New-York tribune., 1922-03-18
:$5OO,OOO Rum
Seized, Z Hurt,
In Gun Battle
Customs Agents Surprise a
Group of Cem-Bedecked
Alleged Booze Runners as
They Unload Schooner
Thirty-five Shots Fired
Entire Band Surrenders
After Bitter Fight ON the
Docks. Vessel Is Taken

Thirty-tive shots were fred and
clubs were welded in a free-for-all
battle early yesterday morning between
alleged rum runners and customs
agents at the foot of Tiffany Street, the
Bronx. Seven were injured in the
raid and 100000 worth of liquor was
seized, with two automobiles, a NOV
ing van and the two-masted schooner
Viking, from which, it is charged, the
liquor was being unloaded.
The Viking is a smudgy looking craft,
and when the customs agents found
her being unloaded by "longshoremen"
many Of whom were wearing large dia-
nonds and Scotch tweed suits suspicion
was naturally aroused. The fight which
followed will be long talked about along
the East River front. A touring car
load of detectives and three policemen
was attracted by the shooting, but
they took no part in the fight. Their
presence led to rumor that police
had been standing guard for the al
legged smugglers, but this rumor was
later found to be without foundation
Three Claim to Be Police
Assistant OUlttu otdkco DlStAfCt
Attorney Canfeld. in charge Of rum
running prosecutions. explained the ru-
NOR concerning the police convoy. "No
men engaged in getting the liquor
ashore were policemen, but three of
them had represented themselves to be
connected with the Police Department,
according TO story told by Captain
Daniel Halpin. alias John Johnson, of
Ala East Fourteenth Street. Captain
Halpin said that he refused to bring
his schooner to the dock until three
men told him that they were police
men; that the unloading of the schoon-
er was legitimate and that he, Halpin,
waud be protected. The three men
had no authority from the Police De-
partment whatever, it now appears"
Fifteen special agents of the Gus
tom department under Inspector Alfred
o. Hokensen were patrolling the East
River in a launch just before daybreak
when they were attracted by lights on
an auto mobile switching on and off as
If signalling from the dock at Tiffany
Street The patrol launch put in shore
and the fifteen inspectors approached
the dock from the land side, surpris-
ing lookout of seven men who were
guarding the street approach.
The lookout squad shouted to the
zen on the dock. and all rushed for
,fard to give battle. Revolvers began
caring in the semi darkness, and two
automobiles and van tried to make
off but were stopped and were found
to contain burlap bags filled with
i whisky. it was declared. 1t was also
! noticed that the fighting force of the
alleged smugglers who were backing
away from the autos toward the boats
were in some instances extremely well
dressed. This could be noted in the
light of a bright moon which had be-
gun to illuminate the dock and the
waters.
Men Mass to Meet Attack
Near the waters edge the alleged
smugglers massed to meet the advance
of the government agents and it was
here that the severest fighting took
place. Shots were fired at close range
and clubs and blackjacks were used
freely by both sides One of the al
legged smugglers, it is said, thrust
revolver against the stomach of John
McAdams "a customs agent, and was
threatening to pull the trigger when
Agent George Baron knocked him un-
conscious with a night stick.
few minutes later the defenders
of the alleged smuggler craft surren-
dered and seven of them were found to
be injured so badly as to require sur
SlCdi aIu luey were tTSdJcu Dy an
ambulance surgeon, after which all
hands were taken to the Custom House
10 be questioned.
The point where the battle took place
is near the Oak Park Creek junction
with East River.
1000 Cases Are Seized
The seized automobiles were found
loaded with contraband, it is charged
and this together with the liquor found
on board the schooner, aggregated
1000 cases OF choice Scotch and other
brands. Three men were dragged from
the hold of the vessel, where they we're
found hiding.
owned by Costello Bros. Trucking
Company, of 1926 Broadway. The
driver was Eustis Maruso, of 124 Hal
sey Street, Brooklyn. Another auto
was said to be owned by Moe Levy of
718 East 1SOth Street The driver was
Joseph Spargo, of 2070 Hughes Ave
nue., the Bronx. The other car was
owned and driven by Joseph Pantrello,
653 South Sixth Street, Mount Vernon.
He said he was an interpreter in the
employ OF the Nv York, New Haven
& Hartford Railroad,
All those arrested were arralgned
before United States Commissioner
Hitchcock. Captain Halpin and four
others were held in $4,000 bail and
the others in $500 bail on charges Of
attempted smuggling and violating the
Volstead act. All gave bail.
M. p. Jackson, special district sur
veyor of customs, said he regarded the
arrests and the seizure as among the
most important since prohibition.