PROHIBITION LEAGUE

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12022, 27 December 1924, Page 5

PROHIBITION LEAGUE

ANDERSON LEAVES PRISON. FRESH CHARGES LAID. Australian and V.Z. Cable Association* NEW YORK, December 25. Aa the result of powerful church influence, William Anderson, the Prohibition worker, formerly the New York Superintendent of the Anti-Sa-loon League, has left prison, after serving nine months of his one to two years’ sentence for forgery. Anderson, on stepping outside the prison cates, was reorrested on warrants charging him with larceny and extortion. Has friends will undoubtedly furnish bail to secure his temporary liberty. Members of the Anti-Saloon League express confidence that the larceny and extortion charges will be speedily dismissed, asserting that much of the evidence concerning thorn was adduced during the forgery trial. Nevertheless, it ia scarcely expected that Anderson will ever return to his antisaloon work, as it is known that one of the factors which influenced his parole was a promise never to return to the work of the league. He has further promised to cease his attacks on the courts and prosecuting officers m connectio 1 with nis conviction. Nevertheless, it is reported that the AntiSaloon League has offered to employ Anderson again, deeming his aggreseipe and often vitriolic methods particularly effective in promoting th© Prohibitionist ideal. Officials of the league declined to confirm or deny the offer; but one official gave an inferential opinion, saying that the present board of the league is composed of honest men, and will deal with the problem as honest men and Christians. Anderson was tried at tho beginning of the year and convicted of the third degree of forgery and sentenced to imprisonment for a term of “between one and two years.” Other charges of grand laroeny were held over.