New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-28
u. S. Attorneys Hands
Tied, Except in Cases of
Opium for Smoking.
CONFER ,
WITH INVESTIGATOR
Mrs. Vanderbilt's Agent Would
Curb All Narcotics-Morphine
Found in TOmbs.

A definite move was made yesterday by
Ernest x. Coulter. who Is acting as at
torney for Mrs william X. Vanderbilt.
sr, I'm her war on the drug evil, 10 enlist
the cooperation Of the local federal OF
icers In the national phase OF the fight
He was In consultation with John n.
Boyle and Edwin NJ Stanton. Assistant
United States attorneys. who have had
charge of number OF government prose-
cutions In caseF OF violations OF the
opium laws, for the purpose OF getting
their Views on what changes are neces-
sary to make the present laws against
the opium evil effective. and also to
broaden their scope so as 90 suppress the
indiscrimlnate use OF other kinds OF mar
cotics.
These men told me their hands we're
absolutely tied through n lack OF SUI
fcient laws TO cover the evil said Mr.
Coulter. They can act only In cases
where IL Is shown the opium Is 10 be used
for smoking purposes. But even in this
respect the laws are inadequate, and both
agreed they needed radical amendment.
They gave me some startling figures TO
prove this.
Chief Magistrate McAdoo told Mr.. Coul-
ter Yesterday that II he would get him
an exact scientific definition of just what
heroln is. he would make an effort 70 see
that present state laws were interpreted
by the magistrates 70 inciude II in the
prescribed drugs. Mr.. Coulter arranged
for the definition with James p. Atkin-
son. chemist OF the Department OF Health.
Edward y. Moore, Of No. 48 East liSth
street. appeared yesterday against his
son Edward. eighteen, in the Morrisania
court. charging him with being an
hsbItual user of heroin. He said the boy
had been addicted to the habit for more
than a year. and had made the lives or
hts parents miserable when under It's IN
huence. Magistrate Ten Eyck said he
would send the young man TO the work
house, where he could obtain medical at
tertion. The case was put over for forty
eight hours pending investigation by the
probation officer.
John FricassI, OF No. 1884 Hughes ave
nue.. The Bronx, was held in $1,000 ball Tor
trial by Magistrate Krotel I'm the Tombs
police court yesterday on a charge OF at
tempting to give morphine TO prisoners IN
the Tombs Four packages Of the drug
and four letters addressed TO prisoners in
the Tombs are said 10 have been found in
the lining OF his coat when searched.
There we're also an equal number of let
ters addressed 10 prisoners. Reference IN
the letters to happy dust" was inter-
preted by Floyd Fl. Wilmo;. Assistant
District Attorney. to mean morphine. One
letter. which was addressed TO a 'trusty'"
resulted In the speedy reduction OF the
"trusty' by Warden Hanley. The letter
is as follows.
Dear Mac: A little happy dust Re-
CARDS 70 Jim and all the boys. He Will
give YOU my name and address"
Other letters began Dear Friend Arlie'
Dear Friend Jim" and Pal Buck"
"Jln's" letter was as follows:
Happy dust. old boy VIII give you
my address
Atticus r. Mitchell. who is said to be the
president OF the Southern Pharmacy Com
pany. which operates a drug store at No.
500 Eighth avenue. was arrested yesterday
at the request of Floyd H. Wilmot for
selling heroin without a prescription and
in an unlabelled package. clerk en-
ploved in the Southern Pharmacy was ar