Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-11-21
Postmaster General Causes
Arrest of 173 Persons, Most
" Doctors and Manufacture
ers, in One Big Swoop,
CHIEF INSPECTOR HAS
CHARGE OF DRAGNET
Policy in Harmony with Prose-
cutionS of Fraudulent Pro-
moterS, Many of Whom Have
Been Punished.

IB. Morning sourna, spec'ai I"assf Wire. !
Washington, Nov 23.--A nation
wide raid, involving the arrest of 10
persons in the principal cities of the
country was made today by postof
flee inspectors and United States
marshals upon doctors and drug con-
Germs charged with misuse of the
mails TO solicit criminal medical prac-
tiee or TO dispose Of the medicines or
Instruments connected with such
practice.
The raid-the most extensive and
far-reachng ever made by the gov
ernment--was under the personal di-
rection Of Postmaster General Hitch
cock and Chief Inspector Robert s.
sharp. of the postoffice department.
So carefully had its details been
guarded that until the first arrests
were made at indianapolis, early in
the day. practically nothing was
known Of the governments contem-
plated action. Working with clock
like precision, the inspection force
spread over twenty-five states, car
ried out the prearranged plans, and
tonight the postoffice department had
received word that practically all the
designated persons had been arrested
The results of the crusade are still
being received tonight by the inspec-
tors division of the postoffice depart
ment in the forms OF kilograms from
various divisional headquarters. In
Isolated instances it was found i'm
practicable to effect the arrests but
he e1gn on trc OF v.h
warrants have been issued are under
surveillance and probably will be un-
able TO escape
Chief Inspector Sharp and a large
part Of his force of 800 inspectors
had been engaged for several months.
under the orders of the postmaster
general in working up the cases in
which arrests We're made today. Many
OF those taken into custody were
members Of prominent wholesale and
retail drug concerns or physicians
well known in their own communi-
ties
The government will prosecute the
case vigorously. according to state
nent by Postmaster General Hitch
cock tonight
lhe work of the postoffice in
spectors today is the elimination of
'he crusade instituted more than two
years ago against the fraudulent use
OF the nails said Mr. Hitchcock. "In
mat comparatively brief time we have
wiped out of existence concerns that
nave mulcted the people of this
country out of more than 500. .000.-
WV ny frauds perpetrated through
'he use OF the mails and courts have
sent many of the promoters of the
Hauuulent schemes to the peniten-
'lary where they are now serving
time
The wide publicity given to the
arrests made today will do more to
put an end to this particulqr sort of
.'"nlhaliiv than any number of prac-
r'''y unknown prosecutions OF wide
separated cases.
MANY interesting incidents in con
ne'tlon with the raids have been re-
ported.
IN Forl Worth. Tex. doctor upon
'oui an inspector called after re- |
lNihR letter from him. refused to
uSS the subject until his letter
proouced. The letter bore the |
,''sipt STAMP of the postoffice de- |
-i,nleni. which the Inspector COW
'' WIN his thumb as he exhibited |
~ le'ter He then drew the letter |
''" the envelope. handed II 10 the
N'er and concluded his arrange
"''n's' thus completing the neces-
S''N chain Of evidence.
me doctor in Dallas. Tex. frankly !
i'iiied the inspector who sought |
"'s services that. If caught hv the |
'''hoflties. it would cost him $4,000 |
se' away. and that. as his caller |
as as deep in the mud as he was IN !
sum. Dos' nun similar
d. 'esenting himself as one who
sr. 10 engage his services. an in
interviewed susnarted nhv-
oa,.,., 'n Tevas ciiv. The doctor
s.,s n"' he induced to commit him
a. men the caller, in apparent
49,. '''' h"ean tn weep copiouslv. The
sats matted him on the hack and
an s'olhinelv: Now. my boy. that's
w 'snt NV letter to Won is clear
,.,,h' n You know. We have 10 he
NO.. careful TO guard against those
ho,,n.,. people, who are constantly
""undine us
.n ne then gave the weepinp visitor
,in evidence he needed 10 com
'''e his case.
another case the insnac,ors'
,..-a for months before they oh
a. evidence upon which con1,ic-
ia. "nld be possible Numerous
f.e ''a'lnr letters were racos.-...l
Their. suspected person, but all of
.a. mailed not from a CITY
ihsx 'nr"ngh Railway trains. In
me Jurisdiction of the in