New Britain herald., 1926-05-10
LEADERS IN GREAT RUM IMPORTATION
 OUTFIT INDICTED
Six Accused in Alleged Con- piraCy Centering Around
 POrtChSter, N. ',
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
 INVOLVED IN DEALINGS

One of Principals ts Irving auStln'
 Formerly President of Port
 chester Chamber of Commerce -
 Chief, Emil Wormser, Extremely
 Wealthy Alien Who Has Lived
 in This Country 20 Years.
 New York, May 10 lR-A con- spiracy involving the importation of many million dollars worth of li- uuor was revealed today when United States District Attorney Buckner opened a sealed verdict re- turned last week.
 Near Conn. State Line
 The alleged conspiracy centers in and around Portchester, N. Y, near the Connecticut line. The accused, all of whom are already under bail on previous charges involving prohi bition violation, are Emil Wormser' Irving Austin, Harry Lawson, alias Harry Nelson, Edward Siegel, Chris Berg and Robert Olsen.
 The indictment, which officials said uncovers the notifications of one Of the most efficient organiza- tions detected in the importing and smuggling of liquors into the United States, contains five counts.
 Wormser, who was formerly legiticately engaged in the liquor business, is represented to have been the central figure of the organiza ton. So careful were the principals in the workings Of the alleged con- spiracy, according to q statement is sued at the federal attorneys of flee, that only they know who the underlngs were.
 Millionaire Alien
 Wormser an alien who has lived % years in the United States. was described by government agents as millionaire resident of Riverside Drive"
 His alleged activities consisted in buying and arranging for the ship ment of liquors abroad, chartering fleets Of motor boats when neccs- sary, to facilitate the work and ar- ranging for the distribution Of l- quor after it was landed. He is said 10 have carefully abstained from appearing personally in any of the operations.
 It is alleged that Wormser has violation Of law ever since the Vol stead act went into effect
 Austin Local Fixcr'
 Austin lives at 510 Westchestef avenue, Portchestcr. He is real estate operator having interests in Florida as well as locally and was al one time president Of the Port chester Chamber of Commerce. The government investigators claim Aus tin was the local tiXer" whose duty if was 10 provide safe conduct for the liquor through Portchester.
 Siegel, who rents a cigar store at Portchester, was known as the pay off" man.
 Lawson, Of Atlantic City, was known as the liaison officer in touch with rum row" who owned and operated one Of the fast boats en- ploycd to land the liquor.
 Berg lives In Brooklyn. and Olson in New York city. Both were mem- bers of the Wormser truck gang" and were caught fleeing along q PortChester pier when government agents raided a boat in the act of unloading on April 4 and seized $40,000 worth of foreign liquor.
 Other Persons Named
 The indictment names but does not indict the following men be- cause of testimony given by them before the grand jury: Joseph FL ton, chief lieutenant and connden- tial secretary to Wormscr. Elton was the dummy president of several of Wormser's corporations, accord ing to the government officials.
 John lief, captured skipper of one of Wormser's smuggling crafts. Edwin Studwell. president of the Portchester Country club and owner Of the Port Transportation company. His docks were alleged to have been used by the rum runners.
 Frank Roberts, wholesale coal dealer of Portchester, whose docks also were allegedly used.