The San Francisco call., 1910-12-17
Chief of Police Joins With Fick-
ert to Wipe Out Supply
Stations
Henry Woman Is Magnet Which
Draws Curious ThrOng to
Courtroom
Suspects May Be Held Until
Witness Can Leave Alaska
in Spring

NHIEF OF POLICE J. T. SEY-
MOUR will cooperate with Dis
trict Attorney Charles NJ Flick
ert in stamping out the drug traffic
and breaking up the opium smuggling
ring The relation of the opium ring
Of the Pain house to the gold bullion
thieves, pointed out by The Call. re-
suited in q conference yesterday and a
virogous police crusade against drug
distributing dens and drug venders
was decided upon
While definite steps for raiding drug
heads' haunts were being discussed by
Seymour and Fickert in the chiefs Of
fee. the three drug victims and ac-
cused bullion thieves. Elmer L. Smith,
Little Tex J. T. Woodson. Big Tex
George II. Woodson and Margaret
Henry. known as Mrs. Smith. were ar
raigned before Judge Shortall and in
structed as TO their rights
They We're charged with the theft of
35 bars of gold bullion of the Alaska
Fairbanks bank, valued at S56,00O
Grand larceny for bringing stolen
goods into the state was the ground
noemd. The defense, represented by
Nate Coghlan and Ben Bloch, wanted
an immediate trial A tilt between
counsel followed and Judge Shortall
granted continuance until Monday.
December ls, when the case viii be set.
Crowd Gapes at Woman
An unusually large crowd was pres
ent to watch the proceedings. Miss
Henry. the keen woman companion OF
Smith, was the most interesting mem
Der OF the group. She appeared as cool
and collected as on the night when the
door Of her room in the Hayston hotel.
was forced by secret service detectives.
Ter pretty face. refined manner and
aristocratic bearing were the chief
topc OF discussion among the curious
court throng.
other than his admission that his
true name is Orville Ceveness and that
he was an .,laskan gambler, Smith will
divulge nothing.
II is the belief in police circles that
the Palm opium den, operated by Mrs.
Catherine McGee, mother in law Of
Sheriff Finn. was the Matching place
for other crimes planned and executed
by drug hends. It developed yesterday
that the surveillance OF the house prior
10 the raid had brought out the fact
that a number of known criminals
made It their rendezvous
Fickert declares such drug distribut-
ing haunts breed crime. and are respon-
sible for the greater part of the rob-
berries and holdups He is determined
70 wage q relentless war on the drug
vice. Stores unlawfully distributing the
drug and persons possessing it will be
prosecuted
City Against Drug Traffic
Fickert's stand for breaking up the
opium smuggling ring. as outlined in
Yesterdays Call. was commended from
many sources. eLtters of congratula-
ton from business houses and financial
circles were received in the afternoon
7 have issued orders to all patrol
and drug venders," said Chief Seymour
7 intend to work with Mr.. Fickert's
once in suppressing the traffic. have
asked Captain Shea to put out special
men to curg the traffic in the neighbor-
hood OF Howard and Sixth streets. The
drug habit is a prime factor in making
criminals. Opium distributing points
must be wiped out and the smuggling
ring broken up. This is the first time
my attention has been called to it and
I viii adopt immediate measures to de-
stroy the traffic"
7 sought police aid previously, but
this is the first time I have taken the
matter up with Chief Seymour" said
Fickert. 1T is not enough that we
should wipe out the known dens but
il is imperative that the sources of
distribution and supply be discovered.
The supply of opium is what makes
the prevalence Of the evil possible. I
understand that this takes US into the
opium smuggling end of the question.
and this though federal offense must
be the ultimate object Of our investi
cation.
Evidence in this Office shows that
the evil is thriving in huge proportions.
Known agents have become wealthy
distributing contraband opium. The
price has been the ruination Of hun
dreds of lives. Little children have
been found walking the streets and
selling opium. Opium smoking houses
crowded with drug fends taken from
every walk Of life have been watched
ana evidence gathered for conviction"
Woo Smoked Each Week
The Palm house was the chief center
Of the drug traffic Little Tex wcodson