New-York tribune., 1922-09-07
so Policemen Search All
Night in Brooklyn for
Source of Death Rum;
Three Men Suspected
Another Victim Is
Rushed TO Hospital
Two Charged With Honni-
eide; Autopsy shows
Alcohol Was Doctored


Poison whisky, sold in the Red HOOK
,ection of Brooklyn within four days.
or stored there within an area OF tour
blocks, was sought oil last nigne ny
s5tv detectives and patrolmen, follow
;ne she deaths of nine persons since
Monday from alcoholic poisoning.
IN the police drive ordinary restric-
.ions were ignored. Suspected premises
were entered and occupants questioned
without search warrants. District
Attorney Ruston issued statement
that in the crisis extraordinary police
measures were justified. Hundreds OF
gallons Of liquors were confscated. Six
persons are undsr arrest. Three are
charged with homicide.
While Brooklyn authorities sought
.hree men known to have been con-
nested with marketing poisonous
liquor several months ago, civic or
rarizations planned campaign
against bootleggers. Among bodies
said TO be behind this movement are
the Civitas Club and the Brooklyn
Brotherhood of Congregational Minis
tcrs.
Threee Deaths in Day
Three deaths occurred yesterday.
Michael Keenan,, 135 Dikeman Street,
died in Kings County Hospital shortly
before noon after being five hours in
sonvulsicns. While detectives were at
work across the road, Mrs. Sigma
Johnson. thirty-two years DID,. of SO
Dikeman Street. collapsed in her home.
screaming Il am blind" She was taken
to Kings County Hospital and died
Identified man fell dead in Conover
Street late in the day. Physicians Who
e1amined the body said he appeared to
he performed to-day at the County
Ncrgae.
Mrs. AIedina Reale, thirty-three
yts1s old, of 112 Sullivan Street; Mrs.
fnerida yatale, thirty three, 149 Con-
apsg Street, and the iatter's clerk,
Nshael Cafiero, eighteen. of 1882 Van
Brnnt Avenue, Brooklyn, were ar
raigned in Fifth Avenue court charged
with homicide and held without bail
for examination September Ia. Mrs.
Reaie is charged with having sold
liquor TO Edmund Burke, of 143
Pioneer Street, who died Monday.
Assistant District Attorney Reuben
Wilson last night announced that
chemical analysis of the liquor al
legged to have been purchased by
keenan, from the Vatale woman has
shown it to contain wood alcohol.
Acting upon this information, District
Attorney Ruston announced that to-
Gay ne will present TO the grand jury
the facts in the case in an attempt
70 obtain indictments, charging man
Slaughter, against Mrs. Vatale and
Cahero.
Mrs. Jennie Johnson, owner of
sestaurant at 199 Conover Street, was
arrested and held in $500 bail for
liquor law violation on a statement of
Mrs Sigma Johnson, made shortly be-
fore her death, that she drank liquor
purchased in the Conover Street cafe.
Aside from deaths recorded yester-
day those who have died from poison
whisky since Monday are William
Stretltz, 1877 Conover Street; Edmund
Burke, 1873 Pioneer Street; Mrs. Annie
Norris, 1877 Conover Street; John
Aehoe, 156 Conover Street, and Peter
Mspermott, 10 Summit Street.
Michael Brocco, forty-three years
S Sia, longshoreman, living at II Cole
street. was removed last night to Long
@ Island College Hospital suffering from
Wnat physicians diagnosed as alcohol
poisoning. He is not expected to live,
I was said at the hospital.
Poison Believed To Be Alcohol
! Pollce investigation has led to be-
ssr;,.s asr sast much of the poison liquor was
aefNed from seven cans of alcohol
pougnt by Mrs. fVatale, keeper of a
grocery store, from two men who, she
gram alcohol. The woman said under
questioning by District Attorney Rus
son she had accepted the statements of
sne men as true and had intended to
use the alcohol for preserving fruit.
Fonowing later search of premises
s saosr police suspicion in the neighbor-
aooe Of the Johnson restaurant. de-
ssliVes arrested Alfred Duhlig, seven
Me Men years old, II Woodruff Street;
III aEs. ID heien Erickson, 81 Summit Street,
iaa ~. lnomas Olson, 13 Cole Street. The
asssf was charged also with disorderly
sMysauce and Immediately sentenced by
sssg'ssrate Geismar TO thirty DAYS in
'Asi' Dhhilg and Mrs. Erickson are
nnoa