Evening journal., 1922-09-08
$4,000 IN BOOZE
DUMPED IN DRAIN
Ccontlnued FROM First Page.)

was seized on February 10 as It was
being brought by motor from Ches-
ter to Wilmington by Pasquale
D'Amato and Julius Cunaruta. Both
men pleaded guilty yesterday after
noon to Illegal transportation OF
intoxicants, and were each nned
$500 and costs.
Promptly at 3. standard time.
this morning. Marshals Mitchell and
Ball appeared at the Probation office
ready to do their duty. Israel How
ard, chief enforcement officer, who
acts as keeper OF the key 10 the
Custom House vault IN which IS
stored the various and sundry guam
titles OF liquors seized from time to
time. had been out late on a case
and did not appear until half an
hour after the time set.
When Howard did appear, how
ever, things happened with alacrity.
The vault was opened and the con-
demned John Barleycorn was
dragged forth nto the clear light of
day.
The vault opens into an ancient
alleyway along the side and rear
OF the Engineer Building. Howard
was assisted in his work by the two
marshals. Prohibition Agent Leroy,
Chief Prohibition Clerk Willis and
James j. Qulgley. omnipresent jani-
tor OF the building.
"Old John" was lodged in one 10
gallon keg. two 15-gallon kegs. and
four 5-gallon tin containers. These
were rolled or dragged TO a drain
In the alley. A crowbar was bor-
rowed from workmen constructing
an addition to the synagogue in the
rear OF the Engineer Office and
then the bungs were started holes
stove in the sides OF the kegs and /
their contents dumped unceremoni- |
ously down the drain.
Judging from its aroma. the stuff |
was OF very fair quality. AS It flowed |
down the drain. the before-men-.
toned gallery. which occupied win
dows OF the Engineer Building or /
stood about on East Sixth street or /
In the alleyway varied more or less I
humorous comment. Feeding the
fishes, eh p" was a favorite "Giving !
the sewer a drink" was another
But the hooch flowed on unceasing.
When the kegs were emptied, the
tin containers were dumped. The |
kegs had held rye liquor, but the tins
were filled with high-grade grain
alcohol, estimated at 95 per cent.
proof by Chief Enforcement Agent
Howard-and he ought TO know.
With the rye as colorlng matter
and the alcohol and some water,
Agent Howard estimated that 120 |
gallons of fair hooch could have
been manufactured. This. at $40 a
quart, would have fetched the tidy
sum Of s4sOO.
While the alcohol was flowing
down the drain. one OF the news
paper men decided to'test its quail
ties on his own hook. Striking
match, he lit some OF the liquid 4
which had collected on one Of the
containers. Instantly there was a /
blaze. Then the flame flowed"
down over the sides of the con-
tainer. Some OF the alcohol IN the
drain took fire. and for a few min
uses there was a vigorous stamping
by the witnesses to put out the blaze.
No damage was done except TO some
personal feelings.
About this time Chief Clerk Will
lis charged Janitor Quigley OF main
a secret pipe line from the
main drain. Quigley Indignantly
denied the assertion amid laughter.
Gentlemen" finally said Mar
shall Mitchell in a sepulchral voice,
ffha fob il dOua Tha 1fouOr has
been destroyed in accordance with
he courts order" Then he had
The newspaper men sign themselves
as formal witnesses 20 Its doing
while one recited the quotation from
Did Omar, the Tentmaker:
And when. o Saki, thou shalt pass
Among the guests star-scattered on
the grass
And in thy joyous errand reach the
spot
Where made one-turn down an
empty glassl"