The New York herald., 1922-10-14
THEFT NETS 100000
GOVERNMENT LIQUOR
Hundred Barrels of Whisky
Stolen From Pershing Bonded
Warehouse.

one hundred barrels of whisky valued
at $4,000 were stolen early yesterday
morning from the Pershing Bonded
Warehouse. IS Meserole street. Will
lamsburg, and hauled away on motor
trucks.
The robbery was reported 10 John T.
Rafferty,. Internal Revenue Officer. by
the storekeeper at the warehouse. who
when he arrived for work yesterday
found the only entrance to the ware
house open. Heavy locks on the out
side of the door had been cut with
sharp clippers, as had locks through
out the interior of the building.
Fifteen men participated in the theft
of the liquor. according to Joseph
Boohetton of the staff Of Prohibition
Supervisor Lord. who investigated the
robbery. Tracks were found on the
roof of the four story warehouse A
trap door leading to the roof had been
broken open. and it is believed by de-
tectives of the Stagg street station that
several OF the thieves remained on the
roof to watch for the approach Of
passersby.
Night Watchman Is Arrested.
On the elevator in the building were
found seven barrels of liquor that had
been left behind by the robbers. They
took the barrels nearest the elevator.
-Four automobile trucks are believed to
have beon used. The robbery was COM
m!tted between aud O'clock yester-
day morning.
Leonard Keller, &C, OF 1G Sophia street,
Queens. night watchman employed by
the Fallert Brewing Corporation, which
adJoins the Pershing warehouse. was ar
rested last night and placed in the Stagg
street station on a charge OF acting in
concert with the robbers. The Pershing
warehouse formerly was part of the
brewery. and the watchman did duty a,
both places. He admitted according Ia
detectives, that several men went up
70 the front door OF the warehouse
shortly after 8 o'clock, but that they
went away. Later he said according Ia
detectives, that a sack was thrown over
his head and he was bound by mys.
terious men.
Still later he is said 10 have repudi.
ated this story and 10 have said that he
was knocked unconscious by one of sew
eral mel who approached him. No marks
OF violence were found % his head OF
body. detectives asserted. The punch
clock carried by the watchman. the In
vestigation is said to have revealed, had
not beeu puucned at any time atter !
o'clock in the morning.
A third story was told by the man
late yesterday. according to the detec-
tives. who say he admitted that a gang
Of men approached the Meserole street
entrance TO the warehouse during the
early morning hours OF yesterday, but
denied that he saw them enter the place
He stood Mt the window OF the Fallert
Brewery. he Is said to have declared
and waited for cop to come by so
that he could report what he had wit
messed.
The Pershing warehouse was under
lease 10 the Internal Revenue Bureau
and wae used for the storage of articles
on which taxes are due, including bond
ed liquors. The barrels of whisky taken
in yesterdays raid bore no revenue tax
receipts. Mr. Rafferty, said. There were
737 barrels OF the liquor
Ralph Sahbatino. president Of the
Pershing Warehouse Corporation, from
which the establishment is leased. APP
poared yesterday at the warehouse and
expressed regret that the robbery had
occurred. He was not questioned by
officers.
Mr.. Rafferty, admitted last night that
the robbery apparently was "an inside
Job" He hinted that arrests would be
made to-day. The queer stories OF the
night watchman, who is a German, have
given Federal investigators several
clews, IL g said.