The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-09-09
Owner Says He Had 70
knowledge OF Bootleg
Plant I'm House.
RUsToN COMBS DISTRICT
One Detective stunned by
Plank Hurled From Roof
in Entering Cellar.


that eleven deaths cf persons IN the
Red Hook section ~ Brooklyn we're
caused by wood alcohol poisoning. Dis
trict Attorney Russon for the third
time since last Tuesday evening headed
a raiding party yesterday consisting
OF Capt. Daniel OConnor o. the Ham
ilton avenue station. four detectives
and twenty policemen In a search for
the main source OF the supply.
Cellars. stores and woodsheds In the
block on Conover street between sui
Ivan and Kings streets were searched.
II was at i4s Conover street. AT the
corner OF Sullivan street. where Mrs
I-melinda vataia kept a grocery store,
that two victims said they got the
liquor that killed them. In the wood
sheds at las the raiders found several
whisky barrels. two dcmijohns and
some whisky bottles, Ave wine presses
and number of bottles. some OF
which contained liquid resembling
whisky.
Tho raiders then went TO rs wcicott
street. and on the TOP floor Of this build
ing. which 10 a three story basement.
they found twenty-five gallon stili and
ali the paraphernaiia belonging 20
rootlegger's plant -Four gas burners
were lighted under tho still when the
raiders entered. District Attorney Rus
ton commented that although the stili
was operating there was no one In the
place to attend to II. and had II ex-
ploded the house and the buildings adj
Joining It would have been wrecked.
sim Made Of Copper.
The still was made Of hand hammered
copper and capable OF turning out 100
and $4,000. according 10 Capt. o'Con-
nor. The boiler Of the still rested on
masonry foundation. On top OF the
boiler was a copper cylinder containing
a copper coil. This was connected with
q copper pipe which led to another cop
per receptacle alongside the boiler. into
which the distilled fluid passed and then
flowed through a series Of coils which
bad a cooling effect on the fluid. At the
bottom of the copper receptacle. which
was called a collar. was a faucet. from
irto containers on the floor. There was
an opening in the ceiling and the door
through which the odors from the dis
ti,ling process escaped.
In the room was also found four bar
rels OF grain mash and eight five gallon
cans OF alcohol In the cellar OF the
building was found five 100 pound bags
of sugar. In some OF the barrels of
mash sugar was poured and the stuff
was in process OF fermentation. The
alcohol was tested by DIR. Ernest
Vaughan, medical expert TO the District
Attorney. He heated copper wire red
hot and put in some of the alcohol
poured out OF one OF the cans. He de-
tscted an odor which is found In wood
alcohol.
owner surrenders.
District Attorney Ruston and the de-
tectives OF the Hamilton avenue station
were unable to find who used the floor
where the still was found. They learned
that the building was owned by Michael
Auletti. who lives on another floor In
the building. Auletti could not be found
II was said that he drove away at
o'clock In the morning in high powered
car and has not been seen in the neigh
borhood since.
Assistant District Attorney Snyder got
In touch with Auletti's brother. Frank.
who lives next door at III Wolcott
street and with Alexander Augustine.
the janitor OF the building raided.
Neither knew who rented the room where
the still was found. Frank Auletti said
his brother Is a longshoreman. II is re-
ported that he owns four houses. These
buildings are at 115 and III Woicott
street 2S5 Van Brunt street and another
one In Luouer street
Early last night Michael Auletti. hear
Ing that he was being sought By the
police. went to the Office Of the District
Attorney and surrendered. When ques-
toned by Marshall Snyder, Assistant
District Attorney, concerning the TWEEN
ty-fve gallon still and a quantity OF
alcohol which were found in his build
. ing. Auletti was not able to explain
their presence there. lie rented the
three rooms on the top floor of the
building on August 10. he said. TO a
ran whom he has not seen since.
For the last two months Michael Au-
ietti has been receiving visitors at the
rate OF fifty a day at lis wolcott street,
the District Attorney was told.
When the four gas jets were discov-
cred burning under the stiH Detective
Cal Mccarthy turned them off and no
titled the gas company. Men from the
gas company found that the gas had
been turned off from the meter.
other Raids.
Policemen were detailed to guard the
place where the still was found while
tho raiding party continued search OF
the neighborhood. They visited u Sui
iivan street where they found q one
gallon jar OF alcohol in the apartments
OF Victor Pesterife. In the cellar was
found five-gallon still and a copper
container. Pcsterife said that the jar
OF alcohol was given TO him by William
Wobbe. who lives at T. Sullivan street.
wobbc was questioned by the detectives
an dhe said no used to make "a little"
Tor himself months ago.
As Wobbc conducts a restaurant at
$40 Van Brunt street, the detectives re-
called that Antonio De Janero. who liz
now in the Kings County Hospital suf-
fering from alcoholic poisoning lives
there and said that he got couple OF
drinks from stranger In the hall be-
foro he was taken I'LL
In another raid conducted BY the
raiders ut i1s Sullivan street. while the
detectives were about TO enter. Detective
Mccarthy was struck on the head by a
five-foot plank which was hurled from
the roof search was made but the
guilty one was not found. The blow
s."rncd the detcctive.