The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1929-10-18
H|CHER,UPS
BELIEVED
FLED

~ IL w ~ ~ IA, ~ . = -
yU.N.S.). = Heavy bribes-the
amounts running as high as
$4,000 a week-were passed
out for months back to "the
right parties" by the North
Atlantic Liquor Syndicate
which the Federal Government
has just broken up in stimuli
taneously executed raids in
New Jersey, New York and
Long Island, This was dis
closed today in the examlna-
ton of two little black books
seized in the raid on the
former Oscar Hammersteln
estate at Highland, N. D., oc-
cupied by the ring as It's
headquarters.
Officials and police in Gel tain New
Jersey towns who accepted thls
graft face prosecution, Prohibition
Administrator William j. Calhoun,
seneralissimo of the raids. Indicated
as his sleuths proceeded with their
investigat ion of names on the syndl-
Gates fix list"
100000 Profit
The records also showed that the
syndicate, which supplied practlcally
all of the Imported" liquors TO
New York City, and the East made
a profit of 100000 in the last six
months. Business was increasing
steadily and the big rum firm, which
ran" booze in on ships from New
foundland and Bermuda, was pre-
pairing to expand. In March of this
year the syndicate paid out 100000
for "ships, merchandising and opera
ting expenses"
Search for the "ringleaders" Of
the syndicate went forward today.
Federal officials intimated that the
80 men who were rounded up in
the raids were the smaller fry
Several of the leaders are believed
to have fled 10 Canada,
Mamie" kessler and Morris
Sweetwood, the two former boot
leg kings" who were released after
they had been caught in the raid at
Highlands, have promised the au-
thorities they would appear for
questioning at any time the Gov
eminent wants them. They were
held for a time as material wit
nesses because they had been seized
on raided premises, but the Fedora,
agents were unable to link them
with the syndicate.
Seek RingIeaders
The Federal authorities were
searching today for the alleged
ringleaders of the syndicate. now
that it seems evident that kessler
was not the master mind" They
are seeking. among others, the
Lillien brothers-Bill and Al-who
are under Federal Indictment, but
eluded apprehension. They are be-
lieved to be in Montreal.
Although he spoke guardedly of
the bribery entries in the little
black books, Calhoun intimated he
would make a thorough investiga
ton of all the apparent graft ac-
cepted. None of the names of the
bride takers are as yet known be-
cause the names are not given in
full in the books. The rotations
are made in this manner: ITO Jim.
800; to Sam, $1,000; to Joe, $4,000"
and so on.
Dry agents were continuing their
Investigations at the syndicate's
headquarters at Highlands. They
were searching the Fortress" and
it's environs for liquor caches. They
already have 81 ,OO0,0 900 worth of rare
liquors in their possession. Search
was also being made at points along
the Atlantic coast line for secret
landing places for the rum fleet.
Ships Are Sought
Somewhere at sea" are half
dozen rum ships belonging to the
syndicate. One of these ships was
believed yesterday to have been
trapped by the United States Coast
Guard Service but apparently man
aged to escape as no word of it's
capture had been received at Cal.
houn's office in Trenton up to this
morning. Coast Guard officials re-
ported. however, that three vessels
seized during the last two months
were the property of the syndicate.
United States Attorney Charles HI
futile, of New York, said today that
the orga nization had international
connections with agencies in Eng
land, Canada and elsewhere. They
operated, he said. from Maine to
the Virginia CapeS,