Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-06-27
GOVT. APPRAISERS
PROBING Theft OF
LIQUOR IN MASS,

Boston, June 26-Seized liquor
stored in government warehouses in
| Massachusetts, was being checked up
by federal appraisers tonight to as
! certain how much Of it was still in
the possession of the government.
Thefts in Springfield and tampering
with stored liquor in Boston led to the
check.
A deputy United States marshal
sent to Springfield recently to exam
inc some seized liquors in ware
house found part of the 90 barrels
empty and part of them filled with
water, while tea had been substituted
for fine liquors in a number of bot
ties. A quantity Of whiskey was
found in an elevator Of the United
States appraisers stores here end the
janitor told of having seen a truck
driven from the stores early Saturday
morning.
Government appraisers said they
could not determine how much liquor,
il any, had been taken from the
had been made, which probably
would take several days. Orders to
destroy all the seized liquor in the
Boston federal district previously had
been issued.
The Springfield situation was called
to the attention of Judge Morton
in the federal court. After he had
conferred with United States District
Attorney Harris a special session of
the grand jury wa. called 70: tomor
row.
The loss in Springfield was discov-
cred when Deput United S.stes
Marshal Legion, acting under in
structions from United States Mar
Storage warehouse to break out two
shall Tighe went to the Bay State
lot Of barrelled whiskey. DR.. Hough-
ton, chemist in the department Of ag-
riculture, examined the liquid and
reported that four of the 20 barrels
We're empty and that the others con-
| tainer water, slightly Favored with
whiskey. The order to break out the
barrels, resulted from a petition in
the United States district court by
Assistant United States Attorney
White that large quantities of liquor
in the warehouse be condemned, an
alyzed and sold.
The liquor found in the elevator of
the appraiser stores here was pack
ed in so burlap sacks, each containing
six bottles Of whiskey. Twenyt five
sacks were found in the vestibule
from which liquor is delivered to i'm
porters. Appraiser Samuel w. George
in statement today said that a
! Waterman had seen a mysterious
machine" scurry off from the yard.
! After finding the liquor in the ele-
| vator and in the vestibule the watch
man discovered that the door to the
stores on the seventh floor had been
| jimmied.
Special treasury agents today We're
| trying to find how a heavy metal door
that drops ov inner wooden doors to
the freight elevator could have been
| forced from the outside. They were
also endeavoring to learn how motor
| truck could have entered the ap-
praisers stores through gates evil
IDENTIFY forced, and remained in the
yard with its presence unknoW.l I'M
! til it was about to leave. Two arm
ed guards We're supposed to have
been on duty in the building at all
! times.
| State Prohibition Director Elmer C.
Potter, while admitting that an inves-
| tigation was in progress said that the
| shrinkage or depreciation of suppos-
| eddy fine liquors seized might b the
result of tampering by bootleggers
before the liquor came into the gov
ernment's hands.