Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1924-02-29
Stephen Spitz Held in Lock-
up for Action of U. S.
Authorities
"SHAkED0WNS" ALLEGED
Liquor Sellers Paid at First,
but Later Held Meeting
and Arrest Followed

Stephen Spitz. thirty-nine years
old. a man giving his occupation as
druggist and his residence at 57E
East avenue. is locked up at police
headquarters here on a charge or
impersonating federal man. He
was taken to the station house at
$3.50 last night by four prohibition
men ana three department. OF jus
tice agents. anu turned over to Lieu
tenant John Morris. They preferred
number of charges and requested
that he be heli pending the arrival
OF Unite : States marshal this
morning Alfred A. Frank. Of New
on the police blotter
According TO Information obtained
about tbs cit-- last night and today
Spitz who originally comes from
New Brunswick. where he is known
in bootleg circles. has attempt "a e
furnish data to prohibition axenfs
iregarding local liquor traffic. AbouE
J, a week ago. IL is alleged. he made
his initial appearance. as far az IL
known in this city as an agent con-
nected with the Office of Prohibition
Director Adrian g. Chamberlain.
A number CT saloons in this city
were visited bv Spitz or an euaissarx.
and s'shakedowns'' were made on
the promise that protection would
be given. After the first weekly
payment several local LIQUOR dealers
became suspicious of the mans
standing and a meeting was ar
ranged
The time for the meeting, accord
ing to the reports, was fixed as last
nfphf ~ rx4a In t.4E
the rear Of the David Wolfson estab-
lishment. New Brunswick avenue
and Washington street. There were
a number of saloonkeepers present
when Spitz walked in and after an
exchange of words regarding protec-
ton, ETC., sum of money, about
$40. was turned over to the man pos
ing as an agent.
Prohibition headquarters at New
ark had been notified and while the
meeting in the saloon was in session,
the liquor men kept talking to Spitz
so as TO hold him in the place until
the government representatives ar
rived. Spitz, it is said. kept moving
closer to the door as the saloonkeep-
ers conversed with him on different
subjects and suddenly the federal
men led by Director Chamberlain
arrived.
When the particulars were given.
the imposter took a swing at one OF
the government men a--d received
blow in the eye in return. He re-
! ceived attention from City Physician
John V. Smith at police headquarters
for the injured optic this morning.
Spitz was not aware of the fact
that he had taken marked money
from the liquor men and when he
was searched following the arrival Of
the government representatives the
labeled currency was found, 1t is
legged. He was then driven to head
quarters and locked up
Spitz In Before
The man now giving his address
as East avenue, has been arrested By
the local police number of timea
in tNe past for passing bad checks
in various cities in the Eastern part
of this country. On various occa
sions he was turned over to the po-
lice of other cities by the local atl-
thorities.
Jacob S. Karkus had a conferences
with the imposter at headquarters
this morning and it is likely that the
Smith street lawyer will represent
him in his new case.