POISONOUS LIQUOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18895, 18 December 1924, Page 11

POISONOUS LIQUOR.

DEATHS IN NEW YORK.

SALOON KEEPER ARRESTED.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 12.5 a.m.) NEW YORK. Dec. 16.

Eight persons, including a woman, have died in tho last three days through drinking poisonous alcoholic beverages. Tho city health commissioner, Mr. Monagham, says that with the approach of tho holiday season, and with the spirit of conviviality abroad, ho thinks it well to issue a warning against the use of synthetic liquors. Everyone should avoid them.

It must be generally known, says the official, after the time which has elapsed since the passage of the prohibition law, that the supply of good liquor is very limited. There are, he says, 67 patients in the alcoholic ward at tho principal city hospital. Nearly all are dangerously ill. Eleven of the patients are women.

The recent increaso in "bootleg" sales of fabricated liquors the police believe to be due to the heavy seizures from ruinrunners bv tho Atlantic coastguards and to tho fact that stormy weather has made the landing of .good liquors from abroad unusually difficult.

The police have arrested one saloon proprietor from whom it is believed some of the poisonous beverages are being obtained.