The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-04-25
Seizure of Ex-Sub Chaser With
Commander Dressed in US.
Naval Officer S Uniform May
Reveal Big Conspiracy of
Rum-Running Into Amerl-
can Ports.

Now York. April @4.--tuStoms Of
ticiali announced today that they we're
working 10 smash :; rich hoOtleGSer
ring which they charged had mooi'
lied feet Of former submarine
,.hascrs 10 meet creation OF Americas
Try navy.
The federal agents are working on
tn" theory that the swift craft that
one" pursued German C-boatS. ana
~rvc sold after the war. arc now pos
IL, as naval vessels and, commanded
By officers in the uniform Of the
United States. already have succeed
ed in running S3.0O0.OO0 worth OF
ru,a into the United States from Der.
mud& and Havana.
Alleged Smuggling Scheme.
The announcement OF the discovery
u the alleged smuggling scheme was
made after former submarine chaser
i0l. rrcHris,encd The Fidus. haI been
nabbed in New York i,aI uor by a po-
ice boat and customs launch after
she had passed Quarantine and was
darling toward a pier. Customs men
claimed that they had found aboard
her numerous chart marked landings
along the Atlantic coast and the Hud'
son river. No liquor was found
aboard her. and the crew told hair
raising tale OF having had their cargo
nlUndered by pirates OF the Long
Island coast yesterday.
Holding the Ex.chaser.
The ex.chaser. said TO bear British
registry. was tied up at the Battery.
- here she tonight was held on tech
meal charge that she left Bermuda
without clearance papers. Her cap
tain. who gave his name as "John
kelly." and his crew Of seven were
taken To the customs house for a SO.
vere criIlng After the examination.
Nhich was attended by a representa-
ave from the British consul general,
Assistant United States Attorney Falk
said
Wore U. S. Naval Uniform.
kelly wore the uniform OF
United States naval officer We have
not AS got made any charges against
Captain Kelly and the crew.
Ii is understood that the Fldus
carried 200 cases OF cSoice Scotch
v.hirkev from Bermuda. and that IL
what we want to find out. The yes
sol failed to show on her manifest
any cargo, and after questioning by
customs agents il was decided 70 takr
her into port and question the crew.
Federal agents, who said they DC
lieved the name John Kelly" hcuti'
A. ~, fIiT1 .
was w. Stanley Clarke OF Rrooklyn'
intimated that there was a poSslolilt!
that tnere might be brought against
her captain charge Of wearing an
cnsign's uniform illegally.
Kelly claimed to have been taking
liuuor 10 Montreal for Bermuda
wine merchant who owned the craft
when pirates on another vessel stole
his cargo and manifest.
Greatest Sea Thriller.
The story nf the piratical rad on
Mpntauk Point was tho greatest
thriller that had been brought into
mort in many day.-hut customs OIL
friare claimed 10 have detected
points ut which the tale. AS related ny
different members Of the crew. did
nor cihe. Incidentally. one ot the
crew. Ray Palmer. was alleged 10
have been carrying |. ". W. litera-
ture
Mr.. Fatk quoted The version OF
Chief Engineer William LOCKWOOD as
follows:
We we're all below. This was about
: O'Clock. a bell was given us 10
stop, and We stalled the engines. Next
hing we knew gang Of men. all I'M
masked. swarIned down on us and
pointing revolyers at Ms. backed US
into a small compartment in the on
sire room and told US to be quiet.
half an hour later, according 10
Inrk wood. a seaman vcntured above
and saw Kelly tied 10 the mast. hand
and foot. Lock wood claimed TO nave
united the knots himself The liquor
was gone.