The New York herald., 1922-03-25
EX-DRY CHIEF WITH
46 OTHERS INDICTED
w. C. Mcconnell Accused Of
Liquor Withdrawal Plot
in Pennsylvania.
100000 GALS. INVOLVED
Several Aids Of Former Direc-
tor and 40 Bootleggers and
Truckmen Are Named.

PHILADELPHIA, March 24-William C.
Mcconnell. former Federal Prohibition
Director for Pennsylvania, and forty-s.x
others, including several associates of
Mcconnell while he was Prohibition
Director. were indicted late to-day by a
Federal Grand Jury on a charge of con-
spiracy to defraud the United States
Government in the fraudulent issuaa.a
OF permits to withdraw liquor from
band.
The indictments were returned after a
Grand Jury investigation OF the alleged
release of 100000 gallons of whisky and
alcohol to bootleggers during the seventy
day regime Of Mcconnell as head of the
prohibition law enforcement staff In
Pennsylvania.
Samuel b. Wolfe, former chief of the
Pittsburgh prohibition Office under Nc
Connell. and Jacob Slonaker, chief group
head of enforcement agents in Philadel-
phia under Leo A. Crossen, Mcconnell 8
predecessor, also were indicted.
Others named in true bills included
Albert II. Slater, McConnells former.
secretary; Hiram W. Benner, head OF
the permit division of the prohibition
Office in Philadelphia Samuel Singer.
recently sentenced to six months ini-
PIiSoilihCnt Wy Jddet DOulut III new
Jersey for violation of the Volstead act.
and twoscore of alleged bootleggers and
truckmen charged with having been a.
completes in the alleged conspiracy.
Mcconnell, prominent in Pennsylvania
Republican politics, and former State
Senator. was appointed prohibition di-
rector on the, Recommendation of Sem
ator Penrose. After his resignation in
January as prohibition director. he went
al xxyI,O L.. l..
The indictments were returned a few
hours after t. Henry Walnut. former
Assistant United States Attorney. had
delivered an address before the City
Club in which he asserted that proceed
ings against Mcconnell before the Grand
Jury had been held up by District Attor-
Eey George w. Coles and the Attorney
Generals office at Washington.
Walnut declared that when he had
desired to proceed against Mcconnell
and presented evidence against him to
the Grand Jury, he had been prevented
from doing SO and had been informed by
Coles that action against Mcconnell "at
this time would embarrass the Attorney
Generals Office
WalnutIs connection with the District
Attorney 3 office was severed last week
when resignation presented by him
several months previously was accepted
by Rush Holland. Assistant Attorney
General, during Attorney-General Daugh-
erty's absence In Florida.
WASHINGTON. March 24.-Former Spe-
cial Assistant United States Attorney II.
Henry Walnut was completely hulled"
by the action of the Philadelphia Grand
Jury in bringing indictments against
former Federal Prohibition Director Me-
Connel of Pennsylvania and others, At
.torney-General Daugherty declared to-
night.
Considering the unjustifed insinua
tions of Mr.. Walnut" Mr. Daugherty
said, ''the action of the Grand Jury and
the court proceedings made public to-
day as a consummation of the work OF
the Department of Justice according to
the plans of the Department of Justice
without the assistance of Mr.. Walnut
and in spite of his interference, COM
plctely hulls that walnut. j do not care
to say anything more on the subject"