The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-02-26

Seized in
lene III ent
Arms. Ammunition, Machine
Guns and Hand Crenades
Found Near New York
Steamship Pier. / =
Several M e n Arrested

New York. FEB. 25.-The seizure of
10 cases Of hand grenades and high
explosives being unloaded from a
truck into "A basement in the Chelsea
pier district last night led to the dis.
corery of 100 more cases, which had
been secreted in river front lodg.
ing house.
A few minutes later city and fed
eral authorities uncovered. IN the
same building. 200 rifles. 30 machine
guns and large quaint ties OF steel
jacketed machine gun ammunition
in belts.
The explosives, in huge packing
cases, were addressed TO IS. G. c. New
York, and to Arthur Leibinger. 263
West Thirty.Fourth street" All we're
labelled 'precaution. high explosives
handle with care
Four Men Arrested.
-Four men who were transferring
the explosives, were taken in custody
and quizzed as to the source and
destination Of their cargo. They pro
fessed ignorance.
While a Gordon of special police
was thrown about the truck and the
building where part Of its contents
had been slowed, chiefs of the secret
service. POLICE authorities. fire de-
partment officials. heads Of the bomb
squad and OF the bureau of conbus-
tibles were summoned to break open
and examine the strong boxes seized.
Edward. and Patrick Howey. broth
ers. who claimed 10 own the moving
van from whence the explosives in
huge packing cases were being
skidded along a plank into the base
ment. were taken into custody. as
was Joseph O'Buryne. proprietor of
the lodging house.
Two others engaged in unloading
the munitions when a water front pa
troll became suspicious and sum.
moned police and secret service
agents. escaped half dozen ten.
ants Of the. lodging house also were
taken to headquarters 10 be ques-
toned.
Authorities Of every division OF the
local and federal police system sur
rounded the property where the seiz.
ure occurred and Immediately began
ripping open the package cases in the
lodging house arsenal They found
hand erenaies. loaded and set. rife
grenades. smokeless gunboAder.
SAFETY cartridges. machine guns.
rifles. ammunition. ron bombs and
alantsies Of iron rods. the purpose Of
which was not known.
Discovery Accidental.
Discovery OF the explosives x,s
quite accidental 4 policeman vas
patroling his lonely beat along the
North river year where II IL lined bv
piers OF the Cunard. White Star and
French line steamships. when he spied
Tour men, working IN the dark. hea4-
ing and skidding "a van load Of crates
down planks into a basement.
What Is it, asked a patroIrnan.
ss he inserted his night stick under
the cover Of case. "Booze?'
No. canned goods" the workers
told him.
I've heard that ore before" sad
the patrolmau. and he pried up the
lid In the light Of his pocket fasil.
light ne saw hand sitnades and cart.
ridges
Just then a window three stories up
vas raised and o'Rmyne pokei out
his head 70 shout down. It's am
munitiou II any body wants TO Know -
Near Panic Among Lodgers.
Pandemouium ensued At the lodging
mousse when the police and federal
agents swarmcd around aud hogan
breaking open the packing crates. re.
'ealing their contents. and ransack.
Ing the place for more
The Investigators were frank I'm ex.
pressing surprise NJ the recklessness
with which the explosives had hecn
handled and stored
Tenants ~ the lodging house said
they had seen sho same truck deposit
a load in the basement Friday night
and nj other times. as long ago as
last September
Tons II explosives were housed in
the building the authorities learned
enough to blow M "A fair sized city.
as they put H.