The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-11
PHENACETINE SMUCCLERS
Quantities of the VillainOus Drug
Brought from Canada.
PETTINGILL OFFERS BRIBE
lie Is Alleged to Have Made a Proposition
to Pay $50 Per Month Hush Money
TO the United States Gus.
tom Officials.
BY the United Press.

By the United Press.
Philadelphia, Dec. 10.-William Z. |
Pettingill, who was arrested here last
week on the charge of smuggling the
drug phenacetine into the United
States, and who then attempted to
bribe customs officers, was given a
hearing before United States Commits
sioner Bell today. Special Treasury
Agent John c. Gallen, upon whose af-
fidavit Pettingill was arrested, told of
his search Of Pettingills place and the
finding of five one pound packages of
phenacetine. The witness then stated
that Pettingill said to him after the
arrest that this is small matter and
l will make it interesting for you. |
will give you and the other men $50
each and guarantee you $50 month
if you will let up on me and let me sell
the drug in your district. The witness
declined and told the prisoner he was
after his principals. In the United
States marshaps Office the treasury
agent tried to find out who the others
in the scheme were. Pettingill said he
got the drug from North Adams, Mass,
but refused to tell who the others in the
! business were.
Customs Inspector John Johnson COR
roborated Gallen as to Pettingilla offer
of hush money" The prisoner offered
$50 first and afterward said he would
give 800 cash and $1OO month if they
would "let up on him" and allow him
to work the district. They were to
keep him posted" and, johnson stated,
warn him If there was danger of his
getting into trouble. Customs Inspector
Harry Martin, who was with Gallen
and Johnson when Pettingill was taken
into custody, gave similar testimony,
and in addition said the defendant
asked him if he thought Gallen would
let up on him If he gave the other par
ties away. The witness asked Gallen
and the latter said he would make no
promises.
Lewis H. Hovey, jr., who said he was
employed by w. II. Schiefilin & Co.,
and Gallon, Dickerson & Brown, of
New York, to detect frauds in the i'm
portation of phenacetine, testified that
he saw the defendant in New York on
Sept. 6. The man was offering phenace-
tine to a druggist and was arrested. He
gave his name as Arthur Armstrong,
and after making a statement was al
lowed to depart. In his statement he
alleged that he was employed by the
Brown Electrical company, of Sumner
street, Boston.
Electrical Company Myth.
The witness visited Boston and failed
to find any such firm. as the Brown
Electrical company. In a recent con-
versation here with Hovey, the de-
fendant admitted that his name was
w. B. Pettinglll and said he had oper-
ated in Springfield, Mass. He also ad-
mitted registering as G.. c. Foster In
the Queens Hotel, Montreal Canada
The defendant told the witness that hi
procured the drug from the firms OF
Kerry, Watson & Co., and Lyman, Sons
& Co., of Montreal. The witness be-
lieved the drug was brought through
by Pullman car conductors, but Pettin
gill would not give them away" Law
yer James M. Beck, who represented
I, Pettingill contended that no case hat
been made out against his client, anC
that there was no inducement to snug
gle the drug, the profit being sufficien
! after the payment of duty. Lawyel
Beck held that there had been no proc
, that the drug seized had been smuggled
, but United States District Attorne,
=, Ingham argued to the contrary Tn,
commissioner ruled that the evidenc
, of smuggling and attempted briber!
were clear, and he held Pettingill il
$le25O bail for court.
; The drug is made in Germany, wher
: it sells for Is cents an ounce In thi
= country the price is from So to 95 cent
, an ounce, the duty being % per cent.