EVADING LIQUOR LAWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15563, 21 March 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

EVADING LIQUOR LAWS.

DEVICES IN AMERICA. The discovery by the deputy marshal of Nowata, of a unique method of dispensing liquor through a gas jet has given rise to a good deal of speculation among federal officers as to what dodge will be the next resorted to to purvey liquor in the Oklahoma "Indian -country." Before the discovery of the original' " plant" the marshals thought that they had encountered about every possible trick of the trade; but the Nowata incident leads them to believe that the inventive genius of the bootlegger, instead of being exhausted, is just beginning to develop as the net of the embargo is tightened about the social means of shipping and selling liquor in old Indian Territory. The marshal at Nowata, had failed on a number of occasions to find liquor in a certain "joint' where he had reasonable grounds to suppose that liquor was kept, and it was only by accident that one of his assistants, in endeavouring to light the gas, burner, touched the hidden valve that caused the whisky to pour from the chandelier. The entire supply wag drained out of a little copper tank secreted in the ceiling just over the chandelier. The officers promptly arrested tie proprietor of the place on a charge of selling liquor. One of the most artful tricks ever en--countered by United States deputy marshals was brought to light recently at WilI burton by Deputy J. 0. Peters. Peters had stopped in a general merchandise store owned by an Italian, and was questioning the proprietor, who was under suspicion of selling liquor to the miners in the vicinity. Peters finally became exasperated at the man's procrastinations ana turning aside of questions, so made a search of the premises on his own hook. In the basement, where reserve stock was kept, he found two cases of " canned goods." One case contained cans labelled "Baking Powder," and the other, smaller cans without labels but containing the lithograph of a big steaming platter of pork and beans. Peters had a " hunch" and broke into one of each kind of cans. In the baking power can was a false lid, which, when removed, disclosed a full quart of whisky; the smaller can contained a light red Italian wine, which is much in demand for holiday festivities in the mining camps.