Evening star., 1924-11-30
ACTIVE DRY SQUAD
ST|RS UP NEW YORK !
Boot|eggers. With Propri-
etOrS and Patrons of Broad
way Clubs. Supervised.
Sp-r.al u n'>patch tn The Star.

SP"r.al D'>patch +" The Siar.
NI:N YORK N"vcnphnr 30-rherr'e
many II slip 'twiXt shin and lip aud
tip. as h"Utl"EGerS. walters. pro-
I'rict"rs and patrons "f gay night
clubs are aware. And tn" chief caus..
o. - majority Of these c:,sualtisS are
a@"nfs of the Er"adway bright light
squad of the prohibition office.
They are Il keen. we'll groomeI.
suaTC band of men. whose business
il is to obtain evidence upon which
10 base Il search warrant to dry up
The wet spots in New York City. In
order to do this. they must gain the
confidence Of those imposing dra gons
who guard the portals of the estab-
lishments whore thirsty folk flock.
Dressed ImpeccabIy.
Their job is to work while seeming
I" play. Dressed in mpeccabe eve
ring attire, they man"uvnr for en-
trance. often accomnan.ed by a wom-
an com"auion. They dance. ca
and drink casually and soon take
th"ir leave. But no; until they have
romnIetc mental plan Of the place.
in'ludin=c description of the in
trriOr. exterior. exits and probable
uCth" Of storing liquor.
Tn" other night q woman reporter
souucG her best bib and tucker as
temporary, unofficial member of
The famous, mysterious bright light
squad. Her escort was one Of its
star sleuthS.
Sample il if YOU can't carry it
away and II isn't too poisonous: close
'"m up and make it snappy,' is his
motto.
T" close up a bootlegger's business
or a night club gives him much
pleasure as big scoop does TO
reporter or q successful bit Of toma
hawking d primitive copper-skinned
chief. He drove a car luxurious
enough to impress even the most
cynical purvcyor OF hootch.
The first stop was noted road
house just outside New York. where
!: famous singer threatened suicide a
few months ago when she found her
lover. fortune and beauty passing
away with middle age. \ low, ram
hing brick building. turrcted with
funny little peaks and wide We
randa.
An orchestra played whining jazz.
''We'rc located strate gically,' my
escort said. That's a wine cooler
Flanking our corner table was a
walnut buffet arrangement that con-
cealed Il small refrigerator. \ dark
green bottle. frosted. was being with
drawn reverently by a sad-eycd ser
Vitor.
Watched Closely.
He Withdrew a sizable bottle wrap
ped cons spicuously in linen.
Ginger ale" he said to the waiter.
"W'll order later-oh. and some rye
for the lady. All have is Scotch.
"Oh. no. sir was the slightly
shocked reply. I'VE don't sell any
thing, OF course, since you happen to
have something it's all right. but
The rest was lost as he hurried
away To the watchful eye following
his exit the tip of his elbow was visi-
BILE as he paused behind a door. Pres
entity the hawk like profile of a sleek.
black head popped forth and sharp
black eye scrutinized US.
Having eaten and danced. mean
while keeping our eyes open. before
leaving we proffered the unobliging
waiter a generous tip. But no evi-
dence was Forthcoming.
ITS half-past II, I'd hoped to
cover two suburban places. But YOU
can't rush away the minute you're
refused a drink" said my escort.
Wed better get back to town. There
is an all-night place up in the FiftieS
that'n he in full swing by 80 o'clock.
I'll step on it. Hope we have better
luck there
Did YOU ever arrest woman for
bootlegging"' I asked.
Thankfully. NO"
aren't there many woman agents.?
Few, if any was the evasive re-
ply. Bright-light squad men aren't
notably loquacious when it comes to
chirping about departmental goings
on.
They are exposed to considerably
danger. 1T wouldn't be eXactly"-he
hesitated for word. "chivarious. y
know. Then. too, they may be framed
eastly-placed in extremely embar-
Iassing situations.
'However there's no one like a
woman to check up on bootleggers'
business-especjal if she can win his
confidence. A pretty woman
Not All had.
"Bootleggers aren't all such r bad
lot. Some of them are pleasant
enough personally. | was among a
certain band of them for a time in
disguise and grew to like the leader.
When it came time for me to call his
game, it hurt.
Funny thing happened once" he
went on. He and 1 were in the lobby
of small hotel when some one I'd
caught with'the good recognized me.
A word to the waiter, and it looked as
If my identity was about to be bla-
zoned from one end of the lobby to
the other.
watch out for that man." they
told the bootlegger.
Il laughed it off"
They think you're cop l told
him, and he laughed heartily enough
then. But not later. Probably he
wished he'd taken the tip that passed
over his head"
Prices range, l learned. from the
sum of 10 cents a drink of veritable
nniSoD IN and mora nor hpftIa