The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-11
DRY AGENTS TRICK EXCLUSIVE CL Ub
Cabaret Of Washington's '400' Arrested After Serv-
 ing Royal Feen
BY E. E. MACDONALD.

(Leased Wire to The AEe-Herald).
 WASHINGTON, Jan. 10:-Details of how half a dozen dry agents pos ing in full dress as high government officials. framed the capitals most exclusive caterer, arrested him and his squad of walters on charge of violating the prohibition act and then hurriedly released him on bail SD that he could go to the home of Secretary of the Treasury Mellon to serve the dinner which was being given to President and Mrs. Cool,dyc have been obtained by the Age Her aid correspondent.
 Tine specific charge against Simp son is violation of the Nol;teaG act lodged against him after a quantity of liquor was captured during the raid. The caterer vehemently de- nics having served any liquor at the party. but the agents insist they have the wet evidence under seal wait ing for the hearing in the case which probably will take place next week.
 TEe dry officials overlooked no de- tail Tn staging their frame-up party, anG inc dentally indulged themselves in a fancy menu worthy of any sen- ate millionaire. Knowing that Simp- son catered only for the most eXclu- sive C.:ertele, the dry agents ;old . for a high official and mentioned a well-known government office holder who had consented to use of his name.
 Help Cost $1oO.
 Simpson asked for $280 cash in ad- vance of the dinner. The dry agents, all wearing full dress, assembled in the exclusive apartment which had haen EAlanfad ip ofF Diplomatic Row" Simpson and his staff of walters began serving the dinner in most formal style. There were four pounds of imported caviar at $15 pound followed by a mill 1ionaire's feast of saddle of spring lamb, imported French fresh peas, new Bermuda potatoes, turtle soup, and rich French ice creams cast in curious moulds. The six walters were paid S20 each and the chef and helpers cost nearly $100.
 Perhaps 1t should be explained that practically all high officials engage caterers to prepare and serve their formal dinners few of them having kitchens or servants enough to han de dinner for forty of fifty guests. The whole job of giving the party is therefore turned over to a profess
 
 the three or four favored caterers patronized by the capitals 400.
 Although Simpson considered it somewhat odd that he could not recognize any of the guests, the lav ishness of the party made him feel as much at home as if he had been serving a cabinet dinner.
 When the proper moment arrived the revenue agents whipped out their credentials and placed the whole squad under arrest. There was no excitement and other resi- dents in the apartment heard no dis turbance.
 BaiIed Out To Serve Coolidge.
 This was late Monday night Simp- son exclaimed that he had been en- gagged to serve the dinner which Sec retary of the Treasury Mellon was giving to the President and Mrs. Coolidge the following evening. So he was hurried before United States Commissioner Macdonald and bail was arranged that he might be re- leased at once.
 Simpson has a long list of cus- toners in the House and Senate as well as in administrative circles and already there has been considerable indignation vented privately at the method by which the dry agents ar rested him. Simpson only last week served a sumptuous dinner for Sena- tor Gerry of Rhode Island, one of the richest men in the Senate. Rep resentative John Phillip Hill of Maryland. denounced the means by which Simpson was trapped and com pared it to the ruthless trickery practiced by the Russian Cossacks.