The New York herald., 1921-06-24
$4,000 in RUM GOES
into SEWERS TODAY
Police to Destroy Evidence in
Cases Where Convictions
Were Gained.
NEW PENALTY PLANNED
81, 900 20 Be Collected From
Guilty Saloon Men in Lieu
Of License.

About $50 ,00a worth Of more or less
prime old liquor Is destined to flow
into the salt harbor to-day by way of
the sewers of New York This will be
the first destruction of booze seized by
the police in their enforcement Of the
new State prohibition law.
Altogether s5,0O0,O00 worth has been
confiscated, after discovery in every
sort of hiding place from talking ma
chimes to baby carriages, but most OF
it remains in warehouses awaiting dis
position of the criminal cases against
the alleged vendors or posseasors. In
the few cases of conviction In New
York county Alfred j. Talley, Judge
Of General Sessions, has ordered the
Police Department to destroy the
cause thereof. This consists Of fifteen
barrels of whiskey, ESQ quart bottles
of the same and other liquids in mis-
cellaneous containers. The estimate
Of $4,000 as the value Of the lot is
based on current prices paid by con-
sumers buying by the quart.
The job Of doing away with the liquor
falls to John A. Leach, First Deputy
Police Commissioner and director Of the
departments prohibition enforcers. He
thought of slowing 1t on a boat and
pouring 1t directly into the bay or ocean.
but when he saw the size of the so
gallon casks and found the casks were
4; ;o<, Ix<
decided to do the cheapest and simplest
thing, which was to spill the stuff into
the nearest sewer. He expects to do this
to-day II other duties do not interfere.
He isn't saying where these warehouses
are, for he has no desire to be followed
about by horde Of agonized sniffers.
The Internal Revenue Department
asked the Police Department yesterday
for the names and addresses Of all per-
sons convicted of selling liquor Illegally
and a description of the premises where
the sale took place. This is part Of a
move which Commissioner Leach be-
lieves will prove to be one Of the strong
est aids to enforcement yet provided.
The Internal Revenue Department pur-
poses. Mr.. Leach said, to collect double
the normal tax on all outlaw liquor, as
1t Is authorized to do under a decision
of the United States Supreme Court.
made public on June 1. 1t also purposes
collecting from each convicted liquor
dealer a $1,000 penalty for selling with
out a license. although, Of course. 1t
would be impossible for him to get a
license. Most of the men convicted thus
far have been let off with comparatively
small fines. The police figure that the
saloon man Is going to think twice be-
fore he stays in the business when he
knows the Government will assess him
81. 900 when he is caught.
Between April 4. when enforcement of
the Mullan-Gage law began. and June 1s
the police made 1854 arrests of alleged
violators. according to the Police De-
partment. In the course of their raids
the police seized 5s.65s bottles, 4.059 bar
rels. 1888 cases and 6S kegs OF liquids
supposed to be excessively alcoholic.
Other things seized and now In the Gus
tody Of the property clerk include 5S1
cans, 30 presses, 192 glasses. 364 contain
ers, 30 tunnels. rs automobiles, "A stills,
Is suitcases. 623 jugs. 104 TASKS, 5ss
demijohns, 60 pots, / tank, / truck. 20
empty barrels, 1 Junk boat. 1 taxicab,
10 jars, 1 brief case. l description file,
record book, horses, wagons. 8
handbags, washboilers, 10 tubes. 10
bags OF sugar, s gallons of prune mash
and valise. All of these, the State Of
New York charges, were somehow used
in the manufacture, sale. transportation
or possession of spirits.