New-York tribune., 1922-04-27
$5O0,00O Rum
And Ship Seized
After Gun Fight
Police in Battle With Grew
of Lighter at Dawn in Bay
After Vessel Tries to Ram
Launch With Raiders
Shots Bring Craft to Halt
Liquor Taken From Schoon.
cr at Sea, Captain Asserts;
Ten Raids i'm White Plains

''N ''SH'er ldeai, on which, 1t is
charged, the contraband was carried
were seized by The police at dawn yes
terday in the lower harbor. A dozen
shcts were fired and the police and
d eEed rum runners engaged in a fierce
hand TO hand encounter during the raid
The battle occurred on the deck of the
lighter, slow moving craft of 200
gross tonnage. The crew of the vessel
were unarmcd but resisted the police
who fought with night sticks, Six
arrests were made.
The police boat John F. iIylan, CO.
operating with the revenue cutters and
the prohibition navy, in guarding the
arbor and inlets against the rum run
ners, sighted the Ideal in the Narrows,
c osc TO the Brooklyn shore. The Hylan,
Captain William A. Bailey in command
signaled Launch No. ., commanded by
Sergeant Richard Whalcn, to give
chase. The police charge that the
lighter attempted to run away from
the launch but that tho smaller and
specder craft gained steadily.
The police launch cut across the
lighters bow and Whalen called to
the pilot TO halt Tho police report
that the lighter wheeled about and
Bailey on The liyian started the big
police tug to the rescue Of the smaller
boat. At signal from Captain Bailey
from small arms spattered about the
lighter. which then hove to.
James Carleton, Of G12 Fifty sixth
Street, Brooklyn, was at the wheel
of the lighter and directed his mer
to catch the line thrown from the
police launch, which they did, making
the police launch fast to the larger
boat The crew, however, showed rc
sistancc when Sergeant Whalen and
Patrolmcn Cornelius Brassil and Rob
ert Rau clambcrcd or board the lighter
When the crew grappled with the po-
licemen and tore their clothes, the
police drew nightst!cks and used them
freely.
Two OF the crew, it is said by the
police, had Policeman Brassil agalnst
the rail and appeared to be trying tC
throw him overheard when Sergeant
Whalcn broke from y hold on another
man and knocked one OF Brassil's as
stick. This ended the battle and the
commanded by the police.
The men arrested besides Carleton
gave their names as Albert O'Connor
James Foster, James Donahuc, Alfred
Swanson end James Collins.
The lighter and It's cargo were taker
TO Harbo> A, where the cargo was piled
on tho dock. A police conference re-
suited in decision to deliver the
seized whisky and lighter TO the gov
erAmcnt pending court decisions III the
case. The prisoners were taken to
Tombs court and the skipper was held
on 81 600 bail. The crew was released
but ordered by Federal agents TO be
taken before United States Commits
sioner Hitchcock. The government filed
infornations charging ali the men Wit!
violation OF the Nolstead act. The
Commissioner accepted bail Of $1,000
from each of the men. The Lighter Vas
released Oh q bond Of $4,000.
Major William Holley Clark. As
Sistant United States Attorney, said he
questioned Carleton and that Carleton
admitted lighterinG the whisky from
Thompson. off Montauk Point. We
whisky back" Carleton is quoted as
saying. I'VE regarded it as a regular
Job OF liehterjnG, for which we would
be well paid.
Twenty four prohibition agents uu-
dor GcHcrai agents Thomas and Le
Caron, armed with ten search way
rants, conducto,! as many raids il.
White Plains yesterday Thomas
charges that all but three places had
been tipped off thar tho raids were
coming.