The Washington herald., 1922-05-28

COTLIQUOR SEIZED
BY GOVERNMENT
Case Involves Member of
Congress and Justice
Officials.
WOODRUFF TO ACT
May Call Attention of House
To Alleged Delay in In
vestigating Charges.

Reldy IN the case alleSed 10 IN
volve certain officials of the De-
partment of Justice and a member
of Congress in appropriating to
their own use large quantities of
whisky seized by the government
probably will result in the matter
being called to the attention of Con-
gress by Representative Roy o.
Woodruff. 1t was stated yesterday.
Capt. II. L. Scaife, who attempted
to have the matter brought before
the grand jury took the matter up
with Representative Woodruff yes
terday stating that he had given
certain important and confidential
information to United States At
torney Peyton Gordon. with the
understanding that his disclosures
would not be discussed with the
Department of Justice.
Subsequently. he claimed. infor-
nation reached him that within two
hours after he had made his dis
closures to the United States at
torney the Department of Justice
had been apprised of it.
woodruff May Act.
Mr.. Woodruff was told that John
E. Hoover of the Department of
Justice had appeared at the court
house yesterday to give facts, docu-
menus and the names of the wit
nesses necessary to make out a
case. but after waiting for several
hours was not called upon to offer
testimony.
1t was said yesterday that Rep
resentative Woodruff who with Rep
resentative Royal Johnson. South
Dakota. IL endeavoring 40 obtain
action on the Woodruff resolution
to investigate war frauds. will call
the attention Of the House to the
alleged delay in the whisky case.
United States Attorney Gordon
said last night that witnesses had
been called before the grand jury
in the >case and that Capt. Scaife
knew all about 1t.
Gordon Replies to seattle.
IF Capt. Scaife wants to make
any statements, let him make them
before the grand jury and not
to the newspapers, and if anyone
wants to take the matter up, let
them go ahead and take it up the
District attorney challenged.
A copy of a letter. which he said
was written to Gordon. was given
MIR. Woodruff by Capt. Scaife with
the explanation that ten days hau
elapsed without any action being
taken.
The letter stated:
Yesterday l called this case to
the attention of the foreman of
the grand jury and stated to you
the Importance of summoning wit
nesses and subpoenaing them to
produce certain documentary evil
dence before the witnesses are scat
tered and the evidence lost.
Records Give Names.
Il learned at the courthouse yes
terday that the necessary witnesses
could be subpoenaed today and the
case formally presented to the
grand jury tomorrow if such dis
position of the matter would meet
with your approval. / also urgent
ly called your attention to the fact
that unless action was taken I'M
mediately it is possible that wit
nesses and the documentary evil
dence might disappear.
ITO prevent any miscarriage of
justice or questions of responsible
ity which might be hereafter raised
in event OF delay. I submit that i'm
mediate action. in the premises is
demanded
Il stated to you and the foreman
of the grand jury. on information
and belief. that large quantity of
whisky and intoxicating liquors
was seized by agents of the Depart
ment of Justice and stored in the
warehous' of the Security Storage
Company. in Washington. D. c.. and
converted to the use of various per-
sons whose names will be disclosed
by the official records in the De-
partment of Justice.
VIII Let Records Show.
Il am informed that Harry c. Cox
and John f. Hoover, both now con-
nected with the Department of JUS
tice. will disclose the facts and
documents together with the names
Of the witnesses necessary to make
out a case"
RumOrs that three trunks full of
this confiscated liquor had been de-
livered to the office OF a Represent
ative were not denied nor confirmed
by Capt. Scaife. who stated that the
reports in the Department of JUS
tice would disclose who got the
whisky.