The New York herald., 1922-06-03
GINGER ALE FRAUD
CHARGED TO 9 MEN
Casks Con tanned Canadian Club
Whiskey, Says Federal
Indictment.
TWO DRY AGENTS NAMED
Henry G.. Piel Explains How
Raiders Got Beer From Spe-
cial Permit Stock.

Harry Z. Mead and William F. Walsh
former Federal prohibition agents, were
among nine persons indicted yesterday
on the charge of conspiring to violate
the VoIstead act In connection with the
Transformation of 100 barrels of liquor
into as many casks of ginger ale on
April IL.
The other men indicted were Ray Il.
Robinson, Custom House broker; George
A. Robinson. brother of the broker and
a Custom House truckman; four of the
latter's truckmen, John Acquira, Morris
Sender, George Rosenthal and Harry
Eagan, and Bernard Schultz.
The indictment charges a conspiracy
to bring into the United States a car
load of Canadian Club whisky, con-
signed to Ray L. Robinson. for trans
shipment to foreign country. The ship
ment was handled from the St Johns
Park station of the New York Central
Railroad on the West Side to the Ward
Line at Pier 13, East River The two
Federal agents were detailed to guard
the liquor in the transfer.
PieI Held Over In Beer Case.
Henry G.. Piel, 81 one Of the directors
of the Piel Brothers Brewery in Liberty
avenue, Brooklyn. was arraigned in New
Jersey Avenue Court on charges of vio-
lating the State liquor law in having In
his possession beer containing more than
one-half of one per cent alcohol. He
was held in $1,000 bail for hearing
June IL.
Detectives who raided the brewery
under a search warrant signed by
County Judge Mclaughlin said they
found 221 boxes and tifteer barrels OF
beer. The detectives took samples of the
beer to the city chemist, who said they
showed 1873 per cent. of alcohol.
Mr.. Peel explained that two kinds OF
beer were siezed, one consisting Of liquar
manufactured under speca permit in
the regime of Attorney Gene raj Palmer
The second class. he said. was the regu-
lar stock. testing only .22 per cent. al
cohol. Mr.. Piel said the beer with the
kept In a special room apart from the
regular stock.
"Speakeasy" I'm Ofiice Building.
A 'speakeasy" has been operating in
the annex of the Temple Bar Building
at 1S6 Remsen street. in Brooklyns S
downtown business district, according to
Magistrate Dale, who denoune ii it in
the Adams street court.
Two policemen of Inspector Vests
staff obtained a search warrant from
County Judge Mclaughlin and entered
Rooms 20S and 209. They said they
gathered five bottles of Scotch, two of
vermoUth and a gallon of wine, all
found in closet six bottle of whisky,
two of port and sherry, in another
closet, and four bottles of whisky in still
another closet. Whisky glasses were in
a desk.
Arguing to Judge A. n. Hand in
United States District Court that Her
bert G. Catrow. former assistant pro-
hibition. director for New York State had
been indicted hastily after a previous
Federal Grand Jury had failed to ndict
on charges of conspiracy to defraud the
United States through Withdrawals OF
whisky. Nash lockwood asked perrnis-
sion TO file a plea in abatement to the
indictment against Col. Catrow.
After an explanation of the case by
Palmer Garfield. Assistant United states
Attorney, Judge Hand refused and di-
rected Mr. lockwood to proceed with
arguments on the demurrer now pending
in case The charge against Col. Catrow
was that he conspired to effect the ir-
regular withdrawal of 1000 cases OF
liquor from the warehouse OF the Hill &
Hill Distillng Company, Inc
After the arguments on the demurrer
Judge Hand reserved decision.