The New York herald., 1922-09-07
EIGHT DEAD AS TEST
FINDS WOOD ALCOHOL
DR.. Wagner Says Red Hook
Victims Drank Poison
Slightly Colored.
GRAND JURY TO ACT
RustOn Asserts Case Pre-
cedes Everything; He
Will Go Limit.
THREE HELD FOR DEATHS
L. III. Carris Reports National
Menace i'm Blindness From
Liquor Drinking.
THREE HELD FOR DEATHS

Ing OF etSnt persons VINO, nave eleu
since Sunday from drinking poisoned
whisky in the Red Hook section of
that borough.
The prisoners are Mrs. Imcrinda
yaltale, 33. of 149 Conover street. Mrs.
Adelina Reale, 33, of 112 Sullivan
street, and Michael Cafero, Is, OF S62
Van Brunt street. Brooklyn. They We're
held for examination pending a Grand
Jury investigation.
Mrs. Vatale and Cahero. her clerk.
arc accused of selling the liquor that
caused the deaths of Mrs. Theresa Mar
tin of 135 Dikeman street and Michael
keenan, who boarded at Mrs. Martin $
home. Mrs Reale is charged with caus-
ing the death of Edward Burke of 143
Pioneer street. who died OF alcoholic
poisoning on Monday.
The Eighth Death.
The eighth death yesterday was that
OF Mrs. Sigma johnson Of 9S Dikeman
street Brooklyn. who was taken to the
Kings County Hospital on Monday. She
told the police she drank whisky pur-
chased in a grocery store In Conover
xreat.
Mrs. Helen Eriscon of 81 Summit
street. Thomas Olson of 13 Coles street
and Alfred Duhlig of II Woodruff
street, keepers OF stores in Red Hook.
were held In $500 bail each in the Fifth
Avenue Court on charges Of violating
the Muilan-Gage law. Detectives of In
spector McDonalds staff who made the
arrests say they seized ten bottles of
liquor that had bad odor.
Mrs. Jennie Johnson, owner of res
taurant at so Conover street, was held
earlier in the day in $500 bail on a
charge Of violating the prohibition laws.
She was accused by Mrs. Sigma john
son, who died. of selling liquors. She
was rearrested and locked up in the
Raymond street Jail. A charge Of homi-
eide will be made against her when she
~ arraigned In the Fifth avenue cour'
this morning.
Michael Keenan,, the seventh victim
who lives at 125 Dkeman street. died
IN the Kings County Hospital at mid
might Tuesday as result OF drinking
poisoned liquor. He became totally blind
shorti;- before death. He male e state
menr to the police involving those who
sold him the poison.
District Attorney Ruston made a tour
OF the Red Hook district yesterday ac-
companied by members OF his staff and
detectives. 1t was announced that all
other business OF the District Attorney S
ONCE will be put aside to present the
poison cases to the Kings County Grand
Jury to-day.
II shall prosecute these cases to the
very limit of the law" said Mr.. Ruston
last night. Il will stand behind the
t. .
parasites who place the dollar mark
above human life.
"Tn the dangerous situation that now
axists and which finds poisonous con-
coctions spread about with fateful re.
suits to the community, resort to al.
most any measure Is justified in wipins
out so deadly peril. No matter what
may be the feeling OF any citizen toward
prohibition ii is certain that all citizens
worthy of the name are united in the
belief that these bootleggers should bs
routed out and driven from every decent
community. Some person or persons are
responsible for the death OF these un
fortunates and nothing will be left Il
bring these criminals to the bar OF
justice.
1T is very evident that not only III,
persons now in custody are guilty o
crime, but hiding behind these are tn.
Wholesale bootleggers whi no doub
have stills working to turn out poisoned
liquor which has ben sold in the Rec
Hook section of Brooklyn"
Finds Wood Alcohol.
DR.. Charles Wagner attached to Dis
trict Attorney Rustons office, an
noupced last night that after an exami
nation OF whisky taken by Ave OF tn,
victims IL was no doubt colored wooe
alcohol without being diluted by water
He declared it was the rankest liquiC
of its kind he had ever analysed
Chief Prohibition Agent William Lore
for the Brooklyn district sent twent,
men to Red Hook 10 and the county anc
city authorities in searching for seller,
OF poisoned liquor The agents have /
list of places which have been undei
suspicion, such as grocery stores, boot
black and billiard parlors and othe
places not In the saloon category
Another case OF alcoholic POISONING
was reported last night by the polio,
when Michael Brocco OF IL Coles stree
was removed from his home 70 the Lon,
Island College Hospital. where he Is II
a serious condition. He came hom
from work and was washing up for sup
per when he fell unconscious.
Detectives Mccarthy and McKenn,
owner of a bootblack parior at 12
Dikeman street. who denied that he ha,
sold liquor to Edward Burke OF IA
Pioneer street. who died on Sunday. Th
detectives forced their way through
door leading TO back room and Their
found a large empty copper still. Ac
cording to the detectives. 1tarholi tol,
them the still was owned by mai
named Olson. He was not arrested. bu
Will be questioned later. Whether or no
Olson is the same man that Is being helt
In $500 could not be learned last night
lie could not be found by the detective
at his address. 13 Coles street, wher
the police seized several bottles o
liquor.
The conditions which brought abou
the death OF the victims are not peculia
to New York city. but exist Throughout
tho United States. according to n state
inent issued BY Lewis n. Carris. flel,
secretary OF the National Committee fo
the Prevention OF Blindness.
Reports OF deaths and causes Of tota
blindness due TO drinking OF poisonous
iiouors manufactured in homes or sold +.
bcotleggers are coming In daily to ou
headquarters in this city" said Mr.
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