Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-15
ALLEGED DRUG KING
ARRESTED BY PORTER
DR.. II. G. Hammers, OF Tampa, Fla,
Charged With Wholesale
Dealing in Cocaine.
PORTER DESCRIBES ARREST
Revenue Agents Have Been on Trail
OF Accused Man for Wecks-HeId
in Now York Under Higher Bail
Than Alleged German Spies.

Colonel Daniel l.. Porter "A member
Of Governor Stnart's staff. formerly at
tachcd TO the Office Of the Collector Of
Internal Revenue here. passed through
Eichinond yesterday after having eff
fcctcd tho arrest in New York Of DIR.
n. hammers. OF Taripa. Fla, de-
clarei to he the biggest importer and
vendtr of narcotics in violation of the
Harrison antinarcoti" act operating In
the country. For years revenue agents
had been on the trail of the Florida
physician, but he had always eluded
their grasp. Evidences OF his alleged
vast Importation OF narcotics have been
found in Jacksonville. Atlanta. Balti-
more. Philadelphia. Buffalo. Memphis.
Nashville. st. Louis and Chicago. 1t
Is probable that some of the supply
found It's way into Richmond.
Hammers. after he had been tra!led
about the country by Colonel Porter.
wss arrested in New York In an cx-
shipment OF narcotics which. It Is al
legged. he had Gent to himself from
Tampa. There a trap had been laid
for him. and six ,nen OF the revenue
department and IA Jictaphone are ready,
II is said. TO testify 10 lIammerss ad-
missions az to ownership. origin and
his II am the German American Medi-
cal Institute" the name under which
he operated in Tampa. lie is being
held In tho Tombs in default Of $4,000
bail, while dope" valued by Revenue
Agent Porter at 100000 has been con-
cotics. II Is believed. was smuggled,
as Hammers had frequently Travelled
between Tampa and Havana.
HELD IN HIGHER BAIL THAN
ALLEGED GERMAN SPIES
When arrested. Hammers had on his
trerson $4,000 in New York Exchange.
lie is formally charged with selling
III a..
I tinarcotic act. He was held under
10000 bond the first dag. but when
srraigncd later before the United
states commissioner ne vas commit cd
% the ToinbS In default OF bond placed
by the commissioner at S25. 900. larger
'han that demanded Of the German
spies and said TO he one Of the largest
bonds ever cXactcd In "a Federal case.
We have records OF Hammcrs' y
operations as wholesaler" said Col
onel Porter. and he has peddlcd it
from one end OF the country to tho
other in lots of from one ounce up
10 5000 worth. The arrest brings TO
Justice tho biggest operator in the drug
sflc in the country to-day"
Following Iammers's arrest and
arraiSnment in New York, Revenue
Agent Nutt assigned Revenue Agent
ror;er and tho Flying Squadron
composed OF the pick OF tho men in the
revenue service, to investigate Ham
mcrs's headquarters in Tampa. The
officers found Hammers headquarters
htted up luXuriously AZ dcns rivalinS IN
furnishings and comfort those OF the
Orient and of the Harbary coast.
DESCRIBES VICTIMS AS
PTTItBLE WRECKS
scores OF a1hicts applied while the
revenue ascnp had the place III charge.
and Colonel Porter described them as
the most pUiable wrecks he had ever
Witnessed. Since their supply Of dope"
mad been Ghr off he called on the poo
rlc Of Tampa TO come to their rescue.
Five trunks OF dope were found and
conilscated. and the haul is said TO be
worth 100000.
colonel Porter has been highly COM
mcndcd for his efficient and thorough
work. He is from stanton. and vas
attached TO the Richmond Office OF the
internal revenue department about six
months betore being called TO do duty
on tho Mexican border. There he com
mandcd n motor truck company. which
h" did so we'll as to cause the highest
comncndatory reference to the War
department. While in RichmoId he
was a revenue agent in the income tax
department. In recognition of his
"DIuiy NJ has been made a revenue
gent.