Evening star., 1922-12-30
TWELVE INDICTED
+. IN RUM PLOT CASE
Government Charges Accus-
ed With Sale of 10000
Gallons of Liquor.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. December ga fed
eral grand jury hearing complaints
against the fashionable Racquet and
Tennis Club in Park avenue today In
dicted on two counts twelve men,
charged with illegally selling more
than 10000 gallons of liquor.
Among those indicted were Rene
La Montague, Morgan E. La Montague
and William A. La Montague. owners
Of the Green River Distilling Company
and the Eminence distillery Of Ken
lucky. Rene La Montague is noted as
a polo player.
The others indicted were Samuel A.
Story, vice president OF E. La Mon
tagne Sons. New York importing firm;
John George. Patrick McGee. Herbert
Morgan. Eddie Harlow. Edwin Schuten-
berg. James r. Burrows. Rex NJ. Shell
don and Montaisu La Montague.
Charge Forged Permits.
United States District Attorney
Hayward. In a statement. said that
the indictments involved the bootleg
ging by the La Montagnes of more
than $1,000 gallons Of whisky. gin,
wines and assorted liquors. Much OF
the liquor, he said, had been OBJ
tanned through forgery OF with
drawal permits.
These figures represent the mini
mum amount disposed of by tn, de-
fendants." he said. IAN additional
amount. still larger. was sold to
bootleggers acting on their own ac-
count. under either forged or pur-
chased permits.
the conspiracy and wholesale boot
Logging operations under II came a
few weeks ago from a volunteer wit
ness and we simply followed tho
trail. even though 1t led to select
circles and exclusive places.
The once of the New York pro-
hibition director had most Of the
have worked so hard to get as early
as last June, but did not see ft to
rtpont them to me-"
The conspiracy count includes the
operation of three companies. the
Green River DIstiliing Company,
and Eminence Distillery. Inc. and e.
La Montagne's Sons. Inc. Tho stock
of all is held by the Copperfield Com
pany. Inc. This stock in turn is held
entirely by the four La Montague
brothers.
Held Wholesale Permit.
"It 10 alleged in the indictment that
the defendants sold whisky of the
Green River Distilling Company to
The Green River held what is known
as a wholesale liquor dealers per-
nit from January. 1920. to November
!. 1921. when all such permits were
cancelled. and during this entire pc
riod large quantities Of Green River
whisky were sold to other bootleg.
gers. who would present forged and
altered permits.
1T is further alleged the defendants
obtained q branch distillery permit
for the Eminence Distiliery Company.
Inc. and sold whisky OF that concern
to persons who had no permits. This
whisky WAS sold direct to consumers
and the transactions covered by
and forged permits"
The defendants are further charged
with having filed false and per5urous
returns for the three companies
named in the indictments. These al
legged perjuries were contained tn the
monthly reports required by law to
be filed with the government showing
sold. Each report was sworn to, II
was charged, and indicated that the
liquor had been disposed of to per-
mittees. whose names were filed with
the government. whereas. as q mat
tor Of fact. it had been sold to various
high class grocers in New York. to
members of the Racquet and Tennis
Club and to other persons"
Conditions Alarming.
Another charge was that forged and
counterfeited permits Of the Eminence
;gtf hoA hoAn 1Aafravod
after the first visit of government in
spectors in May. A forged letter on
paper Of the prohibition director. 1t is
charged. was presented in demand for
the fncriminating papers. which were
alleged to have been given over to two
unknown persons, agents OF the de-
fendants."
Il am not an aiarmist." Mr.. Hay
ward declared. but the conditions re-
vealed by. our investigation are GER
tainly alarming. ] do not believe that
the country can 90 on haif-law-obedi-
ent and half-iaw-defant.
"Of course, we can 60 on arresttng
people Of all classes. but after all, as
Burke said. You cannot put q whole
nation in jail On all sides one hears
it said either the law must be en-
forced or the law cannot be enforced.
instead of harping SO much on these
propositions why don't the good people
W ooSS"'s VIC =" ~
II appeal to Gov. Smith not to at
tempt to nullify the federal laws by
the repeal Of the state laws support
ing them, and thus take away from
federal district attorneys the power
full support Of the police.
Appeal to Clergy.
II appeal to the clergy Of all faiths.
for, whatever defense OF opinion they
may hold on prohibition. surely no
worthy man Of God but owes q clear
duty to make his pulpit ring with a
demand for obedience to law.
II appeal to public oficials and
lawyers to search their conscfences
and decide whether they made mental
reservation as to certain portions Of
the Constitution Of the United States
when they took their oath.
"fiumbly and prayerfully I appeal
to the decent men and women OF this
community to cease bartering their
Constitution for a drink Of bad
liquor and to make the trivial sac
rifice to uphold the law and help re-.
store that respect for law without
which anarchy and chaos must re-
suit"