Evening star., 1923-02-17

AT noon today, with the raids still
under way, forty were under ar
rest under charges Of violation OF
the prohibition act. Officials estf-
mated that 1900 gallons had been
seized at this time. The third pre-
cinct, under command Of Capt. Colin
Z. L. Flather. had q special squad
operating under Sergt Lee and Pre-
cinct Detective D. Y. Murphy, who
accounted for more than ten Of the
arrests.
The raids today were staged on
evidence gathered about town by the
now famous j. L. Asher, working with
his aide de camp, Bauer Of the second
precinct already becoming as famed
IN bootleg circles as the former. They
went about town in various disguises,
driving huckster wagons, selling fsh,
playing as wandering minstreIs witt,
violin and harp and selling statues.
to make their purchases.
Nine Squads Act at Once.
Under the personal direction OF
Lieut.. o. T. Davis OF the police vice
squad, nine squads In nine speedy
automobiles swept away from the
second precinct station this morning
at about 10 o'clock and struck nine
different houses at the same moment.
All were in the neignborhood os
North Capitol and L streets. That
started things. Through the rest Of
INC forenoon scores were hauled to
the second precinct station for BOOKING,
.ne patrol wagon being In Continuous
operation. uo
The first big coup was at % L street
northwest, in an apartment On the
I9lro moor Revenue Agents Fowler and
tured several tubs Of mash. Still II
operation and a keg Of whisky. AZ
North Capitol and L street ano,ba~
successful raid was made when a cor
ne. grocery yielded several quarts of
req liquor as well as a number of bar
relS Of wine. " D"i
Hondzmen Flock to Stations.
The work went forward rapidly.
Ihe automobiles. with police and rev.
enue agents. sped UP to doors. cam. To
quick stop and in went the police
occupants were not given time 70 get
their breath before they were In the
middle OF the mess and confusion OF
liquor raid in full blast.
Bondsmen began fiocking into +ba
stations as soon as the word went
around town that Asher was ont
again"
Asher's name was heard IN nany
OF the houses entered. Here comes
Ashcroft, my Lord" The word
went around the ranks of the boot
leEgers before the raids had been
under way for more than an hour.
Aimost every bootlegger in Wash
lngton, 1t was estimated about noon
To-Day, was trying to recall whether
ne mad sold any liquor to any one
In disguise of an ash man or a coal
cart driver or a huckster.
Ihe squads were headed by Lieut..
Davis. Sergt McQuade, Ralph Ruby,
Revenue oficers Fowler, Elliot, Hert-
zig and Packard and by Private
Bauer of the second precinct.
The third and the eighth precincts
got to work shortly after 1880
O'Clock. squads OF police sweeping
down with revenue agents ana co..
ryinG out pre-arranged Instructors
with clock-work precision.
Ine RAIDS were even moro far-reach-
ins tnsn nan those o Of Tuesday Of last week.
received most Of the attention. II ts
the object to stage a cleanup on fbis
line OF Illicit traffic first, II was said
and to give higher-ups in the game
attention at future dates.
Presence Here Surprise.
The presence Of Asher in town came
as surprise. He was supposed to be
In Baltimore or in Pennsylvania. II
was revealed today that for the past
week. under disguise. he has been COL
leetlng evidence and carrying on Gun
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