Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-09-28
Bootleg Whisky vilsst Poison.

| '>S> OF directors and other en-
foreement officials in various sections
OF the country to discuss numerous
problems and map out plans for solu.
uon' and conference will soon be
heid IN this State. Several such con.
ferences have already been held and
ma"ers OF vital concern to the pub
lie have been considered.
Among the problems on which ac-
tion VIII be taken is that of rubbing
compounds, which through bootleg
chahneIS have caused many deaths.
+ analysis of several hundred gallons
@ seized prodIct revealed quantities
OF concentrated lye, an excessive
amount OF which remained in the COM
pound even after Redistribution. Con-
sp!racy sections of the Volstead Act
VIII be evoked against cereal bever-
age manufacturers who inject such
RUBBING compounds into so-called
NEAR beer"
Recent conferences have resulted in
recommendations that retail sales of
Jamaica ginger be limited to one fluid
ounce, and exposure Of an alleged
German fake preparation reputed to
produce wine, champagne and bran
dy; also the successful suppression of
a fraud to hoodwink the public with
so-callcd Canadian rye"
Directors have been instructed to
educate agents along the lines of
manufacture and transportation of in
dustral or dcnatured alcohol. The
men will be taught the difference in
varieties of alcohol and il is believ-
ed that violations Of this nature will
be greately leSsened.
A signal victory for enforcement
was the recent announcement by
leading vaudeville circuit that per-
formers would not be allowed to make
humorous reference to the 18th
Amendment. Commissioner Haynes
is elated that within so short a space
Of time such splendid compliance with
a request made by him, upon assum-
ing his duties little over a year ago,
has been secured, and that editorial
writers, cartoonists, reporters, seem
ario writer's, playrights and perform
ers are lending every aid to law en-
forcement, thus sounding the prohibit
ton joke death knell.
Over 1900 convictions for viola
ton OF the 18th Amendment have been
obtained in federal courts through
out the country during the past year,
showing that courts and juries are
displaying an improved attitude.
In the opinion of Commissioner
Haynes the most effective weapon in
the hands OF enforcement officials is
the paddock" provision, which pro-
vides that place may be closed as
nuisance. This provision is being
affected by its operation.
Conferences will discuss the pro-
posal made by certain directors that
Bertillon records be kept of every
captured bootlegger and moonshiner
in order that prompt and accurate
naturalization may be made of persons
who violate the prohibition laws, as
we'll as other criminals. The records
would be sent to the police departments
all over the country and, it is believ-
ed, would aid materially in suppress
ing bootleggers' activities.
Unspeakable conditions surround the
manufacture of bootleg whiskey, &C
ordng to daily reports being received
by Commissioner Haynes concerning
the unsanitary locations Of stills, and
vermin, maggots and dead animals OF
all kinds which have been discovered
in watts of mash. In many instances
concentrated lye is used to hasten fer
mentation, as many as 200 empty I've
cans being found in one place, which
gives one an idea Of the ammount OF
this stuff used and the extremely
ooisoious mixture which results.
Perhaps the most revolving method
employed by violators which has yer
come to the notice of enforcement
authorities is that by which cadaver
watts containing bodies used by uni
versity students for dissection work
are being drained of alcohol for boot
leg purposes. Although the stun is
redistilled before being distributed,
wood alcohol poisoning remains, ac-
cording to analyses of some OF the
seized product