ALLEGED RUM RUNNER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21244, 27 January 1931, Page 9

ALLEGED RUM RUNNER

BRITISH VESSEL FIRED ON. CAPTAIN FATALLY WOUNDED. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) NEW YORK, January 25. (Received Jan. 26, at 8 p.m;) Captain William Cluett, of Lunenberg, Nova Scotia, died in the United States Marine Hospital at Staten Island of wounds received when a coastguard cutter shelled an alleged rum boat, the British vessel Josephine K., registered at Digby, Nova Scotia, of which Captain Cluett was master. Coastgard officers stated that the cutter, discovered the British ship transferring liquor to a dug and a barge near Ambrose Channel. The cutter fired blank shells as a warning, whereupon Captain Cluett’s ship tried to escape. One-pound shells were then fired, one striking the pilot house, in which the master was found wounded when the boat stopped. Coastguardsmen boarded the latter, and took Captain Cluett to hospital and seized the Josephine K., the tug and the barge, with the alleged liquor.

NINETEEN MEN ARRESTED. NEW YORK, January 25. (Received Jan. 26, at 8 p.m.) The coastguard reported that the value of the liquor cargo seized ■was 250,000 dollars. They arrested 19 men, including the crews of the barge and the tug, which belonged to local shipping organisations and are believed to have been co-operating in liquor smuggling without the knowledge of the owners. The British boat is said to have been known as a rum runner for a long time, but it had never before been caught. Those who have been arrested have not yet testified, but the local coastgaurd commandant stated; “There is no doubt that the Josephine K was within the 12-mile limit.” He praised the captain of the cutter for his handling of the situation and said that the firing of the shot with which Captain Cluett was fatally wounded was entirely Justified. He considered it was certain that the Canadian Government would request an explanation, as in the I’m Alone case. The only version of the case yet available is that of the coastguard officers.