The Washington times., 1922-08-31
CARAV ANS
ROBBED ON
7 TURNPIKE.
Genial Brigands Prove vaIu-
able Aids to Prohibition Force
in Checking Traffic.

Bootleggers are being fright
ened from the Baltimore Wash
ington pike through fear of
"knock-off men," the unofficial
and indirect assistants of the pro-
hibition force, declared Fred T.
Rose, agent in charge of the local
enforcement Office, today.
"Knock-off men" are nothing
more or less than genial brigands,
who stage at least one hold-up q
night on the road from Balti-
more, removing the liquor from
bootlegging cars and permitting
their occupants to drive away,
unhurt but wrathy.
Activities Increase.
The activities of this unorganized
group have been noted for the last
few months, but for the last few
nights they have outnumbered the
rum runners. Their work, while not
technically in accordance with law,
Ia by no means disparaged by pro-
hibition officials.
"These men are quiet and orderly
about their work." Mr.. Rose said
today, land as far as | know they
never use violence. l can say frankly
that they are just as effective, II not
more so, than the prohibition office,
In stopping liquor from coming into
Washington"
Mr.. Rose said he spent virtually
all of last night in ambush near
the Baltimore road, in wait for
expected bootleg shipments. by
motor, from Maryland. AS he
observe the modus operandi of the
"knock-off men,"
Thieves Patrol Road.
Those fellows were waiting just
as seriously as l was" he declared.
"On foot and in big automobiles,
they moved up and down the road
constantly to evade suspicion, but
they never left their appointed
places.
"All the way to Baltimore, l be-
heve. the 'knock-off men were on
the job. They have a certain crude
code of ethics which does not
allow them TO invade another's ter
I!tory. Each of them have a GER
tain area along the road, and they
never move from II. IL someone
up the road holds up bootleggers'
car with a big load. he may only
take half of II, and send the car
flying along to his friend, waiting
down the pike. who will remove
the remainder Of the liquor
Last night these men completely
scared the bootleggers off the road.
There were so many of them that
not a single LIQUOR car came their
way. waited around until early
morning having had positive in
formation that something good was
due. but nothing came along"
1t is believed also that the pres
ence of the "knock-off men,. win
further assure the safety of the main
highway to Baltimore, by diverting
bootlegging cars from this thorough
fare.
BOOtleggers Reckless.
Prohibition authorities and tho
police of the District and Maryland
have been perturbed by knowledge
that liquor cars, in their midnight
flights over the road, will stop Tor
nothing. and have been known TO
crash into machines parked at the
sides of the pike. and go on without
offering assistance to the stopped
cars injured occupants.
G.. J. Simons, director of the Wash.
ington prohibition division. has de-
voted several days to capturing these
offenders, and during the last week
has been instrumental in turning
over eleven racing bootleg cars TO
the authorities for confiscation.
! According to prohibition officers.
little of the corn liquor received in
Washington is manufactured in Bal.
timore, but in the woods AMI vii.
lages off the main road. The op-
erations Of dry officers and knock.
off men" has sent prices Of bootleg
soaring in Washington since last
Sunday.
Dry operatives are unanimous in
jclaiming that a decidedly low grade
lof corn whiskcy Is being sold in
The Capital today. compared with
the article in trade here year
ago. The illicit concoctions distilled
in the open are said to be Of less
harm than a large percentage OF
lhootlog manufactured indoors in
Washington and at certain points
I'm Maryland and Virginia.
Liquor Called Poison.
at Is worth the life of any man
ito taste corn liquor these days"
said Mr.. Rose. "If the people who
buy the stuff could sec the un.
ispeakably dirty conditions under
(which IL is made, they would rather
take chance on straight wood
lalcohol incidentally, some wash
iington and Baltimore chemists have
ibeen able to extract the poison
from wood alcohol, put in some
corn flavor. color Il, and sell it as
whiskey."
Director Simons today said that
many Of the stills found by him had
Il residue Of verdigris, and water
used in the making Of corn liquor
Twas used again and again from stag
nant pools in the open and from
stale water indoors.
~ used to be that a revenue NAV
was not afraid TO taste corn. for Wv.
fi""'".1 I'm court. he said. ''bu
~ "'rs - do moro than sni"' =
Wv OF pres, mt conc -.
~ he chemist for ~ 80