BOOTLEGGERS HIT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17441, 13 April 1931, Page 2

BOOTLEGGERS HIT

FRAUD ON SPEAKEASIES U.S. MAILS MADE ACCOMPLICE CLEVER GAME EXPOSED. SAN FRANCISCO, March 14. A new “racket," which has cost San Francisco bootleggers thousands of dollars was revealed to-day by Mr. William G. Walker, federal prohibition administrator. The new “shake-down,” one of the cleverest yet unearthed, makes the United States mails an unwitting accomplice, and utilises vanishing ink. Walker explains the plan:— The shake-down artist selects a dozen or more'bootlegging resorts as the scene of his operations, and proceeds to establish himself as a steady patron.

During several weeks lie convinces the proprietors that he is a “big shot” and is “in the know” in prohibition circles, dropping broad hints that he has a “pull” with federal officers. This process complete, he writes a letter, purported to represent the report of an undercover agent to the prohibition department, The letter gives details concerning any one of the various bootleggers with whom he has established contact. Notes regarding how to gain admittance, what drinks are served, and other details are contained. j h The letter is sealed in an envelope, which he then addresses to himself, in vanishing ink. Ho then mails it, receives it at his own address, with the envelope bearing a regularly cancelled stamp. His own address promptly disappears as the vanishing ink gets in its work, and the bunco man substitutes the prohibition headquarters’ address. • The rest is easy. He simply takes the letter to the bootlegger whose place is described, shows it to him, and convinces him that after an informer sent the letter to headquarters, it was only through his own influence that a raid was halted.

Tlie bootlegger, of course, expresses his gratitude financially. Both the prohibition and post office departments are setting their host, men at work to catch the perpetrator of the latest "racket.”