The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-11-28

perfectly manicured and with a
Harvard accent acquired on the
Florida L asst.
If this does not throw sufficient
romance about Mr.. McCoy-weu, he
has $4,000 or. $4,000 in currency
stuffed carelessly in his pockets when
American law reached out, six miles
or so into the high seas. where
Brittania used to rule the waves, and
seized him and his yacht of British
registry.
Proud of Citizenship
Proud is Mccoy of his American
citizenship. He is proud, too Of the
expert gunnery of the American
Navy that sent four shells skitterfng
across the water so near the Tomaka
her British crew was famed into a
faint spell.
But Mccoy is proudest OF all be-
cause he has been earning several
hundred thousand dollars a year
bringing whisky to the Jersey Coast
from Nassau without. he is convinced,
breaking any American law.
For he insists all his operations
were kept well beyond the three-mile
limit that no American law op-
crates against his business out there:
that he was anchored six and a half
miles from shore when accosted by
the Coast Guard cutter Seneca, and
was thirteen and a half miles off
shore when tho Seneca's guns finally
turned him around
Two years ago Mccoy and a brother
were building yachts for the Wander
bilts, Carnegie and their ilk at Day
tona. Fla. Then his father and mother
died in quick succession. When his
pet bulldog died a few weeks later,
Mccoy took to the deep sea liquor
trade, to occupy his mind, he ex-
plains.
He chartered yachts from British
company at Halifax, In which he
owns stock; filled them comfortably
with liquor and chartered them -
wealthy men who wanted a moist
ocean journey, or to men who were
not wealthy, but wanted to become
so by reselhng McCoy's whisky. He
paid SIS for case Of twelve bottles
at Nassau and sold It off the Amer.
can coast for s22 case. With this
whisky selling for 50 a bottle in Times
Square. there was plenty Of profit left
for McCoy's ambitious outomers.
Wasn't Breaking Law"
''All this time I scrupulously avoid
ed doing any business in American
waters" he related Monday. Most
of the time \ was from six to ten
miles out. I wasn't breaking any law.
Why, 1 told the American consul at
Nassau what I was doing. wasn't
ashamed OF my business. had a
right to sell whisky. good quality, full
count in every case. on the high seas"
Such an atmosphere Of goodwill
surrounded Mccoy In court. 30 much
good will esIuded toward him from the
prohibition agents smiles, that ex
plantations seemed In order. One of the
agents vouchsafed them, IN a whisper
Mccoy It appears. was living at
Nassau year ago when Peter Sulli-
van, one Of the aces of the customs
service, was sent there with Mrs. Sui
Ivan. TO learn what he could about
the other end OF the liquor route.
Nassau's booze merchants soon were
aware that there was a menace to
their prosperity To McCoy's ears
came news Of a plot to poison the Sui
livans with some liquor they would
be permitted to sample in line Of duty.
Mccoy told Sullivan ell about the
plot. To protect him and his wife, he
al oil tn h To- &c,
three weeks. He allowed Sullivan to
investigate everything he wanted to,
even the Mccoy booze business. When
the time came for the Sullivans to
leave, he escorted them safely to the
pier while the less urbane rum run
ners scowled.
Mccoy was a little sad Monday be-
cause it was reported that he had
allowed some Of his crew to use rough
language to the Federal agents, and
to tussle with them IT wouldn't let
a British crew do anything disrespect-
full to American officers" he protest
ed. I'VE didn't say anything threat
ening."
Argument Over Money
LHeTe was an arg uIHeLC MOnudy
about the $4,000. all in a bundle, that
a Federal agent had taken away from
Mccoy. His counsel. Col Thomas B.
Fielder, demanded it be returned. The
agent declined
"I'u send you to Jail if you don't
give it back" cried Fielder.
Here Mccoy interviewed. You were
only holding II for me, weren't YOU,
Mr. Knapp" he said to tho agent,
smiling whimsically. The agent
passed the package of money back to
him. That's the kind of a fellow Nc
Coy is. Just a good-natured, law
abiding citizen, but the most romantic
rum row has produced.