The Omaha morning bee., 1924-03-15
U. S. Begins
LaWsui to
Seize Liner
Storekeeper of Royal Mail
Ship Orduna Testifies Com
pany Received Share. Of
Illicit Profits.
Federal Agents Involved

governments suit for confiscation of
the Royal Mail liner Orduna, seized
Wednesday as a smuggler, began to.
day with witnesses testifying that
narcotics and liquor were sold freely
each time the vessel reached this port.
and that her owners shared the pro.
ceeds.
Champagne. whisky, benedictine.
rum. beer, gin and drugs were dis
pensed to bootleggers by officers and
crew Of the Orduna. according to tho
testimony.
The witnesses, including federal
agents and members of the crew, de-
clared the Orduna's s bar never was
closed in port.
At the outset of the proceedings f.
]. Berwynd, American and British
coal operator and financier, posted q
81 ,000,0 900 bond so the Orduna might
continue in transatlantic passenger
service. She is scheduled to sail for
Hamburg tomorrow with 144 passen-
gers.
Charles Dave, the ships storekeep-
er and one OF the seven members Of
the crew to plead guilty of illegally
importing liquor. was the govern
ments principal witness. He tesi-
fled that in his three years on the
Orduna liquor had been sold aboard
her every time she reached the port
of New York He declared the liquor
was brought in under seal. the seals
were broken when the vessel docked,
the liquor was disposed OF to boot
leggers and the store room resealed.
Accuses Dry Agent.
Dave identified Joseph Smith, one
of the revenue agents who raided the
ship. and one of the governments
chief witnesses today, as a bootleg.
ger who often had bought liquor on
the Orduna.
Smith, preceding Dave on the
stand, said he was a truck driver
until he became a federal liquor
agent last January. While still driv-
ing trucks he had seen bootleggers
laden with liquor leave the Orduna
on 20 or 80 occasions. he said.
He told of joining the goverpment
service, Of boarding the Orduna with
a fellow agent two voyages ago, ana
OF buying rye whisky at s23 case
and gin at SO a bottle. They also |
drank good beer over the ships oar
at Dawes invitation. said the Witness.
Smith also testified that he and
Ralph oyler, federal narcotic agent
last Tuesday arranged with Dave 10
h,,v all the champagne. gin, rye ana
benedictine in the ships storerooin'
and a considerable supply OF narco''
,c. II was on tho pretense OF TAX
ing off these purchases the next Gay
that a souad of federal men raioeu
the ship.
Says Money Paid Company
Curiosity prompted him. SAID tne
witness. to ask Dave what ne oiu
about "the people who run the boat.
nave answered. according 70
smith. I'VE turn the money into tne
comnany. They don't care wnat we
Az with the LIQUOR as long as we get1
the money" s
oyler followed Smith on the stana
and quoted Dave as having eA
nlained further: The company
makes more out of this than we DO.
They require a certain amount LOT
each bottle and we get just the profits
over that price"
ovler corroborated Smiths testi'
mony throughout. =.
Counsel for the Royal Mail line IN.
dicated their defense would be that
the LIQUOR and narcotics were snug
pIed and sold without the knowledge
NJ Themselves. the ships master.
Captain Walter p. Warner, or otner
responsible officers.
Sold Beer Over Bar.
Dave stated. however, that Percy
Foyle. chief steward. bought the M
uor. both the company's ana the
"priyate" stock, that Dave sold 1t all
and that he and Foyle split $685.
The storeroom chief said the Or
duna carried Al barrels of beer when
IL left Hamburg on the last voyage
to New York. Only 27 barrels were
carried on the ships books. he said.
The remainder belonged to Foylc.
How was this beer sold?" asked
Assistant United States District At.
torney Clark.
over the bars" was the answer.
First barrel OF the company's
beer, then barrel OF the Foyles.'
Judge A. N. Hand. sitting in the
admiralty division OF United States
district court. today dismissed on
technicality one OF he three counts
OF governments libel suit against the
ship.