New-York tribune., 1922-03-08
Biggest Still Yet
Discovered Is
Seized i'm Raid
Dry Agents Smash Way Into
East Side Building and
Find Plant of 800 Gal
Ions IA Day Capacity
Made Gin From Alcohol
Equipped With a Dormitory
and Arms for Employees:
Only One Is Captured

oA4Hc ptdHI SSC OiSCo'cleU IN TINS
country was revealed yesterday when
Chris j. Fortman, chief city prohibi-
tion enforcement agent, and eight men
crashed into three-story building at
400 East 11sth Street.
The entire building was devoted to
the manufacture of Illicit gin from de-
natured alchol. The capacity was 500
gallons day at the time the raid was
made, but q new still, ready for as
sembling, showed that business had
been brisk and the capacity of the
plant WAS to be increased
There was q dormitory in the build
ing in which the force of employees
slept when off duty each with revol-
yer at hand. The enforcement agents
had been watching the place for a
week. For the most part Il was III op~
Grafton only at night and when they
broke in only one man was in the
building.
He was on the third floor, into which
the agents dropped through the scut.
tie. When all nine of them had
dropped to the floor and were peering
about in the unaccustomed gloom the
sole occupant Of the building gave a
luAlIAiiG iSap, NdUeub VIC NO4iiOlAS VI
the scuttle and pulled himself to the
roof.
Captured in Roof Chase
One of che raiders, Agent Maxwell,
chased him for half block over the
roofs of tencments and captured him.
He said he was Tincenzo Dirossi, Of
2393 First Avenue
The raiders found the street door Of
the building locked and burst it in.
AT each floor the doors giving on the
hall were Of massive construction and
firmly bolted. The door at the head of
the stairs leading TO the root was more
vulnerable. however, and the enforce
ment agents chose that route, being
confident that the distillery was on the
top floor.
Their confidence was justified. When
they switched on the lights they saw
three copper stills, each six feet high
and each Of capacity Of 100 gallons
a day. Another still, Grated as it had
como from the manufacturer. was
awaiting assembling and installation.
There was no mash, always source
OF danger TO the moonshiner because
OF the difficulty Of disposing Of it, the
efforts Of the distillers being confined
to the redistillation of denatured al
cohol for the manufacture of gin
Counterfeit Stamps Seized
All extensive and welI-equipped bot
ting plant formed part of the equip
n.ent, and there was evidence that an
expert engraver and printers were con-
nectod with il also, as counterfeit
revenue stamps were found in abun-
dance, as were labels in imitation 81
those Of first grade grocer.
Many Of the bottles already bore the
hne hafo c..
and marketing. In another department
were found thirty tive-gallon cans OF
gin, which Convinced FortInan THAT the
distillery dealt with wholesalers as
we'll as retailers.
The workmen departing for their
holiday had left behind them their re
volvers, two of which were found in
each mans bunk.
eve have information" said Fort
man, ''on which we will base further
arrests in this case. l am unable to
say how long this alcohol plant had
been in operation. Its capacity was
sufficient to flood small community
With poisonous alcohol in i short
time"
Fred Libby, confessed owner OF the
Illicit distillery at 36O5 Bainbridge
Avenue, opposite Woodlawn Cemetery
the Bronx, surrendered himself yester-
| day. He was away from his still when
Agents "Izzie" Einstein and an
Smith, disguised as grave diggers,
1aided the place.
Produced 100 Gallons Day
Arraign before Federal Judge
Webb, Libby pleaded guilty. Judge
Weob. who comes from North Caroline,
said he knew considerable about the
moonshine business, and from this
knowledge he would say that Libby hs i
some outfit Libbys still had been
| operating nine months and produced
! t20 gallons OF ALCOHOL from stale bread
mash each day. Libby said he had
never been in trouble before. He said
he had been a railroad man, but the
Illicit liquor trade in the Bronx offered
him chance to get rich and he sue
cumbed to temptation.
Judge Webb Immediately sentenced
him to six months in prison and fined
him $500. The still was ordered de-
stroyed.
Raiders yesterday visited eight cafes
and restaurants, served nine sum
nlonses and made four arrests.
District Attorney Maloy, of Rich
mond Borough, last night denied he
had given out information to the effect
that he had identified "Brooklyn
alderman" in bootleg deal. There
is no truth whatever to the story" he
said, excepting an attempt was made
here to rob warehouse and the police
frustrated the attempt. I certainly
never have said anything about a
Brooklyn alderman, and I know of no