Evening star., 1933-08-16
MERCHANT TAKEN
ON LIQUOR CHARGE
Former Bethesda Chamber
Head Is Arrested After
Chase by Police.
BY STAFF Correspondent of The Star.

Nv staff Correspondent of The Star.
BETHESDA, Md, August 16.-Thomas
F.. Latin, 41-year-old local merchant
and until recently president OF the
Bethesda Chamber of Commerce, was
arrested on a charge OF transportation
and possession of liquor with intent TO
sell in one of a series of liquor chases
and raids staged IN Montgomery
County late yesterday and last nlgnt
by Federal prohibition agents ana
county police according to the morn
ing report CT vice squad actlVltles
made to the District of Columbia po-
lice. Montgomery police said there
were no charges against Lafhn as
far as they were concerned.
The apprehension of Latin, who was
reported by police to have been driving
a truck loaded with 255 gallons OF
liquor in kegs, was followed by arrests
of two other men and seizure OF an
additional 735 gallons of alleged whisky,
212 gallons of alleged alcohol and
cases of alleged wine.
1t was reported by the dry sleuths
that 1875 gallons of whisky was found
in the basement of Laftin's home in the
6700 block of Forty-siXth street, Be
thesda. after the merchant and col
ored companion, Richard F. Green. %,
of the 400 block of M street, Washing
ton, had been taken into custody after
a brief chase along Wisconsin avenue.
Wallace Is Arrested.
The remainder of the whisky, Fed
eral police reported, was found IN the
home of Thomas Wallace, 81, alias Dan
lei Lynch. in the 4700 block Maple ave-
nue.. Bethesda, who was seized on
charge of possession of liquor with in
tent to SELL
Earlier in the night Federal officers
and county police apprehended four
other men on charges OF transportation
of liquor with intent to sell after two
thrilling chases, in one OF which two
men were slightly injured when car IN
which they were attempting to escape
from the Federal agents crashed into
a telephone pole ON the Rockville pike
at Halpine.
The local merchant was taken into
custody shortly after midnight by Sergt.
George Deyoe and Detective William
McEwen. Washington police with Fed
eral prohibition agent powers, the Of
ficers said, after they saw him and
Green drive away from Wallace's resi-
dence.
Attempted to Flee.
Latin, they said, attempted to out
distance them after they called for him
to halt He drove up to the front OF
his home. jumped from the truck and
dashed into the building, but returned
after Deyoe and McEwen Identified
themselves as dry agents.
Latin later stated. the police re-
ported. that he thought they were hi
hackers bent upon SeiZing the whisky
fire iInOO him
Latin told a Star reporter that Wal
lace had been raided by seven hi
jackers riding in a Maryland car sew
eral nights ago Wallace, he declared
feared that the hi-jackers might pay
him a return visit and rob him and
borrowed his truck to move the alleged
liquor to another hiding place.
Green, according to Latin, was to
drive the truck, but was unable to get
it started and the merchant arose from
bed, went to Wallace's home and offered
to help Lynch by driving the truck and
its contents to the new hiding place.
Deyoe and McEwen reported to their
headquarters in Washington that they
turned Latin over to the county po-
lice for prosecution under the county
law and later went to Laffin'S home
with the latter. where they said they
found IS fifteen-gallon kegs of liquor
in the basement.
The Federal officers Immediately OBJ
tanned a search warrant for Wallaces
nome and raided the place with the
aid of Sergt. LIE Roy Rodgers, Pvts.
James S. McAuliffe and Thomas De-
Nell of the county force and Constable
J. H. Davis.
They reported finding 500 gallons
of alleged whisky stored in kegs, cans,
bottles and jars and a mixing room
in the attic fully equipped with the
most modern apparatus Ior mixing,
coloring and electrically ageing whisky.
A secret compartment built into the
basement, empty cans, bottles, jar tops
and jar rubbers also were seized.
Two Others Arrested.
Deyoe and McEwen earlier in the
day trailed John F. Mccarthy. IS, of
Kensington, and Joseph E. Scott, "a,
of the 1900 block of N street. Wash
ington, from the Capital to Baltimore
and back through Montgomery County
to Halpine a short distance north of
here. and finally arrested them on
charge of transportation and posses
sion with intent to sell after thrill
ing chase