Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-12-06
POISON NEEDLE"
CASE MAY LEAD
TO GOVT PROBE
Federal Authorities to Act il
white Slave" Proof Is
Revealed.
NEEDLE FOUND IN BOX
IS SENT TO CHEMIST
Police Think It May Show Drug
Reported Used in Attack
on Bride.

Officers OF the United States gov
eminent may take up and investi-
gate the circumstances surrounding
the case against Armand Megaro. the
Newark youth, who is being held in
the Essex county Jail in default OF
100000 bail on a charge made by Mrs.
Marjorie Graft, of Brooklyn. Mrs.
Graft, a bride of week. asserts Me-
garo attacked her on the hand with
poisoned needle as she sat in a dark-
ened box in the Lyric Theatre, in
Market street. Thursday.
Chief of Police Long is of the opin-
ion that the alleged attack on Mrs,
Graft, if so. was part of a plot to
steal the Jewels she was wearing.
He believes developments by his de-
teetives win ultimately bring out this
feature of the case.
Chief Long said today.
i simply cannot get myself to be-
lieve that any white slave agent,
who I'll admit are clever in their OPP
erations. would attempt anything
quite so clumsy as this
1T would be next to impossible for
any person to carry out such q
scheme.
"surely woman fainting in
theatre always causes more or less
excitement and would attract consid-
cradle attention.
Il can't believe the motive in at
tacks of these kinds are for white
slavery. To me it looks more like
attempted robbery"
If the motive in the case is white
slavery and it can be shown that
persons engaged in this work have
| been busy between this city and New
York. then the Office of the United
States district attorney will act in
the matter.
Assistant United States District
Attorney Charles F. Lynch said to-
day no official notice of the charge
against Megaro had been taken as
vet. The case had not warranted
any action on this part as yet, but
ltf 1t can shown that suehaaa thing
this State anu New York, then the
matter rests with the federal govern
ment. esss 5
The darning needle which ushers Or
| the Lyric Theatre say they found In
| the box occupied by Mrs. Graf, and
which is believed to be the needle
with which Mrs. Graft was attacked.
was turned over today to DR.. Harrl-
son Mortland of the City Hospital.
| for examination.
! Examination late today of the needle
found in the box at the Lyric Theatre.
where Mrs. Graf is alleged to have
1 been attacked, failed to reveal any
! trace of poison.
| 1t was not expected that poison
] traces would be found because of the
fact that it was twelve hours after
the alleged attack that the needle
was found. Then, too. 1t was handled
! by several persons before the police
| finally got it.
In order to satisfy himself concern
ing the action of curare, the South
American poison believed to have
| been used on the needle with which
Mrs. Graft was pricl<ed, it Is underr
stood that Captain Tuite, of the de-
tective bureau, plans to tip q needle
with the poison and test 1t on y
human subject.
One of the members of the detec-
tive bureau is said to have volun-
teered to subject himself to the test
after having been assured that HE
life would not be in jeopardy. If this
is finally decided upon the test wiz
be made next week And the same
| IUtlHOu Will ne uSco hs tlidL utDCttDCA
upon Mrs. Graft in tho attack upon
| her.
It is pointed out that che needle lay
for nearly twelve hours before 1T was
found, and after that it was handled
| by several persons, who, uncon-
sciously, could have destroyed all
trace of the poison. if there was any
on 1t, as has been supposed by some
| persons
Members of the detective bureau
were engaged last night and today in
running down rumors of other victims
of the alleged needle-gang.
One report has to do with Miss Jean
nette Clark, aged nineteen years who
lives at 121 Pacific street, and who is
reported to have experienced similar
| attack to the one Mrs. Graft was SUBJ
jected The alleged attack upon Miss
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