The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-03-04

OF Dy IlNdt DOOlleBBSFS WHO III
jack" outfits which are engaged in
legitimate" booze-running.
Handled Several Times
A corps Of runners who op-
crate automobiles furnished by the
man who is financially backing the
outfit haul liquor from the source
of supply to the plant" Another
group makes deliveries from the
plant" to customers filing orders
given them at headquarters" If
the outfit is large one, such as the
one under probe. a collector makes
the rounds OF the customers and
collects after the delivery man is
gone, Federal agents say.
The source OF supply may be a
still where sugar alcohol is made or
a still where rubbing alcohol is re
distilled. 1t may be a leak" where
alcohol intended for Industrial use
is being sold to bootleggers. Fed
eral agents refused to reveal the
source OF alcohol for the ring they
are breaking up.
The big boy"-the man who is
backing the ring, usually makes con-
nections with the source and may
introduce his runners to the man In
charge at the still or leak" The
runners always pay cash for the
liquor, as checks are traceable.
Guard Against Hi-Jackers
Precaution against hi-jackers are
always taken and runners ready to
start back to Indianapolis with a load
frequently call their Indianapolis
headquarters to ask If anybody is
laying" for them along the route
back to town. Gun battles often
occur and a shot in the leg or shoul.
der is commonplace among booze
runners.
Stories Of hi-jackers' warfare rare
ly get to the public. as they are i'm.
mediately hushed up. Bootleggers
can not handily go to law for pro.
lection. An instance is known when
five bootleggers stormed a residence
where they thought a hi-jacker lived.
took him out and horse whipped him
and later discovered they had the
wrong man.
Although precarious, the business
OF booze running is highly profitable
IL successful. according to prices
given by Federal agents. The out
fit buys alcohol at about $3.50 a gal
Ion and sells 1t to "jobbers" for
about 81 or So a gallon. The retail
er sells II for about SIG a gallon,
putting it out at 81 or $1.25 a half
pint.
This accounting does not include
the number of times the alcohol is
"cut" with distilled water. Most of
the stuff run into Indianapolis now
is sugar alcohol. Federal agents say.
The ring. which has been importing
almost a thousand gallons weekly
sells chiefly to jobbers.
agents say.
The ''jobber" then dilGtes It, adds
glycerin, coloring and flavering.
bottles II. sometimes in 'non-refill.
able" bottles. puts on foil caps and
counterfeit Government strip stamps
wraps II in papers after labelling it
as real whisky" Any brand OF
liquor. made from sugar alcohol and
all practically the same stuff, will
be furnished by the bootlegger. Real
bonded whisky is almost extinct,
Federal agents say.
The alleged ring Of which four
have been apprehended operated
three Dodge coupes, three Ford
coupes and a Hupmobile sport road.
ster, Federal agents say. The coupe
is used because Of the room be-
hind the seat. Seventeen fve-eaI-
Ion cans will Just fit in the rear Of
a Dodge coupe. William Crews, 429
z. Morris St.. and Marshall Rowe of
Oliver Ave. were hauling eighty-five
gallons Of alcohol in a Dodge when
they were caught Friday night,
agents say.
Some gangs do nothing but hi-jack
booze-runners, agents say. At least
three gangs OF hi-jackers operate in
Indianapolis. 1t is said Police are
searching for NunZio La Rosa. COS
S. East St.. and Tony La Rosa, his
brother, and Mace Quigley. address
who are alleged to have
been involved in a hi-jackers' gun
battle. The alleged Monfort ring is
thought to have been hi-jacked last
week and one or two persons were
shot