The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-15
.SMUGGLED
DRUGS SOLD.
Disposed of at Auction
by U. S. Marshal.
PRICES OBTAINED LOW.
Attorney Grel's Statement About
Patents The Cause.
PRICES OBTAINED LOW.
DIR. RAIA PURCHASED THE STOCK

The last chapter in famous local case
was finished at high noon today when
United Stntes narshal James 5. MoCabe
sold at public auction in his office In the
Custom House building, the phenacetine,
sulfonai and antipyrine alleged to have
been smuRgled into this country by Gill
bert Nj. King and others last summer
and which was seized as contraband
goods by the United states government
last October, through Information fur
nishsd by King who became alarmed by
the white elephant on his hands and who
discussed the hiding place OF the drugs
to escape the consequences OF his alleged
smuggling.
The whole outfit displayed in the Office
of the marshal today consisted OF 4i25
ounces OF phenacetine. 307 ounces of sui
fonal md III ounces Of antipyrine all put
up in neat single ounce packages. There
was enough TO supply the demand in the
whole New England states and the great
excess Of demand in certain localities and
the fact that u great territory would
have 20 be covered to dispose OF the drugs
with no likelihood of escaping the gov
eminent officials after all the pains were
taken, no doubt led 10 the letting out OF the
presence of the stuff by the persons alleged
to have purchased it In Canada.
The sale was attended by n group of
interested persons, and IL was quite evi-
dent that several of them had pooled in
to buy the whole stock.
Marshal McCabe, who acted as auc-
tioneer, announced the terms of the sale,
which were spot cash. and also read the
advertisement setting forth the quantity
and .ind of goods ta be disposed OF. At
this point in tho proceedings Anthony
Gref, attorney representing the controllers
49,. Art.e fra In N..xx
York, announced that the purchaser of
the drugs from the marshal would not be
permitted to self the drugs (paenacetine
and sulfonal) ~ ain, as they were protect, d
by patent Issued by this RovernmenS
in March, 1889. and trade marks dated
Nov. Is. 1890. Also patent issued in 1858
and trads mark dated 1888.
This announcement seemed TO fall like
wet blanket on the company, some
members of which saw an opportunity TO
make money with the greatest OF ease by
purchasing tho whole display.
But the, Nsw York attorneys warning
that the resale of any phenacetine or sui
fonal purchased at this sale would constie
titute an infringment of the respectiv,
patents named as covaring these drugs
no doubt kept the price down for the
goods which werc valued at about $4,000
were sold for S63l. 30. The sale in this
instance was by order of the court which
was superior ID patents and trsdo marks,
but when the court got ride of the ma
terial It's subsequent distribution was
anothersmatter and IL might be as ser
ious as Gilbert nj. King found 1t to be
after he had the drugs stored In his
College street home last sumner.
Bids for the Ihenacetine began Mt five
cents an ounce and 10 advanced by frac-
tions or cent until Is Is cents were
reached. DR.. V. l.. Raia was she highest
biuder and tho stun was knocked down 30
him. He was also the highest biader for
the sulfonai which brought 10 Ia cents an
ounce. His bid of IL Is for the nntipy-
rine wss not overbid, consequently he was
tae holder OF the whole outfit A cheek
was rendered IN PAYMENT, bat the mar
shal stated tnst the government required
cash and II was forthcoming later on.
The rricc OF the phenacetine at wholesale
In this market l. 50 rents an ounce so
that the profits over and above the auc-
ton price or rs Ia is n cincb.