The New York herald., 1921-11-10
ASTOR YACHT RAIDED
And WHlSKEY SEIZED
The NOurmahal Invaded by
Customs Officers at N. Y.
Yacht Club Pier.
SIXTY BOTTLES FOUND
Liquor Said to Be Property
of Crew and Owner Is
Held Blameless.
TWO WOMEN ARE HELD
Accused of Selling Bogus With.
drawal Permits for $500
Cases in Warehouses.

Vincent Astor's yacht Nourmalla
was raided yesterday by the United
States Customs search and seizure
squad while the vessel WAS lying of
the pier of the New York Yacht Clut
In the East River. Sixty bottles oi
wbiskey were seized.
NJ. P. Jackson, special deputy sur
veyor of the port, said the customs
authorities were satisfied that Mr.
Astor had no knowledge of the liquor
which is believed to have been the
property of the crew. The yacht was
boarded by the customs men because
she had just returned from trip te
the West Indies, and all vessels enter
ing this port from the southern islands
are closely watched.
Mr.. jackson said specific orders were
issued by Mr.. Astor. who had left the
Yacht before the raid took place. that
any liquor on board mus. go over the
rail, or at any rate disposed OF, oelore
TIE Nourmahal came inside the three
. mile limit These orders were issued to
both the captain and the stew lard. and
the crew had "put something over on
Mr.. Astor."
At Mr. Astor's office IL was stated
that his first Knowledge of the raid
came over the telephone from news
i,aper office. It was said also that after
Er. Astor gave his orders respecting
Fuuor aboard the yacht the captain re-
ported he had found none.
No arrests were made by the squad
as there was no evidence Of any member
Of the crew attempting to smusgle any
of the liquor ashore.
Miss Helen Small an1 Mrs. Nellie
O'Rourke, the women who are accused
Of selling for $4,000 set cf bogus with
drawal papers, calling for the release OF
$500 cases of whiskey, to Harold B.
Dobbs. special prohibition agent, were
arraigned before United States Commits
sioner Hitchcock yesterday. They were
held in $4,000 bail each. charged with
trafficking in counterfeit and forged
Government rapers, and will be given
nearing on November 23.
II was learned yesterday that Mrs.
yRourke is the widow Of Eugene
O'Rourke. a vaudeville actor who died
about two years ago. Until recently.
according to Wallace II. J. Collins, AS
sistant United States Attorney ir Brook
yn. MrS. ~ hOurRe ran the ildheSiue iii'
~ Centreport, r. l.. which was pur-
chased by her husband. She formerly
was on the stage and returned t. 1t for
time after .he business at Centreport
failed.
Miss Small was empl ,yed for two
years in the income tax division Of the
Internal Revenue Collectors office while
"Big Bill" Edwards was Collector.
Charles H. Griffiths is acting as counsel
f,r both women.
The prohibition Officials are trying to
learn more about the pers ,ns whom the
two women are believed g. have repre-
scented in their alleged dealings in bogus
liquor permits.
Acting Director Yellowley announced
tie revocation yesterday Of five more
permits belonging to Rudolph Lobecchio.
manufacturer. or rs West Houston
street; Bernard Gutenberg, retail drug
sst. 1897 southern Boulevard. The
Bronx: Morris Moscovitz. manufacturer,
1876 Broome street: Samuel Heitman,
Wholesale druggist. AIS East Fifth
street, and NJ. Ditomozso. wholesale
druggist, $50 Central avenue. Brooklyn.