The New York herald., 1922-06-29
WASHINGTON UPSET
BY LIQUOR MYSTERY
Bunch's Big Stock, Seized
by Government, Has
Disappeared.
WHO GOT IT? is ASKED
District Of Columbia Resi-
dent Is Worrying the
Leaders of State.
DRINKS DENIED TO FEW
Whisky Vanished From Hos
pital After Daugherty
Sent 1t There.
Special Dispatch to THE NEw YoRK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Wa ashlnRfnn. ID. C.. ,Iune "a. {

Special Dispatch to THE NEW YoRK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. c., June 20.
High Administration officials. promi-
nent Senator'S and Representatives and
others in the councils Of both political
parties in Washington are not losing
half as much sleep over the tariff and
bonus muddles, the coal and railroad
strikes, the subsidy or even the COM
ing elections as they are over the burn
ing question:
Who got Bunch's booze"
A Grand Jury sitting in the District
of Columbia is working hard to solve
the mystery. but it might be better
or more fruitful to ask:
Who didn't get Bunch's booze?"
Indications are that the intoxicat-
ing liquor in question was distributed
even to the highest officials of Govern
ment and that no person Of proni-
nence, regardless of political affilia-
tion, was overlooked.
Mr.. Bunch wants his liquor back. but
it cannot be found The fact that a
Grand Jury Is making searching In
quiry as to what became of 1t while II
was supposed to be in the custody OF
the Department of Justice Is responsible
for the worry and vexation from one
end Of Pennsylvania avenue to the other.
Vexation and worry are not unmixed
with some alarm as to wnat might be
disclosed, for it Is admitted that the
liquor, fine old rye and bourbon. found
its way to many Government officials In
Washington in generous portions.
Many questions are being asked. fol-
, lowing reports that some OF the liquor
went to a prominent prohibition official.
that portions went to notably dry Sena-
tors and Representatives and that other
portions were received over glass COW
ered polished mahogany desks used by
only the highest executive ofncials.
The Tragedy of Bunch.
There Is one solitary tragic figure
IN the entire situation. 1t Is Bunch.
4 His full name Is .Nonzo Il. Bunch and
he is a resident of the District. lie was
accused of bootlegyins. His big stock
OF fine old whskies was seized by the
police and Department OF Justice agents
and taken to the Derartmt mt OF Justice.
II was then deposited In storage ware
house, but later was withdrawn and
then disappeared. The Grand Jury
wants to know where 1t went.
Bunch, his liquor gone, Is suing Gov
ernment officers and others for cold
cash, because the courts in effect held
he was entitled to his liquor, but 1t has
gone.
Party lines apparently were not recog-
niZed by the liquor Santa Claus. There
were no return packages and 1t would
be annoying to say the least II 1t should
be revealed that prominent dry leaders
had been recipients of the rye and bour-
bon.
Report has 1t that much Of Bunc:-' >
booze was withdrawn and distributed to
hospitals, because 1t was going to waste
in the storage warehouses. Some did go
10 physicians, but of this distribution 1t
Is rumored that after 1t was passed
along to the sick. the sick returned 1t to
officialdom and party leaders after TAX
ing a reasonable cut"
There is hardly a branch of the Gov
ernment in Washington untouched by
rumor of receipt Of some Of the supply.
Just what the Grand Jury is doing OF
course Is a secret, but many witnesses
have been heard, and others may be
summoned. 1t never may be determin ed
Just which dry officials received a pres
ent indirectly from Bunch. or just what
Senators and Representatives we're re-
cipients, but many are uneasy, particu-
larly those who hold high executive
positions, and those who hello them in
the last Administration.
History Of the Liquor.
II was way back in October IL. 1918,
that the home OF Bunch was raided by
the Washington police and Department
of Justice Agents William w. Wright
and II. p. Alden. 1t was alleged that
Bunch had been selling liquor in viola
ton of the wartime prohibition act
1there was no Volstead act them and
of the Sheppard law which made the
District of Columbia dry. Eighteen
cases OF whisky we're taken from his
home. Bunch was tried In the police
court in Washington July 2. 1920. and
the trial resulted In a hung jury. The
case against him was dropped.
No liquor was produced as evidence
at the trial II was said the complain
ing witnesses could not put their hands
on II because II was stored. Bunch was
represented by former Supreme Court
Justice Daniel Thew Wright and James
A. O'Shca. They put in the defense
that the alleged sale was made by a
negro youth and not by Bunch.
Bunch began to SEEK his booze. but
could not find 1t. June Z. 1921. James
A. O'Shea. as counsel for J. Edward
Thomas. sued In the District Supreme
Court for a writ of replevin for por-
tion OF the whisky, claiming he had
bought u from Bunch. The writ issued
against n Washington storage company
The storage company did not have the
liquor. IT had been stored there. but
Withdrawn.
Several months ago Judge Wright. as
counsel for Bunch. entered civil suit
against Frank Burke. former chief Of
the bureau OF Investigation of the De-
partment Of Justice. and others. to re-
cover money damages for the portion
OF the liquor claimed by Bunch. This
suit Is stili pending
II was on the allegations OF this suit
and other information that the Grand
Jury began an investigation Of the en-
tire affair.