.
fscations.
As tho government will not operate
the brcwer:cs. the action today
throws out OF work hundreds of men
who were employed by the Standard.
Dixie, American. Columbia. National
and Union, the six companies af-
fected.
Instructed From Washington.
Authority for Mr.. jacques latest
action was said to have arrived to-
day from Washington. and he lost
no time in carrying out his ins;ruc-
tons. No opposition was cncoun-
tered al the plants, officials OF tho
companies in most instances assist
ing in the listing of assets. Squads
were sent simultaneously to the
broweries. and at virtually tho same
hour the doors Of each place were
closed and United States agents left
with the keys.
Like its predecessor of Saturday.
today's coup was Il complete sur
prise. General opinion had been that
tho plants could bc closed only after
litigation had been instituted by Jess
Johnson. Federal prohibition director
for Louisiana. Mr.. Johnson stated
Saturday that he would take such ac-
tion after all evidence was in hand.
saloons Not M0Icstcd.
To date the scores Of former saloons
which have been retailing the kick
fur beverage have not been mo-
Tested, although Mr.. Jaaues stated to-
night that all such places which pur-
chased ana rctailcd beer manufac-
;urcd by the six accused hrcwcries
could hc prosecuted on charges of
conspiracy to violate the Volstead
act
The raids and seizures followed
sO-caiIed beer carnival. in which
scenes of pre- prohibition days were
repeated at many local cafes. Satur-
day night many OF the establishments
had run out OF the eagerly sought
beverage, hut thirsty patrons kept
close account OF the retail stocks and
governed themselves accordingly.
The confscation leaves only two
brcwerics in operation here. Officials
of these companies are roticcnt about
other than To insist
that they are operating strictly with
in the law and have taken no part in
exposing the brewers who are alleged
to have staged an informal repeal of
the eighteenth amendment.