Prohibition Agent Izzy Einstein raids soda fountain, cracks code
One hundred years ago today … Federal officers aided a soda fountain at 145 Broome Street and found that ordering booze there was as easy as reading off the menu. Colorful prohibition agent Izzy Einstein called for a “Cupid’s Dream” and tasted gin; so he told the News in boasting of the bust. According to the World, Einstein and the other agents figured out that if one ordered “lemon,” one would be served gin, “soda” was code for whiskey, and “ginger” meant brandy.
The Evening World, 12 August 1920, p. 9. Newspapers.com.
The Daily News, 13 August 1920, p. 3. Newspapers.com.
It is worth noting how the two accounts of this raid differ. The World reports that James H. Shevlin (whom we last saw on January 29 raiding private homes) heard of the joint and sent his "Flying Squadron" to bust it up, while the News credits Einstein as being not only the main actor, but also the director of the raid.
This is easily explained: Einstein was a master of publicity, and, by August 1920, a minor celebrity. We will elaborate on him and his partner Moe Smith in an upcoming post.
Federal agent Identification card for Isador Einstein, 1920. National Archives and Records
Also of note:
The World reports that the entire soda fountain was brought to the Customs House (probably room 515) as evidence.
“Cupid's Dream” is the title of a 1920 record by the Viennese Instrumental Quintette, released on Columbia Records. (Listen here.)
The establishment’s owner, Hyman Juris, defended himself: “Everybody’s doing it.”
The News refers to Einstein as the “King Brady” of prohibition officers. You'd better believe we're going to be following up on that lead in a near-future post.
WRITTEN BY JONATHAN GOLDMAN, AUGUST 12, 2020.
TAGS: prohibition, Vollstead, Treasury Department, Bureau of Investigation, crime, alcohol