Bootlegger Busted in Lincoln: Wine Agent Accused of Prohibition Violations

In a shocking move, William S. Levine, agent for the Taylor Wine company of Hammondsport, New York, was slapped with $5,000 bail on May 13 in Omaha, Nebraska. The charges: conspiring to violate the state’s prohibition law. The Taylor Wine company itself will be held equally responsible, according to Prohibition Director Thomas.

Levine’s alleged transgression took the form of shipping cases of unfermented grape juice to the Midwest. What the unsuspecting customers didn’t know was that these innocuous-looking containers were converted into wine when opened. It’s a clever ruse, but one that the authorities are not buying.

Director Thomas was unequivocal in his assessment of Levine’s actions, stating that he had technically violated liquor permit rules. The case against the Taylor Wine company is set to unfold in the coming days, with many wondering if the company’s high-stakes gamble will pay off.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, Henry Ford made headlines in Detroit on May 13 with an announcement that he would purchase 400 vessels of the United States Shipping board – but only if the government would agree to a ‘fair price’. The offer was made following a meeting with T.V. O’Connor, chairman of the Shipping Board. While initially, Ford had suggested taking on only 200 of the ships, O’Connor’s counter-proposal of buying all 400 proved too good to resist.

The Ford-O’Connor deal is set to be finalized, pending government approval. While the details of the arrangement remain shrouded in secrecy, one thing is clear: the wheels of commerce are turning, and the implications will be far-reaching.

As the dust settles on these two high-profile events, one can’t help but wonder what other secrets lie just beneath the surface of America’s bustling cities. Will the authorities be able to keep pace with the shrewd operators who seek to exploit the system? Only time will tell.