Evening star., 1924-06-04
RUM PATROL FALLING
BEING PROBED HERE
Coast Guard Men Held in Atlantic
City When Boatman
Is Shot,

The federal government today laid
down a stern policy against threat
ened interference by city, county or
state officials in the United States
coast guard armed war on rum run
ners.
Aroused by action of Atlantic City
municipal authorities who jailed
overnight and plan to prosecute for
"atrocious assault and battery" four
coast guard men for the recent shoot
ing of an alleged rum runner, Daniel
Conover, government agencies have
combined not only to protect the
coast guard men, but to investigate
the whole procedure taken by the
municipal authorities against fed
eral officers.
Coast guard headquarters has been
assured, it was learned today, that
United States District Attorney Wal
ter Whine, at Trenton, y. j..
has been authorized to investigate
thoroughly the whole affair. with a
collusion between the authorities un-I
der fire and the rum runners.
Called Law Breach.
failing the coast guard men who
con ytituted half the entire crew of
Absecon station, of Atlantic City, is
held by federal authorities here 20
be directly in violation of law. Off
here intend to probe to the bottom
and if there was intentional inter
ference with enforcement OF the
coast guard rum patrol definite
steps will be taken to correct the sit
uation, it was said.
What these stops would be was not re-
vealed, but it is known that the entire
force of the Treasury and the Depart
ment of Justice has been brought TO
bear on the case. The matter will be
to the sharp delineation which officials
here are thoroughly convinced shall be
drawn between federal and local au-
thority.
Report Trouble in Enforcement.
From federal sources of the highest
dependability, it WAS learned today
that the government has been having
considerable difficulty at Atlantic City
as regards the attitude there toward en-
forcement of prohibition. Certain un-
named officials in the Atlantic City dis
trict have displayed spirit at times, il
was said. which has been far from whole
hearted cooperation with the federal
government
Daniel Conover. the wounded alleged
rum runner now lies in a hospital at
Atlantic City, with badly shattered
thigh as a result of open disregard.
official reports here snow, OF orders
by a coast guard crew.
The firing took place near midnight
May 90, off an Atlantic City inlet.
where a rum runner was attempting
to get by a coast guard rum patrol
boat from Absecon station The
coast guard crew sighted a suspected
boat. When the suspect dfsregarded
an order to halt, the federal boat fired
several shots across his bow. The
rum runner then headed to sea. and
the coast guard opened fire in earnest.
Suddenly a cry rang out, and the rum
runner steered sharply for shore, and
ran for a wharf. The wounded man
was moved to an automobile and
rushed to the hospital, while the coast
guard crew seized the boat and
quantity OF liquor.
Held without Bail.
Then tho local officials acted y
message was received from city de-
tectfve Department OF the civil gov
eminent for coast guard men to
come down to tho city hall and give
a detailed account of the shooting.
Upon arrival. the entire crew was in
formed bv the county prosecutor that
they would be held without Dali.
-Four men were locked up nine hours
before the prosecutors office agreed
to accept bail of $1,000 each
Rigorous tightening or the coast
Ruard lines against the rum fleet was
reported today to be on the increase.