Evening star., 1930-05-24
BRITISH D|ST|LLER
SAYS NOT GUILTY
latham, Wealthy Disti|Ier,
Said to Plan Selling Uncut
Stock to Wealthy.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, May 24.-Edward Ia
than, a blonde and debonaire young
Englishman charged with having
planned to establish himself here as
a rich mans bootlegger, pleaded not
guilty in Federal Court today.
He was admitted to bail Of $4,000.
Tall, well dressed and affable, he
chatted after his arraignment and
smiled when asked If he was an oxford
graduate.
"I'm afraid not" he said, "I'm really
rather dull"
Perhaps you're q Cambridge man,
then?"
"No, I'm afraid I'm just ordinary. a
very ordinary fellow even this morning"
Sought Yacht Trade, Charge.
Assistant United States Attorney Rob-
ert Watts declared latham had planned
to have wealthy yacht owners bring
their own liquor into the country, get
ting it from rum boats outside the ter
ritorial limits.
Watts said he had evidence that Ia
than had made contacts with various
yacht clubs which he declined to name.
latham was arrested last night in a
drawing room aboard the Toronto
limited just before the train pulled out
of the Grand Central Station. y Federal
authorities said he was en- route to
England by way Of Montreal to put
the conspiracy into operation. The ar
rest was made under a secret indict-
ment returned against latham and the
Justerini g. Brooks Co. by a Federal
grand jury. It charged conspiracy to
violate the prohibition law.
Robert B. Watts, assistant United
States attorney in charge OF prohibi-
ton prosecutions, said information re-
garding the conspiracy had been gath
cred by undercover agents working In
this country and abroad.
Customs Lists Seized.
A travelling bag seized among Tat
hams luggage. Watts said, contained
a quantity of documents relating to the
plans Of the organization. These in
cluded lists of prospective customers
and lists of agents with their addresses.
There are indications" Watts said,
that financially strong American
syndicate was backing the scheme"
Federal authorities said that latham
anu HAS hSSOCldJCo pldutlCu W I1dfC tsiCh
own fleet of vessels, with an auxiliary
of fast power boats to land the liquor
in this country, where 1t would be de-
livered uncut and unadulterated to
select clientele through a system Of
distributors.
Orders Sought by Mail.
One of the overt acts charged against
the accused firm and individuals was
the sending of letter to Samuel
Thorne of Harrison, N. Y, soliciting an
order Watts said 1t was a personal
letter on fine stationery and had moth
ing of the appearance of a circular.
Watts said that the actual 1mporta-
ton of liquor had not yet been begun
by the syndicate, which had been in
the process of organization since Janu-
ary, 1929.
Tatham was described as an oxford
graduate, with a wide circle Of friends
of social prominence in this country.
He has been shadowed by Federal
operatives since he arrived in New York
from Miami on May 10. Federal Judge
Francis G. Gaffey fixed bail at $4,000
In advance of his arrest.
The case Is said by officials to be the
first in which a foreign corporation has
been indicted for violation of the pro-
hibition laws. A fine is the penalty for
conviction and can be collected only II
the corporation has property In this
country.