The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-18

going to kill - if he hadn't re- signed and other prohibition men"
 Assassins Who Relented.
 In fi&h case, two assassins were in position to kin an official of the
 enforcement force but for some reason refrained from doing so. They wrote him later that they had spared his life because they admired his
 gameness in coming to territory after they had warned him, up9n pen alty of death, to stay away
 In a sixth case. an important gov
 ernment witness in a leading case
 against a ring of bootleggers was
 mysteriously killed a few days be-
 fore the ease was called for trial.
 In only few instances, it is re-
 ported, has the supreme penalty of
 bootleg disfavor been enforced and even then the circumstances were
 such that murder and seeming mo
 tive could not be. definitely linked
 together
 Another great moral victory for prohibition enforcement grew out of the conviction of millionaire wine maker in California. This man, wealthy and prominent throughout the state was an outstanding citi- zen, and when he was arrested on charge of wholesale -botlegging there was great surprise in all parts of the state and astonishment and even indignation among his friends.
 Then the facts came out. His wine company operated several bonded wineries and a bonded storeroom. Wines of various kinds were pur- chased under permit from other bond ed wine makers, ostensibly for non beverage purposes but were diverted by the wine markers order ulu- mately finding their way to the store roc m. The shortage thus caused by the wineries was covered byNunre- ported purchases from unbonded grape growers and the excess ere ated at the storeroom was disposed of by his associates, who sold 1t for beverage purposes to some Of the most wealthy and prominent ciu- zens. In this way about 22,00O gal Ions of fine wine were illicitly dis posed of.
 The wine maker pleaded guilty to an indictment and was sentenced 10 nav a fine of S1,500 and to serve three months in jail Two associates also were fined. About 100000 gal Ions of wine were impCunded by the government and the question of the forfeiture of winery property worth about $2.O00, 900 and of bonds of S6o' GOO has been presented to the courts. N
 In imposing sentence the court said:
 .eVarious people fer whom I have very high regard personally and in every way-an ex-governor of. California. the district attorney of the third largest county of the state, 4l hd a 70 tlonAof that county, and an officer of a ehat bank-came here and said that this defendant has always been a good citizen. With all respect 10 the opinion of these gentlemen. J want to take occasion to emphall- cany dissent. I do not consider he was good citizen at all"
 Another important case on the Ia cific' coast arose out of the ctnVic- tton of the political boss In blg city. He operated a saloon adjacent to the courthouse and was a friend anI close adviser of the criminal ele- ment of the city. In March, l925' prohibition agents bought quantity of liquor in his saloon, and he per sonally received the money Then followed his indictmentg He vlgor- ously denied al charges and publicly to give S100,000 to charity IT the charge could be proved The charge was proved against him and several of his associates and he was to pay a fine of Sl,O0O and serve 12 months in jail.
 Charity, so far, has failed to re- ceive the S1OO,0O0. but botleggers re- ceived a shock from the downfall of their mentor. The result has been good for the cause of law observ- ance.
 lTo Be ContInued TomorrowO