The New York herald., 1922-03-26
Held HOTEL CAPTIVE
in BOOTLEGGER DEAL
stoeckle Tells of Being
Kidnapped After Losing
$4,000 Check.
THREE ARE ARRESTED
Prisoner Five Days in the
Marlborough Until Law
yer Finds Him.
TWO HELD AS BRIBERS
Forest Hills Inn Proprietor
Says Pair Took SO to
Call Off Raid.
TWO HELD AS BRIBERs

IIuWll =. StOechle, oil duloHiouiie
tire salesman of Bellmore, l.. l.. told
the police yesterday he had been held
prisoner five days by three men for
whom he was acting in liquor trans
action. On his complaint Romeo For
ini and Charles Alessi, real estate
brokers, with an office in 145 West
Forty-first street, and Morris Rothen-
berg, a salesman of 920 st. John ave-
nue, The Bronx, were arraigned in
Jefferson Market Court on a charge
of kidnapping. Magistrate Harris held
each in 81 900 bail
Stoeckle, according to the police,
said that early this month he told
Alessi and Forlini of a friend who was
well supplied with liquor withdrawal
permits, and that if they would put
up $4,000 as deposit he could get S,125
gallons Of whisky Stoeckle said
check for this amount was given to
him, but that his bootlegging friend
disappeared with 1t and that he had
been unable to locate him.
He went to the real estate office from
time to time, he said, to tell Forlini and
Alessi he had not been able to recover
the check. When he called March 10.
Rothenberg. he alleges, took him to the
ty-sixth street. and kept him there at
the point Of revolver
Stoeckle told the police Rothenberg
occupied the same room with him and
forced him each day to go with him to
the real estate office. He was permitted
to telephone friends and relatives each
day to see IL he could get $1,000 to make
good the loss OF the check.
Lawyer Causes Arrest.
Yesterday his wife went to the office
according to the police, and begged her
husband be released. She said she would
mortgage their house in Beilmore to get
the money. Stoeckle then called up
Edward ]. Welsh. a lawyer with offices
in 20 Broad street, who came TO the
office and heard the whole story. ac-
cording TO Stoeckle. Welsh went to the
West Thirtieth street police station and
notified the Detective Bureau.
Detectives Foley, Sheeman, Callahan
and Hooks went to the real estate office
and arrested Rothenberg as he was COM
ing out with Stoeckle. The police say
Forlini and Alessi admit having turned
over the check to Stoeckle. but they
claim Ii was for the purchase of olive
II. Rothenberg. they allege, had re-
volver when arrested and he was held
under additional bail of $500 on a charge
OF violating the Sullivan law.
James j. Mayer of 119 West Tenth
street, counsel for Forlini and Alessi.
stated in court that his two clients
wishes TO make charge of grand lar
ceny against Stoeckle. They said they
gave him $4,000 in cash originally, and
hat when he told them the man who
lad tho corner in withdrawal permits
had disappeared. he handed them
declared. was returned as no good. and
on this complain Stoeckle was held in
$4,000 bail for examination.
Accused OF Bribery.
Oscar Gregorius 202 Henry street, and
William J. Farrell, 81 Prospect street.
Jamaica, were arraigned before United
States Commissioner McGoldricl< In
Brooklyn yesterday on charge of brib-
sy brought by Albert Doll. proprietor
or Albert Inn, Forest Hills. 1t is al
lpReu lldt 1TeEOTluS ana rdTTei lfIpeT-
sonatcd prohibition agents and threatened
Doll they would raid his place unless
they received $40. According to the
police Doll told them to come back and
then gave them marked bills. They were
held In $1,000 bail each for examina-
tion.
Enforcement agents In. Brooklyn
seized twenty-nine cases OF beer on a
truck in front of the store OF Patrick
Russo. lis Fulton street. Inside the
store. they said, they found sixty cases
more. all of pre-Volstead strength.
Russo the owner of the truck and two
drivers we're held In $1,000 bail each.
Evangeine Booth, commander Of the
Salvation Army, declared yesterday
that since the enactment of the volstead
act drunkenness among the poor has al
most disappeared Commander Booth
based her announcement on facts re-
ported by secretaries of the Salvation
Army in all parts of the country, to
whom she sent a qucstionnairc. She
said the army's annual 'Boozers Day"
when drunken men and women were coll
1ccted from the street. fed. clothed and
prayed with. has been abandoned, and
the day given over to entertaining news.
boys and other poor children in the
cities.