The New York herald., 1922-08-06
new WORKERS SEIZED
AS LIQUOR PLOT7ERS
IN WASHINGTON CLUB
Yellowley Charges Two Are
Brains of New York
Bootleg Ring.
VISITED HIS OFFICE
Arrests Follow Certain
Radical Disturbances in
Dry Headquarters.
RACQUET CLUB GUESTS
Halperin and Sternfels Got
Rooms and Held Confer
ences There.
RACQUET CLUB GUESTS

Special Dispatch 10 THE New yonK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c.. Aug. D. J
Federal prohibition agents working
under the direction OF c. f. Yellow
ley, chief of general enforcement
agents, to-day arrested at the exclu-
sive Racquet Club two New York
men, believed by the dry agents to be
the brains of a gigantic bootleggers'
ring" operating in New York and
Washington.
The men arrested are said to be
Max Halperin, alias Halpen, lawyer,
whose offices are said to be on West
Forty second street, New York, and
Melvin sternfels, alias steinfels. alias
Steinberg. The former is locked up
at the Fifth precinct station, the lat
ter at the Second precinct station.
They are held under heavy bond.
Dry agents claim the arrest of the
two men constitutes the biggest catch
of the present year as far as rounding
up bootleggers is concerned.
Halperin and Sternfels arrived in
Washington this morning and dry
agents were waiting for them. They
We're trailed through the city to the
Racquet Club. where they had gone as
the guests OF one of the members.
"Halperin,' said Mr.. Yellowley. lis
believed to be attorney for thrce-fourths
OF the biggest bootleggers in New York.
We do not know and probably Will not
know until further investigation how
far he is involved in what seems TO be
a tremendously well organized plan TO
defeat the work OF the prohibition
office
'Halperin Is the polished diplomatic
worker OF this duet. He is just the sort
20 whom office clerks would speak
dnnbly respectfully. In a word. he is
the front Of the whole thing.
"Sternfels. we believe, gets nearer 10
the actual work of the bootlegging.
II can promise you that the prelimin-
airy hearing on this case will be pro-
ductive OF little that Is new. The Gov
ernment will save its more important
evidence for the last, and possibly may
tracing and apprehending the men who
are giving the prohibition enforcement
men the hardest job of their lives"
Enforcement officers began TO work
on the Halperin- -Sternfels case six or
eight weeks ago, when they became
aware of certain radical disturbances in
the work of the office. Chief Yellowley
said Halperin had been making peri
odical visits to national prohibition
headquarters for several months. When
singled out as one Of the men wanted by
the dry agents Halperln was put under
surveillance.
"He used to walk into this Office"
said Yellowley while Sternfels waited
for him on + street directly outside.
When Halperin was through he would
come out and greet Sternfels as he
would long lost friend why. how do
you do? Where have YOU been keeping
yourself?' and all that sort or thing.
And they would shake hands effusively
and walk calmly down the street.
In one day while we were watching
Halperin. he left the building three
times, and each time he and Sternfels
had their little glad to see you act
out in The street.
Saul Grill. commended by Mr.. Yellow
ley as one OF the shrewdest workers on
the force, took charge of the case and
worked II out Assistant Director Lin
ton >. Evans OF the local division. and
agents William l.. Nimmo and Julian d.
Moss also figured prominently in the
work
Secretary Biddle OF the Racquet club
made the following statement concern
ing the arrests:
Sternfeis has put up al the club on
several occasions as the guest OF a
member. He always gave New York
address, and we had no occasion TO
pry into his business. Heretofore he
has always asked for room and bath
but to-day when he arrived about 900
=. M.-hc asked for three rooms-a par
lor. a bedroom and bath, saying he
wished 10 have a conference"
Word % the arrests was received at