The Indianapolis times., 1931-08-07
CATSKILL beer
SUPPLY TRACED
AT LEGS TRIAL
Diamond Hears Strong Arm
> Tactics Described by
Timid Customers.

Bg United Press
NEW YORK, Aug. THE story
OF how thirsty tourists in the sleepy
CatSkills we're supplied with beer as
unfolded for an ardent prohibition
ast Judge and twelve inspiring jurors
at the third days trial of Jack
Oegs) Diamond by buxom Mrs.
Minnie Midgeley, beer drop lady
Of Cairo, was continued today.
Mrs. Midgeley, one of nineteen
witnesses who testified for the gov
eminent in its effort to convict Dia-
1nond and his lieutenant, Paul
Quastrocchi, on charges of bootleg
ging in Greene county, explained
for the benefit Of Judge Richard j..
Hopkins, Kansas dry in charge Of
the case, that beer drop" is the
Catskill term for storage place or
cache.
Another witness, Charles Hassel-
man, who runs an eating place on
Main street, Catskill, gave the first
hint that perhaps the brand Of
lager Diamond peddled was not of
as good quality as that liquor which
legend Gays Rip Van Wrinkle drank,
a drink so potent he slept for
twenty years.
Complained About Beer
Hasselman said he had COM
planned about Diamonds beer and
that the gang leader heard of it
and visited him.
Your beer is not good, it's very
poor" Hasselman said he told the
racketeer. He quoted Diamond as
replying, well, I'll bring down a
couple more halves and if they
don't satisfy you, you can buy of
who you please"
Mrs. Midgeley, dressed in black
and wearing glass beads, told how
she and her husband had taken
over the Greene county farm at
Cairo and converted it into lodg-
ing house for tourists. Because
tourists wanted beer, she came in
contact with Quattrocchi, she said.
Fred Becker, a truckman who ad-
rnitted carting beer for Quattrocchi,
suggested she rent her barn to
Quattrocchi for drop" she said.
Il told them Gid not want that
kind of beer dropped there" she
said, "but he said Don't be afraid
Lost Her Nerve
She said that every night for
month she was awakened daily at
4 or 5 a. M, by Fred Becker rolling
beer barrels into the barn. When
Becker had slight Smash-up and
then was arrested for carrying a
gun, which he kept as protection
against hi-jackerS, Mrs Midgeley
began to get frightened and told
Quattrocchi to take his beer out,
she related.
Arthur Pacini, who used to run
the village inn at East Durham un-
til the high pressure methods Of
competing beer men caused him to
retire, told Of another incident.
Pacini, a frail man, spoke in a
weak voice and Judge Hopkins
stepped down from the bench in
OAAAIA W 1lNebA AAAAAA OCbOC4s AAAC WAb-
ness said Johnny Scaccio, a Dia-
mond aide, and four others visited
his inn year ago.
Used Rough Tactics
"Scaccio stepped inside, went into
the kitchen and opened the cellar
door" Pacini said. II went after
them. I see one man he had big
stick, another man he had a ham
mer and they bust the beer I had
in the cellar.
Il started out and this fellow
Scaccio he took a gun and pointed
it to the side of my ear and he
told me you must have our beer
OF none I say, who are your They
say, we are the gang.
Pacini said he was forced to or
der two barrels from Diamond.
One he used. The other he returned
and then retired from business.