Wednesday, August 25, 2021

95 Cases Imported Wines and Liquor Seized, Aug. 18, 1921

Cleveland Police Catch Yacht with Load of Liquor; Seven Men, Four Women Arrested

Cleveland, Aug. 18—Police early today took seven men and four women into custody in a spectacular seizure of the steam yacht Venice, said to be in the service of a whisky ring operating in Canada and the United States. The seizure, made at Whisky Island, west of the Cuyohoga River, netted 95 cases of imported wines and liquors.

Six of the men seized, including Capt. William L. Curry of Toronto, Canada, said to be the owner of the yacht, are held at police headquarters. All are charged with violating the prohibition law. The seventh man, the engineer, will be taken to headquarters later. The four women were not held for investigation.

The police seized the Venice upon a telephone tip from Captain Hansen of the United States Coast Guard, that the yacht, after steaming past the harbor entrance several times, had switched off all lights and docked, a large automobile truck was being loaded from the yacht. A warning cry went up when the officers appeared and lines were cast off and an attempt made to swing the yacht from the dock and escape.

Captain Curry, according to Police Captain Consello, admitted that he also had been captain of the yacht Tranquillo, seized by the police here last June, but denied owning the yacht when it was seized. Curry said the liquor seized today was valued at $15,000 and the yacht at $50,000.

From the front page of the Mount Airy News, Aug. 25, 1921

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