New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1925-12-04
big rum Ring IS
EXPOSED BY RAID
Bribery Of Coast GuardSmen
Also Is UliOldNd

New York. Dec. 4 R-Federal
prohibition agents believe they have
smashed the most powerful rum
smuggling syndicate on the Atlantic
coast with the arrest OF 10 men. in
Guiding the alleged head OF the ring,
William Dryer widely known
sportsman and race track owner.
Wine, Women, Song
The syndicate, they charge,
bribed coast guardsmen lavishly
with money and wine, women and
song; operated a feet OF 8 or more
vessels off the coast, and developed
an elaborate system OF control over
both wholesale and retail liquor
trade running into millions OF dollars
annually.
Six members OF the coast guard
are the prisoners gathered in yes
terday after six months tnVestiga-
ton, They face court-martial. it was
said by their commanding officers.
The roundup described as the
greatest in the history OF prohibit
ton" was still under way today with
"A federal warrants waiting to be
served.
Dryer, part owner OF the Mount
Royal race track in Montreal and of
the Coney Island race track in Gin
cinnati. was released in $4,000 bail
after he had denied the charges.
The drive against the ring began
yesterday when 80 prohibition
agents, nine deputy United States
marshals and seven policemen raid
ed dozen places in Now York and
Long Island. United States Attor-
ney Emory r. Buckner said the raid
had practically smashed the ring and
that further arrests today will COM
plete the job.
Coast guard officials in Washing
ton said last night they had known
for months Of the bribery Of certain
crews, but had not interfered, as
they considered the guardsmen mere
pawns in the game. They we're anx-
ious, they said, to give Mr.. Buckner
and his associates a chance at the
men higher up"
The investigation started through
having the name Of bill Dryer
thrown In our teeth in almost every
case that came up" said Mr.. Buck
ner.
This man" said Assistant United
States Attorney stichmafA when
Dwyer was arraigned yestAtxay, 'is
the leading figure against whom the
energies of the prohibition depart
ment in this case have been direct
cd. For more than two years coast
guard boats have been in his pay:
so much so that they were paid of
In a restaurant which he owns and
which recently was padlocked
There, government employees, low.
salaried men, were feated and enter.
tanned with wine women and song
In addition TO operating its owr
ships from Europe, giving an inter
national tinge to It's operations, thu
ring Is alleged to have had main Of
fees in New York and branch Office
throughout New England and Lonl
Island. 1t was also charged tina
; liquor had been smugglcd in tn,
coal bunkers of transatlantic liners
Mr. Stichman told of the pursui
Of the Kip, a powerboat which h
said had been covered with stee
armor before its attempt to lanC
liquor in October The Kip wa!
chased by coast guard cutter ant
lodged in and out of harbor traffi'
rs shots We're fired at it.
Dryers attorney characterized tn
> governments charges as pure 70
nance" Instead Of $4,000 bal
asked by the federal authorities, h
t requested that his client he release
in $500 bail, the court Compromisin
at 100000, He said that Dryer ha
a wife and five children and woul
r he on hand "to answer these ridulou
, charges"
All of the men arrested ycstcrda
were hold in connection with III
. seizure some time ago Of fine Angus
Z IA, a rum shin, and were charge
with conspiracy to violate tho Pre-
: hibition laws.