The New York herald., 1922-08-07
ARRESTED LAWYER
SCORES DRY CHIEF
Halperin Says He Was Taken
Without Warrant and
Denied Counsel.
KNEW NOTHING OF CASE
New Yorker Seized in Wash
ington Before Even Meet
ing His Clients.

Max Haipcrin. q lawyer. with offices
at II East Forty-sscond street. ar
rested Saturday In Washington by
agents Of e. c. Yeiiowiey. chief Of the
prohibition forces there. on bootiegging
allegations that have not been fully
explained. issued a statements here late
yesterday denouncing his arrest and
calling tho tactics OF Mr.. Yeilowley's
mon ''as pad a. the worst In Russia
under the Gear" The statement says:
Late Friday night was called from
washington on the long distance tele-
phone by Merrill ,Steinfeld, who said he
had two clients from Baltimore who
were to be In washington on an impor-
tant case before the prohibition Of
fciais. He urged me TO take the mid
night train and meet him with his
clients Saturday, wishing to retain me
because OF my familiarity with tho pro-
hibition laws.
II told Mr.. stsinSsid I had gone TO
bed. was tired and could not make the
trip. A few minutes later he called
me again and insisted. I took q train
at 1:45 Saturday morning. meeting Mr..
steinfsld in Washington shortly after
o'clock.
Taken to Hsoauef Club.
He took mo to tho Racquet Club.
where no had rooms There we were
Joined by two men with documents they
said referred to the cases We were to
discuss. The documents were placed on
a table while we awaited the supposed
arrival OF the clients.
I'm. less than fifteen minutes. while
Mr.. Steinfeld and the others were talk
ing casually, q knock carne At the door
and three men entered. They said they
were Federal officers and demanded Of
tho two mon what they had done with
documents they had abstracted from the
Prohibition office.
"The new arrivals said they had
trailed tho two men to the club. They
seized the papers ana told all Of US we
were under arrest. protested was
a reputable attorney called to Washing
ton to consult clients and dId not yet
even know the nature Of tho caso was
to be asked to take. In spite of this I
was arrested and taken to q police sta
tion without Q warrant was searched
and locked up. although I protested
there had been no warrant issued and 1t
was q violation Of my constitutional
right to have counsel and . hearing.
After q couple Of hours without the
right to communicate with counsel /
was taken to another police station and
locked up again. still without being al
loved TO communicate with any one.
Allowed to Cali Lawyer.
AFTER five hours I was allowed to
communicate with an attorney. Milton
w. King, and then we went before 9
\ United States Commissioner. Mr.. King
| told the Commissioner the treatment &C
corded mo was as bad as the worst in
Russia under the Gear. It was not until
got before the Commissioner that
knew whether I was detailed as q wit
ness or was under any charge. Then
was told was charged with conspiracy
In connection with the removal Of Gov
ernnent papers. Bail was fixed at the
unusually high figure Of $4,000. and I
returned to New York"
II was denied my constitutional rights,
apparently to satisfy the desires OF pro-
hibition officials for publicity. as they
summoned Newspaper representatives
to get their version. Mr.. Yellowiey
also made tho statement to the news
papers that represented three-Quarters
of the bootleggeers In New York I also
shall defend my own good name with
all possible vigor."
Mr.. YellowIeys men In Washington In
timated there WIN be arrests, but they
do not propose to disclose their hand
by talking. Direct investigations arc
understood to DC on In New York, Pitts
burgh and other cities in connection
with the case They will deal with tho
illegal release OF thousands Of gallons OF
LIQUOR from storehouses on forged per-
mits and with improper disposition OF
liquor after release.
Tho agents intimate the light Is to
be thrown upon the whole system OF
Bookkeeping on a national scale, and
they may - in q position soon to put
their fingers on the key men IN .
nationwide whisky ring"