The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-09-02
MARSHAL PALMER
 ABLE TO FIND IF
 OWNERS CHEATED
Does Not Deny Cheap Cars Were Substituted F o r High Grade Machines Taken From Rum-Run- nerS.

Hartford, Sept. s.-If United States Marshal William R. Palmer believes that the rotten old -cars' that were offered for sale at auction by him Tuesday at his son-in-law's ware house in New Haven were substituted for the original high-grade cars by owners to whom they had been re- turned under bonds, all he has to do is to notify the United States district attorneys office and there will be an tmm ediate investigation. If 1t should be found that such was the case, the bonds-in each case fixed at twice promptly cancelled
 This was the substance of state ment made yesterday by Assistent United States District Attorney Co., hen in the absence of District Attor- ney Smith from the city.
 Original Autos Missing.
 Marshal Palmer, according to reported interview yesterday, did taken place and that many of the 46 cars offered for sale at the auction Tuesday at Smedley's Warehouse to satisfy claims of the United States against the w4riskey runners were not the original machines seized by the federal agents It was discovered at ufacturer's engine numbers as listed in the district attorneys orders were missing and that several ramshackle machines were present which could
  they bore the registration markers of the missing cars.
 Marshafs Possible Explanations.
 The marshal insisted that no sub stitution of the machines was made after they came into his possession. He offered two possible explanations for the situation. One of them was that, after the cars had been seized by federal agents and placed in gar ages in various sections Of the state, it would have been simple matter for dishonest garage employees to change the markers on the cars and substitute cheap cars for the more expensive ones seized.
 The other possible explanation of fered by the marshal was this:
 When car is seized, the owner is permitted to regain possession of the machine by filing bond for twice the velue of the car: When these cars were returned to the governm ent and the bonds claimed, the substftu- tion might have been made. He ad- mitter," according to a published in terview, that the majority of cars held by him for sale had at some time OF other been admitted to bond, and had later been returned to the government in satisfaction for the claims against the machines" He said it was an absurdity in the pro- 1libition law that permitted the cars Ito be released on bond with the pro- Es0 has hsy heB e q tas good a condition as when taken"
 Good Cars Imperative.
 A interesting sidelight on the prep pelled to make it contained in this quotation of the marshall:
 When the cars were received by me they were immediately placed in the Smedley automobile warehouse, and I received a warehouse receipt showing the license number of the car and the number of the motor. When the machine were delivered to frnn ho h. haH the same license and motor numbers as had been entered on the ware house. receipts. It seemed very strange to me, however, that those engaged in the transportation of li- quor would use such rotten old cars as we had for sale in some instances Some of them were net strong enough to get anywhere in and 1t is vel known that rum runners depend or speed and durability of their cars tG get them through with their cargoes Not only do they have good cars but besides an expert chauffeur as driver they have also competent mechanic to make SIch necessary temporary depairs as will insure the success ot the trip. This could not have beer done in several of the cars that were included in the list of those offered for auction
 State Police Interested.
 Investigation by the state police O the transfer of registration marker to facilitate the substitution Of auto mobiles seized by federal agents iron rum runners and ostensibly turned over to the custody of the United States marshal became a possibilit! yesterday when complaint was mad' to Superintendent Hurley.
 The superintendent said he wou1C inquire into the matter before taking any action. as he did not want to in terfere with federal plans. It wa believed likely that he would confe with the United States district attor ney's office.
 While it is essentially fedora matter the substitution Of Connect cut markers on automobiles is vio 1aticn of the state automobile law fo which a heavy penalty is provided.