The New York herald., 1921-03-26
O'CONNOR DISCOVERS
EAGER OPTIMISTS
They're All Wrong He Says,
in Discussing Beer in
Drug Stores.

Charles r. O'Connor. State Prohibit
ton Director, called attention yesterday
to whate he considers loose thinking and
loose talking about the probable effect
of Attorney General Palmer's recent
ruling on the prescription OF beer
by physicians MY idea OF an OPP
timist," said Mr.. O'Connor. lis the man
who has caught the idea that this ruling
will permit the sale Of beer and wine
in drug stores, or even that saloon sell
ing will be restored. Many persons
seem to have caught this idea. but
they're all wrong.
''.rhe statute provides that no ply
sician shall prescribe liquor unless after
careful physical examination OF the per-
son for whose use such prescription is
sought, or If such examination is found
impractical, then upon the best informa-
zion obtainable. IL also provides that
not more than a pint Of spurious liquor
shall be prescribed for the same person
within a period OF ten days.
"The chief point Mr.. Palmer makes
Is that nothing is said about liquors
other than spirituous. and that a
physician should, therefore, not be linz
tied in his prescription OF beer and
wines unless by express regulation Of
the Prohibition Commissioner. The
regulations made necessary by Nj.
Palmer's opinion are now being pre-
pared"
key. was returned by enforcement
agents Yesterday to the home of Frank
Speranzino. Si5 Ralph avenue, Brooklyn,
where it was seized March ]. Two or
ders had been issued b. Federal Judge
Galyin for the return Of this liquor
and third order requiring Harold y.
Dobbs, chief enforcement officer in
Brooklyn, to show cause why he should
not be cited for contempt of court for
not having returned the seizure. Finally
Judge Garvin gave the defendant and
the Government two days to reach an
agreement. and if they failed, he said.
Dobbs would be cited for contempt OF
court.
The liquor which has been returned
was twice in the hands of the prohibition
agents 1t was first seized without a
search warrant. and the information Tor
the warrant used in the second seizure,
the court learned, was obtained from
the first seizure.
Agents under Ernest Langley, super
vising enforcement agent. reported yes
terday the roundup of seven selling
cases on Thursday, in each OF whicn
small seizures we're made.
James Shevlin, former supervising
agent for this district, and now in
charge in Texas, New Mexico and ART
IONA. was in the city yesterday. lie
said that 1t is nov impossible for any
one TO get a drink at bar IN any OF
these three States, but that he is having
trouble with booze smuggled over the
border and sold in bottles BY oootieg-
gers. The Mexican supply is running
low, Mr.. Shevlin said, and native
drink called teduila, more powerful tnAn
moonsnine, IL being sent over tne Nno
as a whiskey substitute.
IN a raid on 81 Norfolk street enforce
ment agents reported finding three floors
OF the building. which is tenement
structure. occupied by Max Saltzstein,
given over 10 the preparation OF liquor,
Although only ten gallons of alcohoi
were found and some wine, the agents
seized thousands OF whiskey labels ana
vra appers. together with large amounts
Of coioring matter and extracts or rye
gin and other liquors.
The prohib.t .tion authorities believe the
house 10 be a distributing centre iof
large quantities Of colored alconoi'
bottled and labelled TO be sold as whis-
key. No distillng apparatus was touhd
IL the place Saltzstein was arreyted,
charged with violation Of the Volstead
act.
six men, five OF whom gave New YORK
addresses. were arrested IN Newark
while they were loading several barrels
az wine on a truck for transportation 20
New York. One Of the men, Ernesto
Pereia OF Newark admitted ownership
OF the liquor. and, according to the po-
Zee. a search OF his cellar revealed 1,5oo
gallons more. lie was held on 4 charge
OF manufacturing wine without per-
nit.
John Fernandez OF 5li Greenwich
street was held on q charge Of buying
and Arthur s Guerra or a25 Spring
street was charged with transporting
I.nuor without a permit The other men
we're scharged