New-York tribune., 1922-10-29
[hy Denies He
Had Any Part
In Rum Theft
p.ebibiiion Director Asserts
He Helped Rum Down
bfen Who Got 5.lOO
Gases Through Forgery
Explains Contempt Case
ltclares He Offered Aid
ID Grand jury but Now
Will Stand ON Rights

! tyohibition Director Ralph A. Day,
rsess resignation becomes effective
4 Il Wednesday. issued a statement
s,rough his attorneys last night in
ts;eh he said he had not only had no
srongsu connection With the disappear
.,es from the Republic Warehouse os
/ ,aa cases Of liquors, but that he was
,se ssNief moving cause in bringing
/ i ;assice the offenders" The disap-
sysuee of the whisky has been under
Investigation for some time by the
Federal grand jury.
The contempt charge against the
,rahibision director, based on his fail
uc 10 produce for the grand jury
\ soks and records of the corporation
Gown as h. A. Day s. Co., cloak and
sit concern, OF which Mr.. Day is presi-
4 lsss, will be heard Wednesday before
GsSerai Judge Rufus w. Foster, post
aaement having been obtained yester-
III by Abel |. Smith on behalf of Mr..
as
Gold watches were presented to Mr..
NJ and John S. Parsons, chief enforce
pat agent, who has also retired, at
hg Offices in the Albemarlc Building
II night by employees who had
Rrsed under them.
Tells of Big Liquor Theft
The statement of Mr.. Day regarding
A warehouse liquer disappearance
asmade public through Stanchfeld &
lsE aud read in part:
The purport Of the printed matter
9TH respect to the action of the Fed
al grand jury in the liquor investi-
ga.ion is extremely misleading, to say
ae least. During my incumbency of
kee ! have stood for the rigid en-
|iarcement of the law, but always by
arictly legal means. My problem has
ssen tremendous, and there have been
5aay occasions when | might have
aopted strong arm methods, but ] be-
lsse that respect of the law comes
ealy from the use of lawful means.
Aosever difficult the problem or how
asr strong the opposition.
And one having the slightest famil-
irisy with the 5,100 cases of lia,,or
salen we're released from the customs
FsFenouse on forged customs papers,
Aatime when the prohibition depart
Rsat had no control whatever over
astoms bonded warehouses, will know
nat not only had nothing to do with
aetheft but | was the chief mevjnu
sse@ Tor Its interruption and for
sElHslng to justice the offenders.
Halted Further Leakages
assoon as advised of the Illegal
Tgaafawal or theft of this whisky
sen customs bonded warehouses | i'm
salately directed that every custom,
saaed warehouse in New York be COW
go by prohibition agents and that a
sHct investigation be made os eyerv
Hease or transfer of liquor from cus-
ms warehouses. AS soon as I. in the
rformance Of my duties, discovered
nat had occurred, | went post-haste
Washington and saw Secretary Mel
N in person. who, after NV exnlana-
ION as to the conditions surrounding
ustoms bonded warehouses, directed
hat all Withdrawals and transfers of
.qaors in customs bonded warehouses
hould be KID by the Federal Prohi-
atlon Directors Office before they are
eleased. The proof of my enforce
ieht Is that no repetition of this epi-
ode has occurred since. During the
asst few months / have bent every eff
ert toward ferreting out the transac-
ION and have lent every assistance TO
he United States Attorney, who has
lone great job with the assistance of
ne divisional chief, John d. Appleby.
During the last months have been
y active cooperation with the United
States Attorneys office. have ex-
planned in detail all these facts and
nave furnished every assistance in nv
rover. AS Il result of my CO. operation
sohe of the offenders have been in
g'lcted and others are under investiga-
aon. Unfortunately some of these
people, in an effort to avert suspicion
rom themselves and to involve inno-
cent parties, have made charges and
,,eeusations unfounded in fact. But
,ar AR investigation will disclose the
lIaalsity of these charges and will put
y eae E. blame where it rightfully belongs.
ounce a 1t to say at this time that
aitner 4, nor R. A. Day G. Co. have had
sae silg'ltest connection at any time or
u any way, directly or indirectly, with
sg Of these people who had been en-
ssgsd in breaking the law or making
adat illegally.
Present Difficulties Technical
sy present legal difficulties merely
iasesve the question Of the proper
ssal procedure. 1t is stated in the
s,ase.,nlng press that / am wilfully
sssasaaholding from the grand jury the
~ sssss and papers of my company. All
sssas books and papers have hereto
asss ss been freely open to the District
aS,,sarney and, indeed, Assistant United
ssssss sss Attorney ]. II. Clark, jr., has, in
p..;soh' ..;N,' at my requesy and with my
issuance, = stance, inspected them. No. scrap
i /, !. al.lormatlon has been withheld nor
! o.,a .aefe any desire or design on my
f-it at this 10 Ioi ~ h,