Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1921-05-21
BIG MEN INVOLVED IN GIGANTIC
LIQUOR SMUGGLING PLOT.
Asserts Practically every Nook
Along Coast Is Being Used
To Rush in Booze.

10 kuSn III BOOZE.
Atlantic. City, May 1.-THE most
elaborate system Of liquor smuggling
yet uncovered. u system backed ftnan
cially by some of the most prominent
men in the Atlantic coast cities. will
Die exposed within Il few days, 1t was
made known here tonight by Charles
II. Kurtz, Surveyor OF Customs OF
1t was stated that tho
Warrants in the case already have
been issued and that the men na'ned
In them are under surveillance. Inc
seizure here Monday of $4,000 worth
! ef liquor found OH board Il ship WAS
= he first move in the Governments
8llan of action, MIR. Kurtz said
According to the Surveyor, al til!
i liquor handled by the smugglcrs 10 ini
ported stock and worth almost its
weight in gold once it is taken ashore
Ind offered for sale. The plot to bring
Nm the liquor it was explained was dis
overed by customs agents, and tho
warrants will charge violation Of Gus
oms regulations as we'll rs Of tho
Federal prohibition act.
II Transatlantic liners, their shabby sis
Gers, the frcighters, speed yachts and
%notor boats, fishing SChUonerS, and
light draught vessels and oven air
&blanes, seapluneS and hydrouirplanes
j icing utilized by the smugglGrs, &C.
faordng to information in the posses
4 ion Of Mr.. Kurtz's men. In the great
Z mass Of evidence the Surveyor says
has there is proof that practically
Whtyn Al ,,l;
= Injecting place ut one lmo or other for
i he smugglers who operate the boats
md their assistants who operate Their
Sast automobiles ashorc.z
a LIQUOR IS TRANSMITTED
N According to Mr.. Kurtz the greater
part Of the liquor being brought here
from Europe is transshippcd to vessels
LII flight draught at point just east
k4f Atlantic City and just beyond the
4hrce mile limit.
81 The liquor seized here Monday was
laid to have been taken from light
Il raught ship that had carried 1t from
81 ust that point.
Mr.. Kurt said tonight that the big
Z nd wines aboard in foreign ports and
bring them to designated spot on
his side Of the Atlantic. Upon arriv
| at the secret meeting place Known
% the shippers Of both The small and
he big ships MS was the meeting piac
: S of army transports and their es-
ortS during the war the light draugh.
oats run up beside the others ana
lake the cases OF contraband aboard
h time Of storm the trnnsshipmcn. is
8ladc under the greatest difficulty but
T. he reward is big and the smugglers
- IKE their chances willingly.
The vessels operating between the
Is mcrican cities and the incoming lin.
IS are all Of II size that can easily
! lln irto practically every coast town.
hey draw little water and rs they
70 known locally attract 10 attention
1. cd Ia hurrying the liquor from the
lint of arrival of the bigger local
hip to other cities up and down tho
! past.
IRPLANES SEEN AS MESSENGER
Just what part the airplancs ami
1 lie scaplancs play in the smuggling
anne is II mystery just now SO far III
Duld be learned. 1t is believed, how
YER, that the airplancs are used for
|lrrying messages and reporting the
Spproach Of liquor laden ircightcrs
snd that the scaplancs in times OF
M ccesSity are used for carryinS II.
8l0r.
Atlantic city is regarded by Mr..
urtZ rs one of the chief landing
~ aces used by the smugglers. Mr..
nrtz whose territory inolulcS' part
New York. all Of New Jersey. Della
: are and Pennsylvania raid that the
I ew Jersey coast line offers many un
cquentetA spots for tho landing OF
j. luor, and that the smugglers have
ken advantage Of them.
The game Of smuggling liquor has
fachcd the point. the Surveyor snid,
here the Smugglers are employing
mmy ships, whose shippers have or
Frs 10 navigate as If afraid OF investi
j ton by the authorities. The DUN
les draw the attention of revenue
tiers that may be watching for the
,ugglers and the smugglers slip
with"ot being inspected
the smuggling Is done at night he
id.
The prospect Of immediate md largo
Gifts has brought business men OF
cans to the support of the smugg
lg gang Investigators have reported
the Surveyor. They have refused
believe that their operations could
uncovered. Mr.. KurtZ says the exc
80 ton OF the warrants will surprise
Q persons named in them.
SQUARE DEAL FOR NEGROES