Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1922-12-22
Willy SCHEMES
OF RUM RUNNERS
Officers Tell of Cunning Devices
to Avoid Detection.
Booze Pockets in WJman's Corset--Gal-
Ion of High Wine Clevorly Concealed
in Italians Accordion.

Booze Pockets in WJman's Corset-Gal-
lon of High Wine Clevorly Concealed
in Italians Accordion.
While at some points there has been
let-up In the amount 'of liquor that
has come over the border from Canada
into Vermont in comparison with pre-
vious years, yet, at certain points along
the border liquor is still being brought
into the state in great quantities, simply
because the enforcement forces are not
large enough to cope with the situation.
Anyone who thinks that the role of a
prohibition officer is easy should talk
with the officers who have been here
at the federal building in connection
with the session of the United States dis
trict court One will be informed that
the duties of such an officer are not con
fined simply to a definite station at o
certain point along the highway. With
the numerous roads that cross the boun-
dairy from Canada, with the thousands of
automobiles that use these roads, par
ticularly in the spring, summer and fall
season, and with the comparatively few
men available it seemingly il impossible
to stop the running of liquor into this
state.
At least that is the statement given
to Il representative of The Phoenix
who interviewed several of the officers ut
the federal building Wednesday. In
addition. the officers told of several
unique methods that rum runners have
used i'll their attempts to smuggle liquor
over the border.
The concealment of liquor has not been
confined entirely TO men. Officers told
The Phoenix that every little while
cases are found where women are often
dcrs. One of the most interesting cases
brought to the attention of the officials
was that of rather stout woman who
was seated in railroad train en- route
from Montreal to Boston. The customs
officer, while examining her belongings.
noticed her unusual size and upon inves-
tigation found that she wore specially
constructed coset, equipped with 10 peck
been fitted snugly.
Another instance was cited where a
customs officer on a train coming into
Vermont noticed woman who carried n
good sized bundle. When Intercepted
as to its contents she said it contained
meat which she had obtained at a
butcher shop just over the line. The
officer unwrapped the bundle and found
that her statement was correct except
that she omitted to state that the meat
was wound around a quart of Canadian
liquor.
Perhaps the most clever instance of
smuggling over the border was that of a
man from Canada who boarded a train in
that country with quart bottle of
whiskey in his pocket. When the train
approached the boundary customs Off
Ger boarded the coach in which the man
was riding. Taking off his overcoat, the
officer hung it on-,a hook near the for
ward end of the car. The officer then
went into the baggage car, and while
he was there the rum runner put his
bottle in the overcoat pocket of the Off
Ger. In few minutes the officer made
his search through the car and after he
went into the next coach the rum runner
extracted his bottle from the officer
coat and then regained possession of it,.
The most humorous case told was that
of party of Italians enroute to Vermont
from Canada. The officer came into the
coach in which the Italians were riding
and one of the latter was busily engaged
playing tunes on an accordion. The
officer made his inspection and later
CONTINUED on Page Five.)