South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-10-03
SAY j. S. AGENTS
TOOK BOOZE FOR
own PURPOSES
Charges Against Federal Men
Filed by District of Column
bia Grand Jury.
NO ACTION IN PROSPECT
Say Offenses Committed by
Former Attaches Missing
Booze Worth 100000.

DOOLN ~ VI III 81 AOOsOOOs
WASHINGTON. oct z.-CBy A.
P)-Charges that certain repre-
seutatves OF the department Of jus
tics converted for their own use"
large stocks Of liquor seized here in
The department. were made i'm a spe-
cal report flied today by the District
OF Columbia grand jury
The report asserted that the liquO-
was removed from the warehouse
used by the department for storage
purposes and was used by the Off
tials involved for their private con-
sumption. for distribution TO personal
Friends and as gifts TO favored inst-
buttons There was no charge that
any OF tbs liquor was disposed OF
for financial gain. Illegal withdraw
ais covered in the report were de-
cared TO have occurred between
July % and Sept il. 1920. The jury
did not name the individuals who
were involved. but declared that
their conduct cannot be too severe
ly condemned"
No Action Seen.
At the department of justice. Off
Gals indicated that no action was i'm
prospect since the offenscs complain
q of were 10y former attaches Of a
former administration If the de-
partment William J. Burns, chief
OF the departments bureau of i'm
Vestigatiou. confirmed that large
stocks Of liquor held in the custody
Of the department had departed -
between the times mentioned by the
grand jury.
The first intimation of such a situ-
alton. AIR Burns said. came 10 him
when counsel for a defendant i'm a
liquor case which had lapsed under
the statute Of limitations. filed a
claim for return of the several cases
pf whisky involved Mr. Burns said
ne ordered that the property be re-
turned at once and then learned that
g. was no longer I'm the warehouse
An inquiry was instituted and the
result voluntarily submitted TO the
grand jury. according 90 Mr.. Burns
officials OF the department esti-
mated "that several hundred cases
ct assorted liquors We're removed IL
legally from the departments evil
Gcuce-cache The value was placed
at upwards of 100000 10y d. T.
Wright. .ounsel for Frank Bunch,
one OF the interested owners. Alr.
Wrigh. recently filed suit against
Frank Burke. chief of the Depart
neut Of Justices bureau Of .nvesti-
CATION. NJ j. Ahren aud Henry r..
Alden, employees of the department
charging that they had uniawfuly.
removed the clients liquor from
custody and converted them go their
own use. The suit is now pending
in a local court. according TO Mr.
Wright.
Reports Available.
A record " Withdrawals showing
the alleged signature Of the depart
n,ent or justice official who vouched
for the removal fin each case. was
obtained by a pr.va.e detective, ac-
cording 20 Mr. Wright as was also
q detailed report on the places and
persons 60 whom delivery was made
after The liquor was taken from the
local warehouse He declared these
2. ports were available for preSenta-
ton 90 the grand jury hu- was un-
able to say whether they had been
presented
According TO Mr.. Wright the pr.-
v.te detective was placed on the
case when repeated efforts 90 obtain
-..u~r o. seized liquors in certa.n
closed cases were unSucCessful The
arssvlty cf this operative soon bee
came known 90 h.eh officials ~ the
department.. he said and these .ent