The New York herald., 1922-12-30
-FOUR LA MONTACNES
INDICTED in RACQUET
CLUB BOOTLEG PLOTS
Gigantic Conspiracy Inyolv-
ing Forgery, Perjury and
Bribery Is Alleged.
NINE OTHERS IN NET
Three Companies Declared
to Have Sold Liquors IL
legally on Huge Scale.
FIRST BIG ROUNDUP
FIRST BIG ROUNDUP
Federal Attorney Hayward
Says He Aims to Destroy
the Powerful Groups.

a
Grand Jury has been listening to
stories of high class rum running,
bootlegging. permit forging, tax dodg-
ing and general defiance of the prohi-
bition laws. 1t has heard testimony
from members of the Racquet and
Tennis Club, from men prominent
in society and finance. from truck
drivers, warehouse workers. clerks and
agents of the Department of Justice.
Yesterday, as result, the Grand
Jury handed to Judge John G. Knox
two indictments charging these things
TO thirteen men, and as the chief con-
spirators the indictments name the
four La Montague brothers-Rene NJ.
the celebrated polo player; Montaigu,
head of the business combination Of
the four brothers: William A. and
Morgan T..
These names are the greatest, from
points of influence social standing and
Importance of connection, that have
vet been mentioned as defendants in
alleged violations of the Volstead law
BY no means was all the testimony
taken by the Grand Jury used In
bringing the Montague indictments
other indictments will follow. but
there is no promise that men as
prominent as these will be accused.
Nine Others Indicted.
In addition to the In Montagncs the
Indicted men are Samuel A. Story, vicc-
president and general manager Of the
Green River Distilling Company; the
Eminonce Dstillcry Company. Inc. and
the L. La Montagne's Sons. Inc, OF all
of which concerns Montsigu La Nom
tagne is president; Eddie" Harlow.
cigar man at the Racquet and Tennis
Club. who is charged with being one OF
the La Montagne's agents doing brisk
business with members OF the club; Ed
win Schuttenberg. alleged to be liquor
salesman: James r. Burrows, customs
bonded truckman with a permit from
prohibition headquarters to carry liquor
and who Is alleged to have transported
practically all the liquor involved In the
charges on which the indictments are
founded: Joseph S. Burrows. father of
lanes and owner ~ the garage at 6iS
West Thirty-tourth street. recently
raided ms a liquor cache: Rex F.. Shell
don. Patrick ]. MCGEE talias McAllistcr).
John George and Herbert Horgan who
arc classified In tho indictments as pro-
fessIonaI fixers and vendors of forged
permits.
United States Attorney Hayward
summed I'D the accusations in a state
ment IN which lie said that the indict-
mcnts involved "the bootlegging directly
BY the La Montagnes and their agents OF
$4,000 gallons OF rye whisky. 316 cases
OF Scotch whisky, 500 cases of gin and
9.ee4 gallons OF assorted wines. bran
dies &c"
This" the statement continues. "ls a
minimum estimate Of the amount boot
legged by the La Montagnes IN the last
year An additional quantity. probably
stiIl larger. was sold TO bootleggers act
ing on their own account under either
forged or purchased permits. The first
knowledge we had of this great con-
spracy and the wholesale bootlegging
operations under Il came to Major Clark
a few weeks ago from a volunteer wit
ness and we simply followed the train
even though Il led 10 select circles and
exclusive places The office of the New
York Prohibition Director had most Of
the facts the Grand Jury and my office
have worked so hard TO get. as early as
last June, but did not see fit 10 report
the facts to me.
Three Companies Involvcd.
"Thc first Indictment contains two
counts. one for conspiracy TO violate the
National Prohibition act and one for
conspiracy 20 defraud tho Government
OF taxes. The conspiracy includes the
operations OF three mpanies-Green
River Distillng Company. Eminence
Distilling Company. Inc, and f. La
Montagne's Sons. Inc.-the stock Of all
Confined on Page Four.