Evening star., 1932-06-26
BY DENIS TILDEN LYNCH.

y NCE the seventh year of national
prohibition it has been the Gus
tom Of criminologists, editorial
~ writer's and other commentators
10 place Chicago on an eminence
which belongs to others.
In murders in proportion to popula-
ton, Chicago is poor second to many
communities.
In the number of professional crimi
mails and corrupt politicians who have
become millionaires in supplying the
demand for beer and booze, she is far
behind New York.
In protecting distillers and brewers,
Chicago is outdistanced by the metrop-
oils. In this regard the police of Chi
cago are primitive. for they either aid
the Federal authorities or play neu-
tral part. In New York police wage
subtle and insidious warfare against
agents of the Nation.
These and many similar facts have
been forgotten by the men chosen at the
polls to rule New York, as Is revealed in
their countless speeches defending the
fair name of the city from pigmy critics
who strive to picture the metropolis as
q pestilential Lilliput.
Phenix Owners Named.
Why do they not boast of the towns
largest brewery, the Phenix. Federal
officials, speakeasy owners and the ulti-
mate consumer of Phenix beer will tell
all who will listen that two of its own
ers are william v. Dwyer, race track
owner. convicted rum runner, backer OF
professional sports, and his partner In
many enterprises, the notorious Owen
Madden.
After nine years of beer-making the
Phenix was raided on July %, 1881. Be
cause the warrant was issued on evi-
dence deemed insufficient, the books,
beer and machinery seized were ordered
returned and the prisoners all
discharged.
The raid was the result OF the initia-
tive of H j. Simmons, special agent In
charge of the undercover men OF the
Department Of Justice. One evening,
IL months before the raid, friend tel
ephoned him that beer trucks lined The
streets surrounding the brewery. Hail
an hour later Simmons and SO other
Federal men, including prohibit1on
agents, were on the scene. Fourteen
trucks, each with capacity OF 10 nan
barrels, were parked In Twenty-nlIn
street. Tenth avenue and Twenty-slxtn
street. But the fortreSslike doors OF
steel on these three thoroughfares were
not raised to permit the entrance OF
exit of a single truck after the CoF-
ernment's agents arrived.
Hindered by Police.
Shortly thereafter the Department OF
Justice undercover men began trying 10
establish a case against the PhenN'
This was seemingly anticipated py
police, and from the moment the Feo-
eral men set out to obtain evidence OF
beer making they were hlndereo oy
policemen at every turn.
A SQUAD of special agents in an auto
mobile was halted near the Phen1x oy
a policeman, who demanded, What do
YOU fellows think you're doing? You're
violating the traffic laws; don't you
know that?" This happened more than
once. Lone special agents, dressed ike
the average person in the neighborhood.
were stopped by policemen who inquired
what they were doing around there.
The undercover men would try to
avoid revealing their identity. But II
every instance they had to show their
shields or submit to arrest.
One agent told an accosting ponce-
man that he was q peaceful, iaw-aoldlng
citizen and had a right to walk the
streets without hindrance, The police
man replied that the unoercover man
was Suspicious-looking character,
that gunner frequented the neighbor-
hood, and that if he did not give
better account of himself he would be
arrested. BY this time the special
aeents we're fed up with police inter
ference, and this one insisted on stand
ing on his rights as an American citi-
zen, only to learn that these rights did
not exist in the beery atmosphere OF
the Phenix. At the station house the
special agent was freed after he showed
his shield and other credentials. But
this is not the only time New YORK
COP arrested q special agent working
on bootleg case.
One of the first moves made by spe-
cial agents on these cases Is TO rent a
Furnished room or apartment on the
scene Of operations. There are many