Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-10-09
SHAKEUP PROMISED BY GRAND
JURY IN RECENT rum RAID
Offenders Released On
Nominal Bail; Churches
Backing Investigation;
All Men Arrested Gave
Fictitious Names.


An investigation, compile and inn
partial, by the grand jury of the case
in Which the Rancocas Creek rum
runners slipped through the hands
of the county officials, is now prom
Used.
The Federal authorities are under
stood to be greatly perturbed over
the manner in which fifty-fve boot
leggers went free on small cash bail
under fictitious names before the
Government was even notified of the
capture Of the men and the biggest
liquor cargo ever taken in this part
Of the country.
It is generally admitted that few,
if any, will appear in Burlington
County for trial, should indictments
be found against them.
Condemnation from the pulpits
Throughout Burlington County, of
the action in releasing the men in
cash bail bond of 5000 to S4O0 has
added to the public resentment of
the case. Many prominent citizens
are joining the movement for an in
vestigation.
Liquor valued at 100000 was seiz-
ed in the raid on the rum boat The
bootleggers disappeared from these
parts leaving behind them $14,500 in
cash bail which was furnished by a
"Mr. Cohen, of Camden who had
roll estimated at 100000.
The liquor seized near this city
was intended for thirsty threats dur
ing the Christmas holidays and is
said to be the first important boat
load of liquor to get past the govern
ment blockade in four months
The trucks which were seized at
The wharf, according to the State
Police, bear license plates of Wilmer
Raft, Beverly; Addison Binthff, Bev-
erly; three Philadelphians and one
| Trenton firm.
Another thing that would stand an
investigation is the sending of five
! State Policemen to capture over ten
ines as many men. The troopers
who made the haul are Lieutenant
William Nichols, Sgt. George Wilson,
Troopers Horace Rankin and John
Green and Charlie Carslake, former
Prohibition agent. This courageous
little band under the command of
Lieutenant Nichols put up bold
ront and used the time-worn bluff
f "You are surrounded by one hum
dred armed men who are ordered to
shoot and shoot to kill" Luckily
or the troopers the bluff went across
and the fifty-five bootleggers submit
ted to arrest. You can imagine their
chagrin when they found that they
had been outwitted by four troopers
and one citizen.
This old worn-out saying has been
/ put across for the last time and the
troopers can be thankful that they
were able to make it serve its pur-
pose, as the rum runners were ar1n-
ed with all sizes of sidearms, sawed
off shotguns and numerous other
weapons.
Not so long ago a man was arraign-
ed in the Mount Holly court charged
with carrying concealed deadly wea-
pons, was found guilty and fined
$4,000. Here was bunch of men
who were charged with smuggling,
arson, Illegal possession of intoxicants
and carrying concealed weapons, and
were released by Prosecutor George
Hillman and Supreme Court Commits
sioner Claude v. Palmer, both Of
Mount Holly, under the nominal bail
Of $4,000.
After the raid was made the pris-
oners were punched into the cabin OF
the barge until one of the members
set it afire. and then they were herd
ed like so many cattle in trucks and
rushed to Burlington and Mount
Holly jails. 1t is presumed that the
\ barge was fred to destroy the papers
which must have been in the cabin.
The fire burned the cabin end OF the
: barge to the water line, but did not
damage the cargo which included
1900 cases Of champagne creme
de menthe, Scotch and rye whiskeys,
bendectdnes and various wines and
cordials.
i II is asserted in the vicinity Of
which the raid took place that two
-. ,..I~ada1 81 that