Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1916-01-28
DRUG F|ENDS
BEAT THE LAW
IN THIS CITY
Come Here from New York and
Get Dope" Through Physi-
clans Prescriptions.
JUDGE OSBORNE ASKS
FOR AN INVESTIGATION
Doctors Who Were Unwittingly
Brought Into Case Are Well
Known Locally.

Drug fends from New York have
found a way 10 evade the Federal and
State anti-drdg laws and are obtain
ing all the drugs they require i'm this
city, according TO the testimony
of two confessed users of dope
before Judge Harry Y. Osborne,
in the Court Of Special Sessions yes
terday afternoon. The names of the
Two prominent local physicians. who
have unwittingly helped those addict
ed to the drug habit to get around the
drug law, We're mentioned.
Judge Osborne directed the atten-
ton OF Assistant Prosecutor Wilbur
Mott to the testimony and suggested
that an investigation be conducted.
From another source it was learned
that United States secret service man
have been working in this section for
some time in connection with the
alleged traffic in drugs in this city.
The scheme by which the drug
fiends are satisfying their wants IN
spite of the strict Federal statute,
according to the two who outlined 1t
to Judge Osborne is this:
They come here twice week, lie
first time visiting one doctor for treat
ment for the drug habit and the sec
ond time visiting a different doctor
for the same treatment Each phy5i
clan, unaware that the supposed pa
tient is getting treatment elsewhere,
writes out a prescription for "A certain
quantity of the drug, reducing The
quantity with each visit
By visiting the two physicians the
drug user the first week gets double
the quantity he is used TO, and can
save up the stuff for future use. TIE
second week. of course, he does not
get as much-each doctor has reduced
the amount in the preparation-bu
still he gets more than enough aad
can store il up for future use. TIE
third week and the succeeding weeks
of the treatment the amount is still
further reduced until eventually the
combined prescriptions only meet the
users needs.
Then the drug fiend will have To
find new doctor and start the treat
ment all over again. or get the drug
from some companion who is just
starting the scheme and has more
than he needs.
MAYNARD Hurdy, twenty-four years
old. of 81 West SiXtieth street, and
James Wilson. twenty-five, of t6U
West Sixtieth street, both of New
York, were the men who outlined the
plan to Judge Osborne. Hurdy was
on trial for stealing a camera from
the Rikcr- Hegeman Drug CompanNs
store az Broad and Clinton streets.
Wilson had confessed to the theft
and was testifying that Hurdy had
nothing to do with the theft.
TO justify their presence in Newark
on the day the theft was committed.
January II, the young men declared
they came here to see their doctors
fer treatment for the drug habit. BY
using his expert knowledge of drugs
and the methods employed in treat
ing victims of the habit, Judge Os
borne got the men talking and they
revealed what they knew of the traffic .
J ere.
Wilson even ventured the opinion
that 90 out of every 100 cases treated
in the New York hospitals were un-
successful. He explained to the court,
who pretended to have only "A smat-
tering knowledge on the subject, what
the different treatments means and
how they were employed.
"Why did you come to Newark for
treatment" asked the court.
I'VE couldn't get it in New York,
Continued on Page 3, Column g.