The New York herald., 1922-01-02
Shootings, Stabbings and
One Holdup Laid to In
fluences of HOOch.
HOSPITALS KEPT Busy
Reisenweber's Visited by Dry
Agents-Summonses Given
to Gay Whisky Parties.

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That benzine and prune Juice do not
make rye whisky, nor creosote and
wood alcohol Scotch. was demonstrated
so many times yesterday and Satur-
day night that there doesn't seem to
be any argument left.
Directly and indirectly these erst-
while fallacies contributed to the gem
eral excitement attending the exodus
of the old and the genesis Of the new
year. at least two deaths, with more
TO come, innumerab.e fights in which
bottles blackjacks. pistols and knives
took prominent parts, and an impress
sive list of poisonIngs that will be sure
TO augment the death record. A start
ling number of the victims were
young. The old timers seemed to have
sense enough to so thirsty, or drink
safe booze
There is no reliable evidence that
the old wood alcohol syndicate had
revived again and had flooded the city
with it's lethal liquor. but there was
iiO dCaltii VI l1C olQn. w idlGVeI IL
was and wherever 1t came from. it was
responsible for everything--from milk
bottle barrages TO wanton shootings
and slashings that didn't have even
the excuse OF robbery to fall back on.
The new year was ushered in by a
comparative few holdups and there
was no new record established In ar
rests.
The police say that the reason lies In
the fact that most Of the liquor drink
ing was done privately, that is in homes
and clubs and rooms and halls hired
for the occa sion. The majority OF the
cafes and cabaret establishments closed
car.y. Aside from few instances these
resorts sold no booze. What libating
there was in these public places was
done with booze carried in handbags by
the diners who had reserved tables.
Private Parties All Very Wet.
But the action was had in the private
still parties and the many soirees where
the old block and fall stuff was con-
sumed. And direct results were OBJ
taincd by the. lads who bought bottled
cAPlOoifto AiOiA IA bS6iSts 6iOSCASs al
dealers haberdashers, delicatessen mer-
chants and other enterprising business
men who are bridging the slough of
commercial despond by handling booch.
1t would take many statstfcians
many days to ascertain just how many
broken bottles Uttered the streets yes
terday mornings. In various parts Of
The city the police reported that the
bottle barrage fell precisely at mid
night. typical instance is told by
the patrolmen who we're on duty in
Broome street between Center Market
place and the Bowery. Midnight ar
rived. the whistles and bells set up their
annual serenade and more than hun
drcd window sashes were raised. almost
simultaneously.
Then out Of those opened windows
bottles were hurled---pint. quart and GAL
lon bottles. drained Of their fearful con-
tebts and hurled into the street. just 10
show that their purchasers didn't care
whether thene was an Eighteenth
thing occurred in various streets In
Harlem, The Bronx and Brooklyn.
THE Magistrates courts yesterday
morning were sad places. Back in pre-
prohibition days the courts were over
flowing with overwhelmed New Year 8
morning. but the culprits looked like
living porsons---a little the worse for
wear, 10 be sure. but still alive. They
rsed to pay their fines. bow politely TO
the court, 20 out and purchase a reviv-
Ing draught and be almost IL not quite
as serviceable as ever
Either Dragged or Drunk.
But the prisoners OF yesterday morn
.ng--those taken In for being drunk
were still drunk.or. better. drugged.
There were relatively few Of them. about
twenty Those who could stand. walk and
hear were turned loose with lecture
md fine. They shuffled out, feeling as
they had never felt before and feeling
humbiy thankful that they could still
soc and were not dying In a hospital.
Those who looked as though they were
duo to collapse again were hustled OFT 10
hospitals.
There was bit Of celebration In the
Rainbow Club. | Minetta lane, Green
vich Village. Tho membership of the
Rainbow Club is chiefly Italian. An
argument started soon after midnight.
Giuseppe Daiarata said that II was 1922
and his friend Beppo Marti thought II
was only 1920. In the ensuing fight
John Caffiro, IL Charles street. was
stabbed In the abdomen and taken to
sc. vincent's Hospital Later on John
Snice reported at tho hospital with a
bullet In his right forearm. and he ac-
cuscd Caffiro Of doing the shooting. So
Caffiro, despite tho fact that he is
pretty badly hurt. Is under arrest.
charged with felonious assault.
Twelve Federal rum sicuths. headed
hy Assistant Chief Enforcement Agent
r.. y. Merrick. swoopcd down on Rcisen-
v"bers. at Tifty-eighth street and
Eighth avenue. at two in the morning
and served summonses on six diners
tho proprietor and his son. They VIII
appear tomorrow before United States
Commissioner Hitchcock to answer
CouffuuoR nm pa~~ ce~S~~~