The New York herald., 1921-05-12

$50 trunks, grabbed from bootleggers
and indiscreet citizens 16 drums. large
containers, OF alcohol; pushcarts.
taken In Illegal sports: 235 suitcases.
also obtained from the bootlegging fra
ternity and from citizens who thought
they were going TO punch hole In the
law 80 baskets, more bootleggfng stuff
ic2 packages. all sorts, good gamble
for the speculative buyer: 80 crates. 80
stills. 213 automobiles. grabbed under
the law that outlaws car carrying
illegally transported booze, and Ii
horses and wagons, seized for the same
reason. Mccarthy should have pleas
ant task getting rid OF all this.
Hopes for s5,OOO.OOO.
Its hard TO say what can be got for
all this. We figure that the seizures
are worth s25, 200, 600 Well, if we can
get s5.000,000 at public sale Uncle Sam
should be pleased. Lots OF II Is fine
booze old stuff. The kind we are grab
bing nowadays is very bad-home dis
titled and home brcwed--most OF II.
The whole problem of disposing of seis-
ures has yet to be worked out. but It
win be settled soon on opinions and
rulings from the Attorney-General and
the Prohibition Commissioner"
No sale has been planned by Sheriff
Knott who, under the State law, eventu-
ally becomes the custodian of liquor
seized by the police. Commissioner En-
right, puzzled about what can be done
with the barrels and cases and bottles
that are now cluttering UP the station
houses and storage places. has asked the
Corporation Counsel 70 submit an opin-
ion. In April alone the police seized
SIC. 900, 900 worth of outlaw booze. the
activity of thousands OF rum hunters
producing greater results. naturally, than
the labors OF the small squad employed
by the Federal Government here. En-
rights men have made 5000 arrests.
but nobody has had to go TO jail and
Grand Juries have displayed dispo-
sition TO look askance at severe ENFORCE
ment
Disposal OF conhscated booze is held
up mainly because OF the fact that cases
against the former owners or possessors
Of the LIQUOR have not been disposed OF.
1t is difficult for either Federal or city
to get rid OF seizures until the
courts determine the guilt of individuals
inculpated. Some Of the stuff may have
to ba returned to the owners, and II
would be exceedingly awkward IL Mar
shal Mccarthy or sheriff Knott acted
too previously.
Police seek Opinion.
1t is desirab'e 10 learn also just what
steps may properly be taken by Off
cials responsible for disposal Of seized
liquors Within two or three days an
opinion viii be rendered 10 the Police
Department by George p. Nicholson.
Assistant Corporation Counsel. Mr..
Nicholson said yesterday he was mulling
over various points of the problem and
was trying to work out legal and SEN
sible procedure. In the case of the Fed
eral authorities similar instructions are
awaited from Washington.
All hands agree that much of the con-
fiscated stuff will be destroyed. 1t Will
be destroyed because il is menace to
health. 1t is poisonous. This product
of cellars and back rooms will be poured
down manhoes as soon as the legal ad-
visers give the word. There is q dis
position both in the Federal enforcement
office here and in Commissioner En-
rights office to believe that liouor or
pure quality should not be wasted-that
II should be given to hospitals or to sci
entific institutions or sold to CONNER
cial concerns having licenses TO sell or
manufacture. In Washington represen-
tatives OF the Antl-Saloon League have
made drive for destruction and have
urged that the Volstead act be amended
10 make destruction mandatory.
Distillers and chemists say that IT Is
not worth while to attempt TO extract
and save for scientific purposes the pure
alcohol contained in the many thousands
of gallons OF seized beverages. 1t would
cost too much. Grain alcohol can be
manufactured new more cheaply than "
could be segregated from the compounds
now stored in Federal warehouses and
in the police stations.
Since the prohibition law went into
effect In this city the total value OF
lIquor seized by Federal agents and po-
lice up TO yesterday is estimated at
s45, O.n00.