San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-16
a. SAVANNAH
MEN HELD As
BOOTLEG GANG
Americas Largest Rum
Ring Broken Up, Gov
eminent Believes.
TO PUSH PROSECUTION
Distribution Of Fine Euro
pean Liquors Over
U. S. Charged.
TO PUSH PROSECUTION

Washington. ID. c.. Aug. 16.-Witn
81 persons already under arrest at
Savannah. Ga, under the conspiracy
section of the prohibition enforcement
act. Department of Justice officials
said today that they believe they fl
nally have rounded up the largest boot
leg forces in the United States.
Other important arrests were fore.
cast and it was. stated that indict-
ments will be sought not only under
the yolstead act but also under Gus
tom laws against smuggling and I'M
der statutes making it unlawful to
transport struggled goods.
Savannah, Ca, Aug. 15.-Fcde.a,
and state officials are still active to-
day following their wholesale raids
and arrests here late yesterday in
which a banker, lawyer and scores %
other citizens were hailed before
United States commissioners and re
leased on temporary bonds totaling ap
proximately 10000.
The arrests were made on federal
warrants based on charges running
from common bootlegging to conspir-
acy to violate the national prohibit
tion'law. Those arrested include some
Of the best known business men. Of
the city--a banker, lawyer. several
merchants and fermer sergeant of
police The arrests, with promises of
more TO follow, has created e-sensa-
ton.
The more prominent of those taken
into custody are:
John J. Powers, vice president and
cashier of the Exchange Bank of Sa.
vannah.
Joseph Berner, merchant.
Samuel Berner, former sergeant of
police.
A. Carlson, merchant.
c. Graham Baughn, lawyer.
Frank Balloon, grocer.
Thirty Sleuths at Work.
The arrests are the result of the
work under cover of 30 or more men
during several weeks.
In connection with the excitement
created by the wholesale arrests has
been the action of the federal grand
jury in session during the raiding pc
Rod.
Upon the first indictment returned
the immediate arrest was made OF
William II. Haar, charged with con-
sipracy TO violate the national pro-
hibition act. The defendant gave bond
of $4,000.
The Indictment charges Haar and
other defendants with committing lOO
offenses against the United States,
with intent to defraud the revenue Of
the United States by smuggling to
this country and introducing therein
at points within the sosthern district
of Georgia and Fernandina, Jackson
vile, West Palm Beach and Miami,
Fla: Wilmington, n. c.; Charleston,
s. c., and divers other places from
France, Italy, Cuba, Great Britain
and her colonies and insular posses
sions, dominion of Canada, Jamaica.
Bermuda and the Bahama islands, a
quantity of 500 cases or $4,000 gal.
Ions, of intoxicating liquors. consist
ing brandy, whiskey, gin and other
distilled spirits, cordials, liquors. alb
sinthe, bitters, still and sparkling
wines, champagne and beer.
100 Offenses Charged.
They are accused of transporting
from storage and distributing points,
such as Louisville, KY; Chicago, st.
Louis, Cincinnati, Philadelphia and
New York City, quantities Of intoxi-
eating liquors where they have been
first struggled without obtaining any
permit for removal, these offenses be
ing of the number Of 100.
The indictments allege that 20 Of
senses have been committed and that
they conducted business Of whole
sailing intoxicating liquors without
paying the specific tax for revenue as
required by law.
A fourth count recites that 90 Of.
fenses have been committed because
they acted as retailers In the selling
of liquors. The overt acts charged
are that during each month at each
of the points along the coast enumer
ated thousands of cases were Snug
gled, that the same was transported
to storage points and that on June 4,
1923, at Ridgeland, S. c., there was
made promise to pay one Langford,
the sheriff of Jasper county, South
Carolina, $3.50 month to permit
without interference on his part the