New Britain herald., 1929-11-14
Millionaires and Former Diplomat Among Pur- chasers - Startling Dis closures Expected in h. yestigation.
1929. by United pressp


 Washngt on, Nov. 14 UP)-The hest customers" of a large New orh rum ring-including several millionaires, society women, q nov ing picture star and former dip lomat-are expected to be summon cd as witnesses in the trial Of Count Polignac, head of the Co., Bart company, an alleged bootleg concern, when the case is called in New York courts.
 Justice department officials said Nesterday|the case was in the lands Of Assistant L. s. Attorney l1obert Watts, of New York, but it was made plain the alleged patrons of the rum ring were expected to be called 10 testify about the liquor purchases.
 No Decision on Prosecution
 While the department has not determined whether the customers. many listed in Who's Who and "a the New York Social Register should be prosecuted on charges Of conspiracy to violate the dry law 1t was pointed out hat in view of the recent Norris case in Philadel- phia, where a liquor purchaser was acquitted, this procedure was un- likely.
 Officials said it was customary to call all persons, irrespective of their standing, as witnesses in such cases and they saw no reason to ignore this routine.
 Meantime reports were current here that because of the importance Of the customers involved, efforts had been made to hush the entire case.
 The records held by Watts. in cluding carbon copies of liquor or ders bearing the names of the pur- prevent information regarding the patrons from being obtained.
 Mitchell Has Data
 Attorney General Mitchell has been given all data in the case and Watts has made several trips here recently to discuss the matter with justice and treasury officials.
 It is also understood a full re- port of the case, in the form of a memorandum, has been sent the White House,
 Officials said that while the all legged bootleg concern was broken several months ago when about 3S Io hn ,lt tro1o in, he case will be reached when Pol lenac is tried.
 Authoritative information here about the ring and it's customers purports 10 show that it delivered 245 cases of liquor to the surbur- ban estate of a prominent business man. Charges for this service were $6O case, although the liquor was purchased abroad by it's owner at a cost of about s25,000. The liquor was brought to America as general cargo. labeled dinnerware and earthenware by prominent trans oceanic steamship line.
 Authorities said federal detectives discovered the surburban liquor cache and an effort was made to ob tain raid warrant" from the col lcctor of customs at New York. This was refused for lack of evidence.
 Later the millionaire, after. nego- tiations with prohibition officers, surrendered the 245 cases of liquor and even furnished trucks to haul the rum from his home to the U. s. army base at Brooklyn, N. Y, where the contraband is now stored No Action Against Steamship Line
 No action has been taken against the steamship company for trans porting the liquor. An investigation of the action is under Nay, but Of ticlals said it was unlikely the steam CT line knew it was transporting Contraband
 The prohibition and customs bu- reau investigated reports that their agents were involved in the bootleg conspiracy, but after checking the case said their men were ''in the know" and were tracing liquor movements so that the head of the rum ring could be apprehended.
 Prohibition Administrator Cal houn for New Jersey, who former ly was special investigator at New York, together with Special Gus toms Inspector O'keefe at New York. is said 10 have uncovered the liquor ring and directed the govern ment's operations against it.