The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-25
BOOTLEGGERSUSE SUB CHASERS ID
 OUTW|T DRY NAVY
Craft Once Used to Chase Ger man U-Boats Succeed in Bringing $3,000,000
 Rum Into U. s.
By Associated Press

New York. April 24.-Custom offi- cials announced today that they were working to smash a rich bootlegger ring which they charged had mobi- lzed a fleet of former submarine chasers to meet creation of Ameri- ca's dry navy.
 The federal agents are working on the theory that the swift craft that once pursued German U-boats and were sold after the war, now are posing as naval vessels and, com manded by officers in the uniform of the United States already have sue ceeded in running S3.000,000 worth of rum into the United States from Bermuda and Havana.
 The announcement of the discovery aof@the alleged sntug ling sch ene ssa.s made after former submarine chaser 101 rechristened the Fidus, had been nabbed in New York harbor by a police boat and customs launch after she had passed quarantine and was darting toward pier. Customs men claimed that they had found aboard her numerous charts with marked landings along the Atlantic coast and Hudson river. No liquor was found aboard and the crew told hair raising tale of having had their cargo plundered by pirates off the Long Island coast yesterday.
 Captain Severely Chilled
 The former chaser said to bear British registry. was tied up at the Battery where she tonight was held on a technical charge that she left Bermuda without clearance papers. Her captain, who gave his name as f4r. t.f ~ refa were taken to the customhouse for a severe grilling. After an exami- nation, which was attended by a representative from the office of the British consulate. Assistant United States Attorney Fake said:
 Kelly wore the uniform of a United States naval officer. We have not as yet made any charges against Captain Kelly and the crew. It is understood that the Fidus carried 2,100 cases of Scotch whisky from Bermuda and that is what we want to find out. The vessel failed to show on her manifest any cargo and after questioning by customs agents it was decided to take her into port and question the crew"
 Denies Wearing Uniform
 The federal agents who said they believed the name John Kelly" fic- titious and that the captains real name was M Stanley Clarke of Brooklyn. intimated that there was a possibility that there might be brought against her captain charge of wearing an ensign's uniform ille- gally. Kelly" who claimed at one time to have served in the United States navy, denied he was wearing a naval uniform.
 "All I had was a cap that resem- bled an ensign's headpiece," he told reporters.
 Kelly claimed to have been taking liquor to Montreal for a Bermuda wine merchant who owned the craft when pirates on another chaser stole his cargo and manifest. The story of the piratical raid off Montauk Point was the greatest thriller that had been brought into port in many days. but customs officials claimed to have detected points at which the tale. as related by different mem bers of the crew, did not gibe. In- cidentally one of the crew, Ray Pal mer. was alleged to be carrying |. W. W. literature.
 Asleep During Raid
 The story told by Kelly. according to Falk, was that he was asleep be- low when the Fidus was boarded
 Several of the seamen claimed to have heard several revolver shots but
 (Continued on page two.)