Miscellaneous, Bainbridge & Afton Dry Raids

Bainbridge and Afton Dry Raids are Staged

(1920s-30s)

 

Three men, alleged proprietors of speakeasies in surrounding towns and villages, were arrested yesterday by Federal agents, charged with violations of the Prohibition Law.  A flying trip to Bainbridge, at the instance of the Syracuse Prohibition Office, resulted in the apprehension of Andrew Stark in his grocery store, the agents said they purchased a pint of alleged liquor.  Several cases of home brew beer were reported to be found by the Federal men when they visited the gasoline station operated by Arthur LaSeur at North Afton.  Another Afton raid was staged at the home of Frank Hard where a large quantity of alleged wines, liquors and beer were discovered, the agents said.  The three men were ordered to appear for arraignment before United States Commissioner Robert S. Wickham.

 

Arrest Five in Sale of Liquor at Fair

1926

 

Federal agents investigating rumors of liquor sales at the Afton Fair Thursday morning placed two men under arrest, charged with violating the Volstead Act, then following up a clue which led to a two other men and a woman.  Four of the five waived examination when taken before United States Commissioner Robert S. Wickham Thursday afternoon and were released under $1,000 bail.  The other was paroled in custody of his attorney until he can secure bail bonds.  He will waive examination when this is done, it was intimated by Joseph E. north, who is representing all five defendants.  The two first arrested were:  Frank Phillips and Mert Pristley of Afton.  The other three are:  Chester Field and his wife, Christine, and Ray Lesure, all of whom reside on farms near Afton.  Pristley is said to have given affidavit to the effect that he was employed by Chester Field to sell the alleged intoxicants at the fairground.  Ray Lesure is charged with having served drinks at the farm house while the money paid for the liquid passed through the hands of Mrs. Christine Field, implicating her.  Lesure lives on a farm adjoining that of [Field].

 

The secretary of the fair had reported to federal authorities that liquor was being dispensed on the grounds. Agents visited the fairgrounds and had been there but a short time when they were able to make a purchase from two men, it is said.  They found ten pint bottles of alleged whisky in a car which the men are said to have had in their possession.  The men were immediately placed under arrest. 

 

In their observations at the fairground the agents ran upon some evidence which pointed toward a certain farm house in the vicinity as the source of illicit liquor.  The agents went to the farm house and reported that they were able to negotiate the purchase of an intoxicating drink.  They immediately raided the establishment. 

 

A quantity of alleged illegal beverages were seized in the raid and also machinery which the agents claimed was used in making beer. 

 

The entire collection of prisoners and alleged intoxicating liquids were then removed to Binghamton and the prisoners arraigned before Commissioner Wickham.  They were represented by Attorney Joseph North. 

Compiler note:  Prohibition began on January 16, 1920, when the Eighteenth Amendment went into effect. Federal Prohibition agents (police) were given the task of enforcing the law.  The amendment was repealed in 1933.  Prohibition was a period of nearly fourteen years of U.S. history in which the manufacture, sale, and transportation of liquor was made illegal. It led to the first and only time an Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was repealed.