New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-11
Habit Increasing with Alarming
Rapidly, Courts and So
Cial Workers Agree.
AZ CONVICTIONS THIS YEAR
Father Curry and Judge Swami
Among Those Who Will Urge
Drastic Legislation to
Stamp Out Evil.

fulfilling the expectations or those WI"
drafted IT, The sale Of cocaine is on the
increase in this city, and the number OF
those who are slaves to, the habit Is be-
coming greater with alarming rapidity.
Judge Edward Swami, Of General SEES
sions. before whom a large number or
cocaine cases were brought last month";
said that what was needed was law
similar i'm many respects to the Sullivan
law regarding the possession OF danger
Gus weapons.
The present law was amended in 1910
with the intention of prohibiting the sale
of cocaine. The amendment was to the
effect that possession of the drug except
by druggists. physicians and other classes
of professional mer named in the section
was presumptive evidence of the intent
TO sell cocaine. That presumption now
ever, is subject to rebuttal and all that
the prisoner has to do to evade the pen
atty is to show that he is user OF CO.
caine and that he intended the amount
carried by him for his own consumption
Violation of the law is a felony. but IN
stead of being punishable by imprison-
ment for at least seven years, as Is the
case with most felonies, the penalty -
enc year in prison or a fine OF $l'oVo' OF
both.
In point Of fact. however, II Is virtually
impossible under the law TO obtain con-
viction for selling cocaine. Most OF the
convictions obtained are for an attempt
TO sell the drug constituted by having CO.
raine in ones possession. The maximum
penalty for an attempt to sell cocaine IS
six months imprisonment, or a line OF
$500, or both.
Judge Swami and others are OF the
opinion that the law should be so amend
ed that a conviction for selling cocaine
should be punished by Imprisonment for
at least five years. The attempt to sell
the drug they would make mlsoe-
,ncanor. with the present penalty at
tached. 81 would like to see the penalty
Increased to FIVE years. or to seven LOT
that matter" said Judge Swami. you
can't make the punishment too severe 10Y
that crime"
Judge Swami said that he had spoken
of the proposed amendment TO the law 10
State Senator James Foley, and was as
sured Of his cooperation.
Father Curry Favors Amendment.
Father James 3. Curry OF 81. james
Church. is another who is anxious TO see
the present law amended. In Fathe'
Currv's opinion. Manhattan stands In,
fully as great need of vigorous cam
pajgn against the vendors OF cocaine as
does Brooklyn, where the october ana
November grand juries fook 1t up ana re-
turned a number of indictments
Two of the worst sections OF the CITY,
so far as the sale and use of the drug
are concerned, Father Curry thinks are
Chatham Square and it's vicinity, and that
mart of the West Side in the Thirty's ana
Forty's, which borders on Hells ktchen'
Father Curry's plan to remedy matters Is
much the same as that proposed by Judge
Swami.
There is an enormous profit even 10
the saualid and abject pedler OF the
drug" said Father Curry. 1T amounts
70 a steady income OF $40 or $50 week
for him You can do nothing, or practi-
cally nothing under the present law
Father Curry has expressed his views
10 Assemblyman "Ar' Smith, and was
told that every effort would be made TO
bring the matter up at the next session
of the Legislature.
When Judge Swami took his seat in
Part of General Sessions last month he
found there were large number OF CO.
caine cases awaiting trial. In many
cases the defendants had been In the
Tombs for more than two months.
Judge Swami took pleas of guilty in
every case where they were offered, and
dot Ia pfd their
pleas had facilitated the work Of the
court and because they had already
served at least one-third Of the maximum
sentence for their offence, sentenced them
20 from two to three months apiece, ex-
cept in certain aggravated cases.
one case which was particularly re-
voting was that of Professor John
Coey. a big negro, who had two apart
meuts of six rooms each at No. aiS West
s2d street. On the top floor OF the same
house ne rented rooms, several of which
were occupied by white women.
His cocaine establishment was fitted up
with fashy but expensive furnishings
The statues, Oriental hangings and fur
niture. In what he termed his "curio'
room. were said to cost at least $4,000.
fitted with secret compartments, In which
the detectives found quantities OF cocaine
stored. Bottles and cans Of the stuff suf-
Scient to I'LL a peck measure heapinE full
were found piled up in blind window
Nearoes and Whites Together.
The place was filled with negroes and
white women when the police entered.
One of the white women, hardly more
than a girl, although her baggard face
and dishevelled appearance might lead one
90 believe her an old woman, Judge Swami
found to be the daughter of reputable
physician Of this city.
She pleaded guilty and was released on
n suspended sentence. Her family has
placed her in a sanatorium and is keep
ing close watch on her. Her father
told Judge Swami that the girl had been
.resentfuI Of parental authority and had
ON two or three occasions left her home
for weeks at a time He was never able
10 find her. and when she returned she
Was a physical wreck. The physician was
well-nigh Frustrated when he learned the
conditions under which his daughter had
been arrested.
Coey went to trial and was convicted.
After Judge Swami and James A. Dele
hanty. the prosecuting Assistant District
Attorney. had investigated the case, he got
the maximum penalty under the law-six
months in the penitentiary and fine OF
SrN0