Page "Warren G. Harding" Paragraph 103

Daugherty's personal aide Jess W. Smith, was widely viewed as the Attorney General's ( and therefore the President's ) spokesman and henchman.

Smith was considered Daugherty's proxy, and a central figure, in government file manipulation, paroles and pardons, influence peddling and even bag-man.

During Prohibition alcohol permits were given to pharmacies to sell alcohol for medical purposes.

According to Congressional testimony, Daugherty allegedly arranged for Jess Smith and Howard Mannington to sell these permits to drug company agents who in actuality represented bootleggers.

The bootleggers having obtained these permits would be able to buy cases of whiskey.

Profits from the sale of the alcohol permits were split between Smith and Mannington.

Approximately 50, 000 to 60, 000 cases of whiskey were sold to bootleggers at a net worth of $ 750, 000 to $ 900, 000.

Smith also supplied bootleg whiskey to the White House and the Ohio Gang house on K Street concealing the whiskey in a briefcase for poker games.