New Britain herald., 1924-04-24
Two Carloads of Grain Alcohol, Worth About Sl5O,OOO, Held By Federal Prohibition Agents.
Was Billed as "AIum" But Leak Causes Expose Cases Were Transferred From Lighter.

Norwalk, April :4.-with two freight carloads of grain alcohol, worth approximately s1Oo,ooo. held under guard in the local railroad freight yards, federal prohibition en- forcement agents today began inves- tigation of what is believed to be the largest bootleg operation in this state.
 Freight Agent Harry L. Hayes of the N. T., N. H. and H. Railroad Go. made the report to the Norwalk po- lice which resulted in the liquor seizure.
 The cars which contain the liquor, both of the box type Nos. 7Soes and 9S405, were ordered to the Wilson Point yard yesterday morning to re- ceive a shipment which was sched- uled to be docked there. Shortly be- fore noon R lighter reached the dock and for the next three hours the i,4S0 cases were being transferred to the cars which were then sealed.
 Leak Causes Discovery.
 Bills of lading in the Norwaik of- fee of ehe railroad company show that the liquor was designated as alum. Freight Agent Hayes rec ccipted for the two cars without sus- picion. When he went to. make an inspection preparatory to having the cars shunted for the making, up of a freight train he discovered liquid leaking from one of the cars Inves- tigating convinced him that the liquid was alcohol. Mir. Hayes made report of his finding to the Norwalk police.
 10 Gallon Cases
 When the cars were opened this morning it was found that the bulk of the freight in them was made up of ten gallon cases of alcohol. The liquors were of various kinds and some of the very small bottles-about sample size--were marked as If bot tied in Bordeaux, France. On some packages were labels showing that they had been in Nova Scotia. The prohibition agents were of the opinion that tho liquor had been trans-shipped from a Nova Scotia port.
 A vessel of the coast guard fleet came Into Norwalk harbor during the morning and after a search for the lighter departed down the sound. The lighter which was tied up at Wilson's Point yesterday afternoon carried a deck derrick. When the switching crew found n liquid coming from the freight cars Conductor William Craig refused 10 accept the cars. He went to the lighter but the crew said they knew nothing about the contents Of the cars. The bad condition of the cars was reported to Mir. Hayes who in turn informed Chief of Police Pea nington. The latter recognized the liquid as alcohol.
 Chief Prohibition Field Agent Wheeler arrived from Hartford this morning and it is said he was furnish- ed with the names of local parties who made arrangement with the New Haven railroad 10 have four cars pro- vided at Wilson's point yesterday. Two of the cars are those which were seized and tie other two cars, empty are still on the siding
 Alum Sprinkied About
 The cases of alcohol and liquor were found to be sprinkled with powdered alum. The cars were consigned to a Pittbsurgh. Pa. firm which handled alum but the railroad authorities de- clined at first to confirm a name mem toned as the consignee or similar name as the conslgner.
 A preliminary survey Of the freight brought out a revised estimate that the fluids were worth probably $780,