Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-06
PROBE
IN BOOZE BRIBERY
Dry Agents Tale OF Millions In
Slush Funds Under y. 8.
Scrutiny
PITTSBURGH MEN ACCUSED

Federal prohibition authorities are
investigating charges made by Saul
Grill. general agent at Pittsburgh, that
large amounts Of money are being paid
for protection by bootleggcrs operating
In this Stnte.
One agent, Grill charges. has collected
more thnn half million dollars from
bootleesegrs over period OF several
months.
Grill himself collected sss. 600 "huril
money from Pittsburgh bootleggers In
two weeks and said the same boot.
lesgers who paid him told him OF their
His disclosures have just been made
to Federal officials IN Washington, to
whom he also turned over the hush
money he collected.
Grill was recently sent to Pittsburgh
from New York. At the rate of his
collections during the fortnight he was
there. he said his annual income would
have exceeded $500. 900.
a stack Of bills. representing his col.
lcctions. now reposes In n safe In the
Treasury Department in Washington.
rs part of the evidence against the boot
lcggers, who will be rounded up as the
result Of the investigation. along with
any crooked prohibition agents that may
be discovered.
"Chicken Feetl'' Not Included
Prison terms instend Of protection"
are said by Federal officials to await the
boos eggers who spent their money NO
lavishly on Pennsylvania prohibition
agents.
1T is almost impossible for man to
80 into Pennsylvania to enforce the pro.
hibition law and come ont clean,' IN
official in Washington said today.
If he Is not crook when he goes
in. the chances are he will become one.
Or. II he goes straight they'll frame
Grill's collections of S3S, 900 did not
include 'chicken feed" scattered
around, he reported in the form Of 800
bills and others Of less than $1,000 de.
nominations. These. Federal officials
soy, are regarded as cigar money. Any.
thing under $1,000 is small change
among Pittsburgh bootleggers.
Here is n typical scene. as it ia de.
scribed on the strength Of official re.
ports which subsequently may find their
way to the Grand Jury room.
A. prohibition agcnt-Grill. for ex.
ample, or any other-will be in his
room in Pennsylvania hotel. A knock
will come at the door, perhaps preceded
by a phone call. Visitors enter, Cen
eral conversation cnsues. In its course
a package Of bills is produced. The de .
nominations usually are $1,000 or
higher. 1t is turned over to the neent
As the visitors leave they toss two or
three 800 bills on the bed.
Don't bank these" they sav.
That's just cigar money"
Grill, II Is understood. took some of
this small change" with him to Wash. !.
ington, us we'll as the $33, 1000 Maid
for protection.
Dry Agents Checked Up"
Equally astonishing to Federal of3 .
cials was the discovery that Pennsyl .
vania bootleggers have system al
checking up every prohibition asent A.. A..
signed to this territory. They knew nIl
about Grill. They had combed hi.
record from the time he entered the s
Government service until the moment
he stepped into the Pittsburgh district,
From 1t they .deduced-and probably
wonder now where they slipped up
that he was crooked.
They decided he could be "reached. u
So they proceeded to reach him.
Finding him susceptible, as the,
thought, they not only turned owe,
large amounts Of money to him, bul
took him into their confidence and le,
him into their whole system.
Al Of this evidence Is now in the
hands Of Federal oficials. It Is sale
to be only a question OF time unit
there are scores Of new arrests an(
indictments.