A TRAWLER’S CARGO.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 October 1924, Page 5

A TRAWLER’S CARGO.

REVENUE AGENTS’ SUSPICIONS. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT WASHINGTON, Oct. 6. Various serious aspects of the seizure by revenue agents of the BritishCanadian trawler Frederick 8., loaded with whisky, and supposedly anchored an hour’s sail off the New Jersey shore, were revealed to-day,, when, an announcement was—made that a Canadian bank, the name of which is not disclosed, has been involved in the vessel’s rum-running expeditions and that possibly an American bank also cooperated therein. The United States Department of Justice, while declining to publish documents allegedly incriminating prominent persons, nevertheless declared that it had several surprises, which would be disclosed when the Government action to seize the vessel and confiscate its 5900 cases of whisky comes up for hearing on November 10. In the meantime two of the ship’s officers are held for 5000 dollars hail each, and the crew of 32, including two women cooks, is also being detained, although not specifically charged with violation of the prohibition laws. The trawler’s officers declare the vessel cleared Halifax legally hound for Nassau, in the Bahamas, and that the seizure was made at a gi-eater distance than an hour’s sailing from the coast. The case will probably test out the British-American liquor search treaty. The revenue agents employed a ruse to lure the vessel nearer shore, the capture being made 15 miles out. Agents masquerading as bootleggers arranged to .purchase the cargo at a handsome price, and after one preliminary purchase out at sea they induced the captain to bring the ship farther m. Various constitution questions are also involved, and the' Government is expected to meet difficulties of an international character in proving its contentions.