New Britain herald., 1924-04-08
ILLINOIS DRY LAWS
 AMOUNTED ID LITTLE
DaHShoFty fTobe's Hear Vail Of
 Former Prohibition Agent

Washington, April S..--continung it's inquiry into the prohibition aitu- ton In Illinois the senate Daugheriy committee today heard further charges Of lax enforcement and protection" by federal and state officials.
 Bricc r, Armstrong, prohibition gent. who testified it length nt yrs- tcrda$'s session, agan was on inc Witness stand. One of his complaints was that the "westprn brewery ease" Was nolle pressed on orders from the department Of justice in Washington. although tho local investigators be- licfed the eage should be pressed. Ordered 10 Drop Case
 Armctrong said he and other agents lad Cci2cd is i-2 barrels of per cent lerr from the brewery and recon. henacd prosecution. W. Q. Potter. n s. attorney at East st. Louis. the witness raid.. told him that he had instructions from the department to drop the case and that v.ls done.
 Ii vas statrd by tho secretary Of the brewery company al the timr Armstrong added, that sj,oon offer
 
 Inc government.
 The witneaa told also Of failmns tn rosecut" ih the Garden City brewery Case aud Of efforts made to rrmu\c him gs "nforcemcnt agent brcausc hc would not stop buying" l.quor at raloons they did not want prose- cutad."
 Armstrong estimated that he hnd r ported on 1000 10 l.5O0 casrs but q criminal rasr until siy months" Tho eases for thr most part went through with small fines the witness said.
 Ncu~cs Attorney Cisnc
 Asked who thn federal prosecutor was ih thesr eases Armstrong said that '. <. Dist. Attorney Cirne at Chicago. democratic holdo,cr. was | in oilic" most Of the time. He ex- ! rcssed the opinion that Clynr had bccn kept in bg inc republican, ad- |, because thc Chicago brewery ring "fclt they could handle Charlie Clync."r
 Speaking Of injunction proceedings handled by special .tssisiant Attorney Gen. Midd1ctaun md his assistant, { August Kruz, Armstrong said they !, had conducted tho cns" SO ag to ''dc- lay scr,ic" long enough to lct tho | original owners get out" The wit : tss dcclarrd'thorc would be delays :. of two or tlrr" years in closing rp" | ihcsa rases. 11c had recently been falld as wfturss in three ycar old rnscs which Il had almost forgotten" ic added.
 Tine Garden Cify Brewery case. he said. was handled by MiddickauG.
 Too Many Arrests
 Armstrong said that in November iase. Charles Kemp. his superior in he prohibition srrSire told him he sas fo bo removed addinG that Homer k. fiaipin. q Cook county republican , ader. "said I was making too many .rrests."
 Armstrong said Ite was ''irfOrm d'' 'lrue had been forced out by pres girr of Inc Illinois Isar association. Paul Rowland. of counzri for Harry |. Daurhcrty. intaricctnd that tlyne t ,ad bern "aiiowcd 10 remain until is term expired in 1922.
 Tho witness fhel described how hc ' ,ad caught Ernest Fontan3.. a boot- egefr. in 1921 with ten barrels Of ;, eliiskcy.
 ..Thc ease against him went through several assistant attorneys i4nds. Fontana WAS finally fined s250 rhich he never paid. Armstrong said. All Of these eases were brought tO he attention Of the department Of nsticc at one time or another" asked enator Wheeler.
 ''Thpy wcrc.'
 Armstrong said there had been n0ugh wine released flor sacramcntal f imposes" in Illinois 'to Hood inc i tate" He told 0f case at Joliet. here fellow agent shot him. He clairnsi 10 have lost his head" |, rmstrong said. .'Isut he really shot to get rid ut , ou g'' asked Senator Wheeler. i T riII always believe S0."' C uu r-r0sz-examination Armstrong aid administration of law in Chicago al ''imrroved wonderfully under nited States Attorney Olsen hut thcrr Il as "stiIl lots og room fer improve q I~nf. olsen succeeded CIyne. H As to the department of justice .