New-York tribune., 1922-11-12
Capture Plane
In 100000
RUM Seizure
Dry Agents Board Vessel
Following Raid by Police
on Historic Blackwell
Nj a N s on at Astoria
No Liquor Aboard Craft
Eleven Mem Held After
Fist Fights and Battle
al Long Island House

4 hydroairplane, suspected of run
hing liquor through inlets along Long
Island to caches inshore, was located
yesterday by prohibition agents, fol-
lowing 100000 raid at Astoria. AT
the time the airplane was boarded
by the agents under John D. Appleby,
3one chief it was preparing for a
Sight No liquor was found on the
ar craft, so the agents lost prize.
They have the plane under sur
veiilance, but admit that it will be
little trouble for the pilot to fly the
plane out Of their jurisdiction.
The raid which was made at Astoria
by the police at the order Of Assistant
District Attorney Groat on information
Furnished by the prohibition agents
was the largest and most sensational
ever attempted on Long Island. Eleven
snen We're arrested, 200 cases of whis-
KY and wines and three trucks were
seized. The place was the historic
Blackwell mansion, located at 159 Full
ION Avenue, Astoria, between the sum
Yner home of Deputy Police Commits
sioner John A. Leach and the Dutch
Reformed Church. Commissioner Leach
fElas charge of police prohibition en-
1orcement. The Dutch Reformed Church
as one of the oldest and most fashion
able on Long Island. The Blackwell
mansion was occupied for many years
by the Blackwell family for whom
iBiackwell's Island, now Welfare Island,
was named. The mansion is surround
ed by spacious grounds planted with
trees and verdure.
ii Fist Fights Mark Invasion
Fist fig hts and scrimmages marked
She invasion of the premises by the
police and detectives, led by Mr.. Groat.
One prohibition agent, whose name was
suppressed by Chief Appleby, was chal-
.lenged by wet advocate who objected
to the raid. The agent asked the
partisan how he came to be up so early.
The man offered to fight the agent and
yhe two went to secluded spot on the
grounds and fought out the argument
with bare fists. 1t was a no decision
oattle, both combatants claiming a vic
tory. Other short, sharp scrimmages
happened in and about the old house
when the eleven alleged liquor run
ners ran headlong into the advancing
police column.
The invading forces had planted a
spy in the grounds, while the raiders
awaited a signal at some distance.
Three trucks later found to be in
seribed Farm and Florists Supplies"
window Shades" and sPork Prod
ucts." made their way into the grounds
from the main road on Fulton Avenue
and stopped alongside a rear porch
Of the mansion.
Eleven men alighted from the three
trucks and could be seen in the dim
Il J;o%
carry case after case of liquors and
wines from the mansion to the trucks.
a low whistle sounded from the under
brush, near the front of the mansion,
and swarm of police and detectives
rushed upon the house and spread out
and surrounded the trucks.
Mansion Remodeled
1t was found the mansion had been
completely remodeled All modern i'm
provements for a liquor repository had
been installed. Detectives who tapped
walls found many concealed sliding
panels back of which the liquor stores,
not already on the trucks, were found.
The front door of the place was torn
from it's hinges in the battle.
The men arrested described them
selves as follows: Louis Coley, thirty-
seven years old, $40 Sixth Avenue. AS
.otia, asquaAe Nentulglla, lS4l Flrst
Avenue, Manhattan; his brother, Domi-
mic, 157 Fulton Avenue, Astoria; Will
ham Pansenbager, same address;
Frank Aloise and his four sons, Ed
ward, Michael, John and Joseph. Mi
schael Aloise is sixteen years old. The
others arrested were Antonio Aloise, a
cousin, and George Fredo, all of the
Fulton Avenue address. The eleven
men were arraigned before Magistrate
Doyle, Of Long Island City, and held in
$500 bail each on charges of violating
the MullanG Gage law.
Prohibition agents yesterday also
raided a former livery stable on West
ahirty-fourth Street, near the North
River, and seized 400 cases Of whisky.
No owner could be found. The raid
was ordered by the Federal District At
torney's office.