Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-18
Sales Conference Visited and
FIaSkS of Products Seized
at Kansas City.
TWENTY-THREE TAKEN,
BUT ONLY THREE HELD
Dry Agents Say Wine Was Used
to Demonstrate Effect of
Fermentation.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, January 17.-Twenty-
three men were arrested here today by
Federal prohibition officers in a raid
on sales conference of representatives
Of the Ukiah Grape Products Co.
H. L. Duncan, special agent in
charge Of the Bureau Of Prohibition
Of the Department Of Justice, who d.
rected the raid, released all but three
Of the prisoners upon their own recog-
nizance, TO appear later before United
States commissioner. All were arrested
on charges OF conspiracy to violate the
prohibition law.
The men held for arraignment in
cluded A. E. Burnett, local manager
Of the Ukiah company, and two sales
men. Mr.. Duncan said the statesmen
possessed TASKS of wine, made from the
unfermented articles they offered for
sale. The wine, he said, had been
used to demonstrate the product to
customers.
Charges Conspiracy.
Taking all responsibility for the raid,
Mr.. Duncan said he would charge viola
bition statute. Selling grape juice for
the manufacture of wine" constituted
conspiracy to violate the law, he de-
clared.
No orders for the arrests had been
received from the office of the prohl-
bition administrator at Washington,
the special agent asserted.
Literature used by statesmen in offer
ing nine kinds of juice to the public
also was seized by the raiders. One
folder quoted what was purported to
be a statement issued August by
Commissioner Of Prohibition DR.. j. M.
Doran. The quotation said dry agents
were mot to interfere with the manu-
facture and use Of non-intoxicating
cider or fruit juices in homes unless
there Is satisfactory evidence of the
unlawful sale of such on-intoxicating
cider or fruit juice in or near the
home"
No warrants have been sworn against
any of the 20 men who were released.
The raid was easily executed as the
ONCE Of the Ukiah company Is in the
same building occupied by the special
prohibition agents headquarters.
Waited for Statesmen.
Arriving at the office, the Federal
men arrested the few employees pres
ent. Then, as other statesmen arrived
for the conference, they were taken
into custody.
Literature seized in the raid made no
direct mention of the fermentation
qualities of the juices. Mr.. Duncan
asserted. however. that the statesmen
had told prospective purchasers that
the product would develop an alcoholic
content of II per cent.
All of those arrested, except T. D.
Short, Slater, Mo. gave Kansas City,
Mo, or Kansas City, Kans., addresses.
They were: A. E. Burnett, C. c. Carnes,
L. Z. Phillips, E. z. Seamand, j. I.
Belt, A. c. Cain, NJ. L. Hickman. Jesse
Wornack, w. F. Payne, e. Brooks, r.
w. Leros, H. c. Farlow, Howard Brooks,
]. w. McGrath, Owen c. Manson
Clark Newton, r. M. Pagitt, T. E.
Pitte, Drake Rogers. Arthur H. Russell,
William p. Ryan and A. s. Rex.
Has Large Vineyards.
UKIAH, Calf, January II (P).-The
Ukiah Grape Products Co. owns
about 500 acres of vineyards in this
district, and operates large grape juice
plant here. 1t also owns large amount
Of vineyard acreage In the vicinity of
Delano, Calf, in the San Joaquin
Valley.
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