New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-09-08
Fifty Federal Agents and
Police Find Narcotics
and Liquor in Search
as broadway Watches
Doors Are Forced
AS w omen Protest
Intensive Crusade Against
Bootlessgers' Solicitors
Planned by Dry Chief

The Longacre Hotel, at 157 West
Forty-seventh Street. short distance
east of broadway and one of the many
IN the district catering TO theatrical
folk, was raided ae o'clock last right
by twenty Federal agents and thirty
city detectives, and was searched from
roof to basement. Eight arrests were
maeA.
laie raiders, carrying search war
layts and operating under the direc-
{, bn of Ralph II. Oyier, Federal Mar
ptic Director and two assistant United
States District Attorneys, came in
quest Of Liquor and narcotics. They got
both. They entered each of the hotels
ZOO rooms, surged through every cor
! fldor, searched under carpets, ram
/ sacked closets, bureau drawers and bag
gage. They Communicated the telephone
| switchboard and for more than two
| hours the hotel was in their complete
control.
| Plans Crusade ON Solicitors
! While there appeared to be no direct
connection, this raid took on added in
| terest in the light of a statement made
during the day by Prohibition Director
Ralph A. Day, in which it was made clear
that the prohibition authorities hope
! from now on to be more vigiiant than
i ever, so far as individuals are con-
cerned. Bootleg canvassers, the house
toulouse and office-to- Office profiteers
OF prohibition, became the quarry Of all
Voistead agents, with the announced
intention of the prohibition director to
proceed against every individual who
violates the law by arranging o sale OF
liquor.
"More than 1900 iniunctions have
been obtained against the owners, pro-
lprietors and lesees of restaurants,
cafes and saloons in New York State
sEnce prohibition went into effect" said
Mr.. Day. 'sAnd now we will go one step
sons who violate the law with the in
tentto effect the sale oYs!iquor, ssad
ask for an injunction against them.
! SIN the event of a further violation
la2tersthe issuance Of an injunction the
violator will be charged with contempt
of court before Federal court This
is very effective weapon and we in
tend to use 1t hereafter in every case
where the law and the facts warrant it.
"This applies to those who solicit or
gtake or accept orders for the sale or
delivery or shipment of Intoxicating
liquors without q proper permit. Here
itofore the injunctions have been against
only those who sell it in saloons, res
! taurants and similar places.
The raid on the Hotel Longacre had
been planned carefully. The Federal
agents and detectives swarmed into
the lobby from Forty-seventh Street,
| and Immediately took possession of
things. Detectives were left at every
entrance and no guests or employees
were allowed to leave without first
telling who they were and giving
reasons why they wanted to get out.
Woman Gathers Evidence
Three government agents, one of
them woman who was brought here
from Seattle, took up residence in the
hotel some time ago to gather evidence.
1t was learned through them that NOR
phine sold in the hotel at the rate of
$40 an ounce, heroin for S45 an ounce
and cocaine $35 an ounce. The drugs
and needles seized were taken to the
Federal Building.
The Longacre, it was said, had been
under surveillance for about six
months and was regarded as the main
distributing station" for the White
Light district.
The questioning of all employees
began simultaneously with the search
ing of the rooms, and before the two
hour occupancy of the hotel on the
part of the raiders ended eight men
had been placed under arrest. They
were taken to Police Headquarters
charged with violation Of the Harrison
drug act.
The prisoners are. Irving Landauer,
assistant manager Of the hotel and son
of the manager; Abraham Rosen,
clerk; Eddie Travis, clerk; Irving
Laing and Frank Cooper, negro bell
boys; Thomas Anderson, proprietor of
the tailoring and pressing establish
ment in the hotel; Charles Burns, an
actor, who was a guest, and Charles
Rogers, guest.
Women Protest Intrusion
The sudden invasion by the raiding
party created CONSERVATION among the
employees and guests alike. The lobby
was well filed and many of the guests
were in their rooms. The raiders are
said to have entered number of rooms
over the protests Of women occupants
and were compelled to use force on
some Of the doors. One of the two
guests arrested is said to have offered
resistance when detectives and gov
ernment men swarmed into his room
after forcing the door,.