The New York herald., 1922-06-26
Capture Made in Thunder
storm Which Smugglers
Used to Cloak Work.
THIRTEEN ARE ARRESTED
S24, 900 Bail Bonds Produced
With Astonishing
Promptitude.
.ng smacks, thirteen pris-

1g smacks, thirteen pris-
on lquor valued at more ttan
500. bootleg prices. were seized
early yesterday by customs officers
after chase of nearly a mile from
the East River to the upper bay. The
capture was made in the height of the
thunderstorm which the rum runners
tried to use as cloak for their opera
tions
An astonishing feature of the case
was tie promptness and manner in
which the prisoners were bailed out
after being taken to the United States
Barge Office. Before the prisoners had
been in the barge office more than an
hour n representative Of the New Am
sterdam Surety Company appeared
and said his concern was ready to fur
nish bond for all OF the men. Soon
afterward, United States Commits
sioner S. NJ. Hitchcock appeared in re-
sponse to a telephone call which the
customs men said had not been made
from their office.
The men were released for appear
ancc at $3.50 this morning at the barge
ofi1cn. where they will be given an ex-
animation by the law division of the
Custom House. They will then be ar
ratgned before Commissioner Hitchcock
in the Federal Building.
Admits Running Fleet.
The man who admitted he was in
charge Of the small fleet gave his name
as Alfred Anderson of 81 Dover street,
Boston. He was held In $4,000 ball.
George Murray of 545 Forty-ninth
street. South Brooklyn, who said he was
a passenger on one Of the vessels. was
held in $4,000 bond. Bail of the other
men was fxed at $1,000 each. They
were:
From the fifty foot sloop Peter Nets
ger--Peter Scrachi of East Boston, said
to be the boats owner; Thomas Murphy,
Thirty-sixth street and Seventh ave-
nue.. engineer and captain of the boat,
and James Coffey OF the same address.
From the thirty-six foot sioop Stella
Joseph Frank. captain. Boston; John
Costa, engineer. Boston: John Sias.
sailor. Boston. and Joseph Bassanti.
sailor, Lawrence, Mass
From the gasoline boat C-936-Joseph
Ventura. sailor. Lawrence, Mass. Tony
Faviola, sailor. no address Joseph Pa
-rantino, sailor. Boston. and Nicola Ru-
bierierri. sailor, Boston.
The three vessels were trailed in from
the Narrows by customs men under
Deputy Surveyor William Sanders and
Special Deputy Surveyor Jack McGilL
When the fishing craft going up the East
River passed the Fulton street fish mar
ket without stopping the customs men
thought their suspicious confirmed and
started In pursuit.
Attempted Escape Fails.
The crews of the fishing boats OBJ
served the approach OF the Government
launch and turned about. speeding for
the bay. After chase OF nearly a mile
the smacks we're overhauled between the
Barge Office and Governors Island, and
boarded. When the crews failed to give
satisfactory answers to questions they
were ordered to return to the Battery.
This maneuver almost resulted In a
collision between the Peter Metsger and
two tugs conveying car floats. AS the
sloop got out OF the path of n tug
bound up the river, another tug bound
downstream was not noticed and the
sloop barely escaped being crushed be-
tween the two vessels. At this time the
sloop Stella attempted to escape, but
was recaptured after short chase.
The crews told customs officers the
liquor had been taken from seventy
Ave foot schooner anchored of, Sandy
Hook Under cover OF the approaching
storm, the men said, they thought they
could get through the harbor. They
said they were to take the liquor TO
Boston. but customs officers think the
10000 bottles were to be landed In New
York.
After the boats had been moored
alongside the Barge ONCE dock, II was
noticed that the Peter Metsger was Leak
ing badly and water was beginning to
fill the hold Hand pumps were put in
operation and crew was set TO work
Go keep the vessel and her cargo of
liquor afioat
The three boats were placed under a
guard of ten customs men who kept
close watch throughout the night.
David Sullivan. "a. of 403 East 17sth
street. was found In fremont avenue be-
tween Webster and Park avenues, The
Bronx. yesterday apparently blinded
from drinking methyl alcohol When
word OF Sullvans condition reached Po-
lice Inspector Thomas T. Ryan he or
dered search for the saloon at which
Sullivan might have procured the liquor.
John Dodt. 4s. proprietor of the saloon
at 40i East fremont avenue and Albert
Kresch. 81, bartender. were arrested
and held In $4,000 bail each on charges
OF felonious assault and $500 each addi-
tionsl on charges of violating the Null
lan-Gage law. 1.Liauor valued at $500
was seized.