The Washington times., 1921-04-10


N st. Francis Black, New York multi
millionaire and head of the Fuller
corporation. which owns the famous Flat
iron Building, was cleared by Federal
Court commissioner Of the charge of viola
tion of the Volstead act, the case will &c
down In history as one of the most sensa
tional in the history of prohibition enforce
ment. And its end is not yet.
Not only was one of the wealthiest citi
gems of the United States forced to face
Federal prosecution, but he also suffered
the indignity Of arrest by constables Of the
small town of Cocoanut Grove, suburb OF
Miami, Florida, and was forced to appear
in the town court as codefendant with two
Of his negro employees. Moreover, for the
first time in the history of Federal enforce
ment of prohibition railroad private car
was seized by Federal officials and for
twentyfour hours withheld from its owner
because liquor was found aboard it.
But why should a gentleman's private
car be carrying such load of liquor as
those sixty cases of whiskey and other for
DiouCh ibtoAiShuto WulCu WcTc SclZcu Uy
the prohibition enforcement authorities
OF course, Mr.. Black was not carrying
around this load of hootch in his private
car to sell-nobody is SO crazy as to sug-
gest that No, It was needed for entertain
ment of himself and guests
Mr.. Black has very luxurious bache-
lor home in New York City, for he is d.
vorced man. But he spends about six
months every year travelling about in his
private car. Some multi-millionaires own
yachts and spend their outings on the
water. Mr.. Black owns a sort of "land
yacht" in the shape Of very comfortably
equipped private railway car which is
worth about 100000
Mr.. Black Is known as very liberal en-
tertainer. His guests, many Of them, have
wine cellars OF their own and are accus.
toned to alcoholic stimuants, and Mr.
Black instructs his steward on the car to
see that there are always ample stores of
liquor on board.
There are twelve bottles in a case of
liquor. In sixty cases there are 720 bot
sASo. Doi tShuCio usually 'CdlCuldtc ScNeu-
teen drinks to bottle. Thus, in the sixty
cases there would be total of 1920
drinks. If the owner Of The car drank all
this liquor himself, say ten drinks every
day. 1t would have taken him at this rate
almost four years to drink up the supply
seized by the prohibition officers. But Mr..
Black. as already said. is famous as an en-
tertainer, and this generous supply Of ex-
hilaration was intended mostly for his
guests.
private car will accommodate very
comfortably about six people II the party
is larger than that it rather crowds things.
Suppose that Mr.. Black and five guests
each took ten drinks a day. At this rate
the liquor in the sixty cases would last
eight months. But Mr. Black Is we'll known
in many cities here and there around the
country where he travels. And he is an
old and regular visitor every Winter in
Florida, where he has many friends So, in
addition to himself and his party on the
private car, he would need supplies suffi-
cient to provide entertainment for callers
and for special dinner parties of invited
guests at his various stopping places.
II these friends consumed liquor at the
rate OF two or three drinks day as they
dropped in to call on him, or we're invited
for dinner, then with his own needs and
his private car guests the sixty cases would
be sufficient to last only six months; and
this is exactly the length of time which Mr..
Black usually spends on his private car
every year Thus 1t is easy to see why
the steward of the "Bayview" was not
overstocking his probable needs when he
had within reach those 720 quarts, or 1920
separate drinks.
But the mystery is not in the amount Of
liquor, but in where 1t came from. Did Mr..
Blacks negro steward put aboard this sup
ply from some source in Florida?
If Mr.. Black brought the liquor down to
Florida from his home in New York and
expects to keep the car going the rest OF
his life, at the rate OF sixty cases year In
addition to perhaps as many or more cases
in his own New York home-how large a
liquor reserve has Mr.. Black tucked awav
somewhere in cellar or storage warehouse?
At the rate of sixty cases for the six
months on his car, and sixty more cases
for the six months that he is around New
York, this liberal entertainer would use up
100 cases Of liquor. or lao bottles year.
Mr. Black is in the prime of life and may