The New York herald., 1921-10-20
ATTEMPT AT BRIBERY
OF STATE DRY CHIEF
ALLEGED IN ARREST
Baltimore Man Accused Of
Offering $4,000 to Be
Shared by Yellowley.
SOUGHT u. S. RECORDS
Special Agent Says Samuel
Albrecht Paid Over 5000
for Files.
KNEW INSIDE ROUTINE
Prisoner Declares Prohibition
Agents Held Him Up and
Took His 5000.
KNEW INSIDE ROUTINE

IN scope than any made public since
the enforcement OF prohibition began
was revealed by Federal agents yes
terday in the arrest of Samuel AL
brecht, a Baltimore merchant, who is
accused of having offered, merely as
first instalment, a bribe Of $4,000
to be divided between Il. C. Yellowley
acting State director, and Green Miller
a special agent on his staff. He also
Is charged with having given Mr.. Mil
Ter bribe of 5000 for the possession
Of certain Government records.
AS indicative of the knowledge pos
sessed by bootleggers Of the inner
workings of the prohibition depart
ment, the Government men say they
We're amazed by statements made by
Albrecht in the course of the negotia-
tons they allege he had with them.
He knew. they charge. that Director
Yellowley would be called to Wash
ington yesterday before the telegram
calling him arrived, and that he knew
much about the business of the New
York headquarters.
Offers $40 on Each Case.
According to Mr.. Miller the prisoner
represented that he had connections with
nine distilleries and directed IS per cent
OF the business in permits which is done
IN the Eastern States. Miller said AL
brecht wanted to arrange for the release
Of liquor in 100. 200 and 500 case lots
and promised that Yellowley and Miller
would receive $40 on every case re-
leased. that they could have an initial
payment of s5o.ooe and that all pay
ments would be in cash.
. Until recently. Albrecht is said to
have told Miller. no difficulty had been
experienced in getting desired permits
from employees in the New York pro-
hibition office. He is alleged to have
intimated on his first visit to Miller's
had changed he was prepared to deal
with those higher up. Miller told him
TO come back In a few days.
On his second visit Albrecht. it is
charged. outlined a plan OF payments
in return for Withdrawals on the dis
tilleries he Is accused Of having said he
represented. III you can stretch this
withdrawal plan a bit." he said. accord
ing to Miller, both you and YeIlowley
will be very rich men. I am backed by
an influential ring and We can take
careN of any legal tsngles. You may as
well get rich as a lot OF others know"
Miller said he put off negotiations
each time in order that agents working
on the outside might learn all they
could from Albrecht. When he came to
the prohibition office yesterday for the
third time ho asked. according to the
agents, to be shown the office files with
respect to the standing 9. n. T.. Hunter
& Co, Inc, Of SO Jay street, wholesale
druggists, who were cited for revocation
Of their permit two weeks ago. A hear
ing of their case Is to be held in a few
days.
5000 Ii Passed over.
What's this file worth to you?" Al
brecht inquired. according to Miller.
Two hundred" Miller answered.
us that all it's WORTH
We'll, $500"
Miller said he produced the file and
that Albrecht handed him 5000 with a
promise to return later in the day with
the rest. He was placed under arrest
and taken before United States Com
missioner Hitchcock. who held him In
$500 bail for a hearing November ..
Agents charge they found in Al
brecht's room at the Hotel Commodore
books OF the Hunter company showing
receipts and dispositions of liquor. rec
ords which are required under the liquor
laws to be kept only at the office OF the
company to which they belong. He said
he was connected with the company.
VI. E. Hunter president Of the con-
cern, declared he never had heard OF
Albrecht and knew no reason why he
should want the company's records. He
said the revocation proceedings were
the result of misunderstanding. which
would be Strengthened out. At prohibi-
tion headquarters II was said the Hun
ter company's permit was cited for rev.
alton after 500 cases OF liquor con-
signed to them had been seized in a
railroad yard because OF Irregularities
in the shipment.
Albrecht when arraigned denied any
attempt at bribery. Hc told Commits
sioner Hitchcock that he came from
Baltimore to get some Government in
formation and that prohibition agents
held him up in the hallway outside the
directors office. where they robbed him
of $500.
Listed as Merchandise Broker.
Special Despatch 10 THE NTw YosK HERALD.
BALTIMORE, Md, oct. l9.---Samucl AL
brecht, who lives at 901 Whitelock street,