PROHIBITION UNIT WILL DESTROY BEER CONTAINING 5% ALCOHOL
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On November 14, 1923, The Evening Star reports an order has been issued to United States Marshal Edgar C. Snyder instructing him "to destroy 18,000 bottles of beer" each containing 5% alcohol*.
The order, issued by Justice William Hitz** of the District Supreme Court, will be carried out tomorrow with five trucks transporting the illegal booze from warehouse to a unspecified place of destruction.
The Star further reports that the illegal liquor was initially transported by rail from Pennsylvania to Washington, D.C., and when the consignee did not show up to claim it, railroad authorities contacted the prohibition unit.
*The National Prohibition Act (1919) a.k.a. Volstead Act set the legal maximum alcohol content of beer at 1/2 of 1%. A 12 ounce bottle of American beer contains 5% alcohol today (2023). The Scottish brewery Brewmeister produces the strongest beer in the world, 'Snake Venom' which contains 67.8% alcohol.
**William Hitz (1872-1936) was born in Washington, D.C., & educated at Harvard University & Georgetown Law School, 1900. WH worked in the Justice Department before being appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia by President Wilson.
SOURCE
"Will Dump 18,000 Bottles of Beer Here Tomorrow," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., November 14, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
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