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Encyclopedia of Rumrunners and Speakeasies: Freeport During Prohibition: 1920

1920 - February

A former saloon on Railroad Avenue, owned by George Florenzie, was raided.  Florenzie claimed that the small amount of liquor seized was for medicinal purposes only.  

Source:

"Raid Freeport Saloon." South Side Observer. February 20, 1920, 1. Accessed September 30, 2019. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn84031784/1920-02-20/ed-1/seq-1/.

Researched by Regina G. Feeney, September 30, 2019.

1920 - August

In August 1920, two men, one of whom was Freeporter Garfield Post, were arrested in Rockville Centre and fined $50 each for driving under the influence of alcohol. 

Source: 

"Drinking and Driving End in Heavy Fines For Two." The Long Island News and Owl. August 20, 1920, Accessed December 20, 2019. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071443/1920-08-20/ed-1/seq-1/.

Researched by Regina G. Feeney, September 30, 2019.

1920 - October

The Casino Hotel was raided in October 8, 1920 after the authorities received several complaints of flagrant violations of the Volstead Act.  Proprietor Dominick Ferrara was arrested after several cases of whiskey was found on the premises. He was later acquitted.

See also:

Casino Pool

Source:

"Casino Hotel Raided Tuesday." Nassau County Review. October 8, 1920, 1. Accessed December 10, 2017. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071433/1920-10-08/ed-1/seq-1/.

Researched by Regina G. Feeney, December 10, 2019.

1920 - October

During a parade in Patchogue, four Freeport Elks were taken into custody when it was discovered that the coffin they were carrying in the parade contained a magnum of whiskey.

Source:

"Fluid in Coffin In Elks' Parade Not for the Dead." The Evening World. October 20, 1920, 3. Accessed December 13, 2019. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030193/1920-10-20/ed-1/seq-3/.

Researched by Regina G. Feeney, December 13, 2019.

October - 1920

Freeport Police confiscated a moving van loaded with cases of whiskey.  The moving van had run out of gas on Bayview Avenue.  When frisked by Captain Hartman, the driver and his companion were found to have two revolvers.  The men arrested were Joseph Murgiolo of New York City and Gasper Maceri of Brooklyn.

Source:

"Find Van Loaded with Whiskey." Nassau County Review. October 8, 1920, 1. Accessed July 11, 2019. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071433/1920-10-08/ed-1/seq-1/.

Researched by Regina G. Feeney, July 11, 2019.

November - 1920

Dominic Ferrara was acquitted of charges of violating the Volstead Act.  Ferrara's attorney, George M. Levy, had argued that the government could not prove that the liquor found in his bedroom was intended to be sold.  

See also:

Levy, George Morton

Source:

"Acquits Ferrera of Liquor Charge." Nassau County Review. November 26, 1920, 4. Accessed December 27, 2019. http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn95071433/1920-11-26/ed-1/seq-4/.

Researched by Regina G. Feeney, December 27, 2019.