Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-15
HELP GERMANY TO GET WELL
FIRST STEP, GEN. DAWES TELLS
PREPARATIONS EXPERT GROUP
HOLD SOMERVILLE
MAN FOR PIRACY
ON THE HIGH SEAS

Boston, Jan. IA charge OF pir-
acy on the high seas. the first in the
memory of present federal officials.
was lodged by United States authori-
ties hero today. whea Ray Cass. of
Somerville. formerly manager Of
boxers, was arrested in the federal
building. The complaint alleged
that Cass land others with force of
arms did practically set upon. hoard,
break and enter the schooner ] Scott
Eankenson and assault subjects OF
the king OF, England. in the peace of
the United States then and there be-
ing. put them in fear OF their lives
and did steal certain money from
Frank Moore. the master of the YES
sell"
Cass entered a plea of not guilty
and was held for hearing in $1,000
bail. The schooner Hankenson. hail
ing from Nova Scotia. was attacked
last August by an armed band as she
lay off Cape Ann with n cargo of
LIQUOR Captain Moore in resisting
the attack, was shot several times
through the BODY AMI Harry Harms.
the cook. was all: wounded. Moore
was in hospital for many weeks but
recovered. The alleged pirates OBJ
tanned little money, as the captain
of the schooner had placed the pro-
fits of his voyage in a Gloucester
bank the day before.
Federal agents said that CaSs, who
had been under surveillance for some
time, had been identified by Captain
Moore as the man who shot him on
board his vessel. Cass came to the
federal building today to see his
friend Michael J. "Subsic" Sullivan
boxing promoter, who Was under ar
rest charged with Illegal possession
of liquor seized in n raid at Bcver-
lv. The federal agents were watch
ing for him and presented their war
rant when he appeared. sullivan was
released because there was no direct
evidence against him.
At the time of the Hankcnson in
cident, L. :. Commissioner Hayes
refused to issue warrants against
the seven men said to have been
concerned in the raid on the rum
schooner. Citing n celebrated piracy
case of 1917 the commissioner ruled
that the only procedure by which
the sO-callcd pirates could be
brought to trial would he for Great
Britain to request their cxtradtion
The federal grand jury later return
cd mo bill' in the cases.
The case cited by the commissioner
was that of the Italian vessel, the
Industrial Rafaelli. which was at
tackled on the high seas and robbed
of silver. gold and merchandise af-
ter tho crew had been OVcrpowercd
Several persons We're charged with
piracy, but they were set free llti
mately as n result of supreme court
decision written 10y Chief Justice
John Marshall. The decision read, in
part:
This court is OF the opinion that
the crime Of robbery committed or
the high seas on board any ship or
vessel belonging exclusively to sub
lects of foreign state on persons
within such vessel is not piracy with
In the true intent and meaning OF
the act entitled: An Act for tho
Punishment of Certain Crimes
against the United States. and f.
not punishable in the courts OF the
United States"
Federal officials said tonight that
Captain Moore of the Hankenson had
sworn out the warrant and intimatod
The search of the legal archives n,
Washington had brought to light
nrecedents for the prosecution OF
lass and other persons whose arrest
is sought.