Evening star., 1926-08-22
REMIS' CAREER SPECTACULAR
Rose From Obscure Lawyer to Riches
With Advent Of Dry Law.
Ry Consolidated Press

CINCINNATI. August 2l.-Nith
the decision Of the Government re-
ported from Washington To deport
George Remus. king Of the boot
leggers," the career Of one OF Amer
ca's leading violators Of the prohihi-
tlon laws will be ended. His profits
have been varOusly estimated as high
as 10000, 900.
An obscure Chicago attorney when
America adopted prohibition. Remus
rose within few years to position
Of national prominence. figuring in
the Daugherty investigation conducted
by the tinted States Senate, the con
viction OF Warden Albert f.. Sartain
Of the Atlanta Federal prison. and
huge liquor conspiracy cases in a half
dozen States.
Acquiring familiarity with legal
loopholes. Remus came To Cincinnati
az soon AS the eighteenth mendment
went into effect. He chose the city
for his opera tions because OF it's s;ra
tegic position across from Kentucky,
where d,stilleries Hbounded In the
pre-war era. He bought a reitote
farm near the Indiana line and sur
rounded himself with small army
Of bodyguards. truck drivers. hottling
plant workers and others useful in
his dealings.
Bought Seven DistiIlerips.
The purchase Of seven distilleries
figured in his system. Bribery Of
Federal guards played it's part in his
work Fake robberies of trucks
escorted by Government agents sim
plif1ed his operations. Battles be-
tween hiiackers and rum runners
employed by the master hootlegger"
became common. 1t WAS said that
he could not be apprehended because
he never overstepped the law.
But one who employs others is re-
sponsible for his agents. and il was
only matter Of time before Remus
would he caught. His opera tions be-
came so immense that scores Of boot
leggers peddled whisky from distilleries
owned by Remus. A pre-arra nged
hold-up. pistol battle with hijackers.
and truck load of choicest Kentucky
bonded liquor reached the farm west
Of Cincinnati and the Remus bravos
doubled the quantity by cutting" or
diluting.
The downfall Of the bootleg king"
was due 10 three factors-his men be.
came too bold. rivals found the market
monopolized and District Attorney
Thomas H. Morrow couldn't he
bought.
Success Went to Head.
Success went to Remus' head. He
bought a downtown building. renam med
it after himself and held forth in a
luxurious Office. He built a palace on
great estate on Price Hill that
da zzled Cincinnstians with it's apart.
ments. He paid 100000 for a swim.
ming pool that made spectators gasp.
1t was dedicated az one Of the most
elaborate New Year eve parties ever
staged in Ohio. the favors alone cost
ing S25 200.
Convicted in 1923. Remus fought
the case to the United States Supreme
Court. which rejected his appeal early
in 1924. A special car took Remus
to Atlanta to enter the Federal peni-
tentiary. Mrs. Remus moved to that
city to be near him.
Then reports were heard that the
multi-millionaire prisoner was living
like king instead Of convict The
Senate Daugherty committee sub
poena ed him. Remus asserted he had
paid more than $250.OO0 to the late
Jesse w. Smith. associate OF Attor-
neN General Daugherty. who shot
himself to death in the latter's apart.
ments.
Could Not Prove Citizenship.
Remus' citizenship was called into
question in July. 1925. He could not
prove he was naturalized with his
father when the latter brought him
from Germany as a child. On his re.
lease from Atlanta prison last Sep
tember. Remus was rearrested and
taken to Dayton. Ohio. to face trial
on another liquor charge. Freed on
court order, he was arrested again
and brought to the Cincinnati jan. A
few weeks later he was living in regal
splendor at leading hotel
Mrs. Remus then sued for divorce.
The bootleg king replied by filing
cross bill accusing her OF conspiracy
and misconduct with Franklin l..
Dodge Of Clevelan nd. the Federal agent
who obtained the evidence against
him.
Remus Is thick set man of middle
age. Associates saw he ia as .ha ~