The End Of 'Frankie The Bull,

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 136, 11 June 1938, Page 8 (Supplement)

The End Of 'Frankie The Bull ,

"CRANKIE THE BULL," leader 1 'of New York's £250,000-a----year illicit liquor "ring," has been adjudged guilty, in a New York Federal Court, of conspiracy to violate the tax laws. Twenty-eight accomplices, including three Xew York policemen and one Federal tax inspector, were also found guilty. At least one murder is said to have occurred during the time the "ring" flourished. ''Frankie the Bull," otherwise Frank Giordano, e 4C>-year-old ex-convict, conceived the idea that "America wants a good 2Jd drink." This drink, known as "King Kong, the five cent Tarzan drink," was the sort of stuff to turn strong men pale. It was a '•'Harlem-type whisky," and apparently consisted largely of 50 per cent of water added to high-power alcohol, with a dash of colouring matter. The prosecution declared that 10,000 gallons of this liquor was dispensed weekly for three years. As a result the Government lost £000,000 in taxes. The profit of the "ring" is eaid to have amounted to £200,000. The great "Bootleg Syndicate" rivalled the organisations which quenched New York's thirst in illicit epeakeaniee in prohibition days.