Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-03
DOPE'S HORRORS Barred;
VICTIMS TRICKS TOLD;
PEDDLTNG king" HELD
'Dago' Ernest's Home, Accusers
Say, Was Place for Sale
of Misery and
Suffering"
WOMEN AMONG VICTIMS
Vice Squad Men Tell of Battles With
Drug Fiends, Thugs and
Pickpockets

! Life in the Philadelphia underworld
| the doings and haunts of dope" 1ends.
! pickpockets and thugs given when Ernest
Percura, alias Ernest O'Neil alias "Dago"
Ernest was arraigned before United
states Commissioner Long for further
hearing in the Federal Building. accused
of being the arch -pedder Of dope" in
this city.
United States Attorney Kane presented
the evidence against "Dago" Ernest. as
he is more commonly known to the Gov
ernment officials and the police Bail
was fixed at $4,000 for court on several
dope" charges, which is the largest bail
demanded for any alleged offender against
the Harrison anti-narcotic law since II
went into effect.
Frall. small and boylsh-looking, we'll
dressed and scrupulously neat, Ernest sat
silent and heard the evidence pile up
against him. Occasionally a smile would
flicker across his face. He said nothing
even when Mr.. Kane presented almost a
directory" full of names of dope" users
who have been arrested as they left
Ernests alleged former home, 22Otk North
Juniper street.
DIRECTORY" OF CUSTOMERS.
whats that, a drectory?" j. Joseph
Murphy, Ernests lawyer asked of Mr.
Kane as he scanned the long list.
"Tt is almost" Mr.. Kane answered.
This man perhaps does not realize the
seriousness of the charge against him. He
has been peddlng misery and suffering
for months. Virtually ever since the Har-
rison act went into effect the law has been
violated at that Juniper street house,
and the charge of peddling is proved by
the fact that dope users and peddlers
have been going there night and day for
months"
There was a decided stir in the hear.
ing room when a frail little woman, Mar
garet Taylor 224 North 9th street, was
sworn in by Commissioner Long to sub
stantiate an affidavit she had made ac-
cusng Ernest of having sold her NOR
phine on at least six occasions.
Ernest was arrested on February IA,
when a raid was made at 232 North
Camac street, his present home, where
narcotic drugs were found hidden in a
secret place underneath bathroom floor.
How members of the vice squad bat
tied with thugs and pickpockets and drug
fiends near the North Juniper street
house was told by many witnesses. Most
of the arrests of persons leaving there
were made in the small hours of the
morning.
Revelations were made of how users
of dope" concealed drugs. When ques-
toned, several women prisoners, vice
squad men said, stuffed the dope into
their mouths and attempted to swallow
it" One woman even had a package of
morphine fastened around the neck OF
her woody dog with an elastic band.
COCAINE HIDDEN IN CLOTHES.
Men and women were found with CO.
caine sewed in the lining of their clothes.
while men, they say almost invariably
had cellar" pockets, that is, trouser
pockets with holes, so that the small
dope" packages could be made to slide
down the inside of their trousers to the
pavement unnoticed If a member of the
squad came dangerously near.
Other testimony included descriptions
of attempted 'beat-ups'' and the "frisk-
Ing of prisoners, including one fight, in
which the prisoners mouth had to be
forced open with a blackjack to prevent
him swallowing a package of dope"
which was not only incriminating but
which might have been fatal had the
prisoner been successful in his attempt
The majority of evidence was supplied
BY members of the vice squad. Among
those of the squad who testified were
Hart, Brendley, Applegate, Walsh, Pal
ner. Pachelli and Hicks. When asked the
occupation of many of the dope" fends
they had arrested they replied almost |
that many of them were !
crooks"
Accompanied by Mr.. Murphy, his law
yer, Ernest left the Federal Building after
the hearing, as bail had been FURNISHED |
almost Immediately.