New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-07
GIRL VICTIM IN
CROWDED STORE
Doctor Fears Hyoscine Is
Weapon in Hands of Men
with Evil Purposes.
MEGARO UNIDENTIFIED
Newark Police Trace Many Re-
ports of Drugging in Theatres
and Public Places.


and Public Places.
Although officials connected with or
ganizations engaged in the warfare
against vice expressed skepticism yes
terday that the numerous cases report
ed of women who have been stabbed
in the arms with needles bearing a
soporifc drug 10 make them an easy
prey TO abduction were to be consid-
cred as instances Of a new method In
vogue among traffickers in women. evil
dence continued to pile up that the
practice was far more widespread than
had been imagined.
Among the new cases was one told
TO a Tribune representative yesterday
by the friends of young woman whose
experience left no doubt in the mind
OF her family that she had been the
victim of an attempted abduction.
She went to a large New York de-
partment store with a young man
friend and after completing her pur-
chases at one counter, agreed to meet
her companion later at that counter
after she had made some other pur-
chases
While he was waiting for her he hap
pened to notice a crowd gathered i'm
an aisle a short distance away. Out of
curiosity he went to see what the ex-
element was about. only TO find his
young woman friend unconscious on
the floor.
Beside her were two men, who were
explaining to the store doctor that she
was with them and was a victim of
epilepsy, saying they would take care
Of her.
Felt Slight ctirg.
The young man at oGce asserted him
self, and only when words became high
did the two strangers yield slipping
away in the crowd. When the young
woman revived she said she had felt
a slight sting In her arm and imme-
diately became unconscious. An eX-
animation revealed a small puncture in
the skin.
In this case. as in most Of the others
reported. to avoid publicity no COM
plant was made TO the police. To this
fact is attributed the difficulty in rum
ming the reports down to a definite
basis. Frederick II. Within. secretary
Of the committee Of fourteen. at No. -
East 22d street, said yesterday that he
had heard of a number OF similar cases
in an indefinite way. but had been un-
able TO get concrete facts. He was one
who expressed doubt as 10 the signif-
canoe of the stories, one OF his main
reasons for skepticism being the diff
Guilty of injecting a sufficient quantity
of ordinarily we'll known narcotics to
produce the effects described.
However, am glad there is all this
publicity" he said. las it will bring
the matter to a focus and help us 10
determine just what there is in it,"
Similar doubt was expressed by
James b. Reynolds. secretary of he
American Vigilance Association. at No.
1876 +. h avenue. Mr.. Reynolds said
two such cases had been brought to his
attention. In one instance he was un-
able to get enough information to con-
duct an investigation. and the other
turned out to be a sensational story
concocted by a woman to cover up her
own misdeeds.
Il have been told by a physician that
he knows Of no drug that could De
used successfully in this way" he saii
Il do not think that any reputable
woman need be panicstricken by these
reports"
But DR.. Joseph A. Shears, of No III
West SD street. attached to Health
Commissioner Lederes staff of inspcc-
tors, took an opposite view. AS TO "A
drug which might be used he said that
hyoscine hydrochlorate would fulfil eX-
actly the conditions described. \ small
quantity of this drug, which is used In
cases Of hystera and in delirium tre-
mems, he said could easily be injected
into a persons arm by means of a
cheap type of hypOdermic syringe Oh
tainable at any drug store.
Drug Easy to Get
And what is more, i and other
physicians have heard of numerous in
stances in which this drug has been
used to make women unconscious by
men whom / am convinced are white
slavers.' This drug is comparatively
little known among the laity. hut | am
sorry to say the knowledge of it is
spreading, and it is readily obtain
able"
Another TO tell of instances of the
operations of the needle wielders was
Mrs. Samuel G. Van Dusen, a society
woman and philanthropic worker, Of
No. f32 East Both street.
I'VE women are continually hearing