New-York tribune., 1918-02-22
Three Doctors and Five
Druggists Taken in
Roundup
Clew Given by
Navy Surgeon
dope" Sold Without For
mality, Revenue
Men Say

~ NDOiSSdiS VI lN
trafiickers in heroin. cocoainc and other
habit-formng drugs. last night resulted
n the arrest of eight men-thrcc phys
icians and five druggists by Internal
Revenue agents and members of the
lolice narcotic squad. The net cast out
by The Federal authorities constitutes,
it is said, The first body-blow against a
condition of undisguiscd dope ped
ding" growing daily more appalling.
Last nights prisoners were named in
sealed indictments charging violation
of the Harrison law, drawn up by AS
sistsnt United States Attorney Ben A.
Mattehws. and returned by Federal
grand jury on Wednesday. They are !:
Street; DR.. A. A. Robert Bankowsky,
400 East Eighty-second Street; DR.. NJ.
A. Di Preta, 444 East 11Sth Street;
Henry V. Myers. druggist at 231o
Eighth Avenue. and his clerk. Isadorc
S, Workin; Barnet Kirschstcin, drug
gist at 1902 Second Avenue; John
Dwork, prescription clerk for Kirsch-
stein, and Antonio Pctraglia, druggist,
of 22oS First Avenue.
Surgeon Gives CIew
A surgeon in the United States navy
gave the first information which made
last nights raid possible. In the course
of his duties, he trcatc a sailor and
discovered his patient was a drug ad
dict. By questioning the sailor, the
surgeon learned that civilians and
naval men were able to obtain amy
quantity of dope desired, without
the slightest formality, from phys scians
who catered 10 d large illegal trade in
This information, given to Mr. Mat
thews, resulted in turnin., over the
case to d. J. CAN'T, agent IN charge Of
the New York division OF the Internal
Revenue Department, for investigation
The narcotic squad was called in for
cooperation, and the combined force of
about forty men started their search
of the city three weeks ago.
"Thc conditions they found were ap-
palling," SAID Mr., Matthews last night.
''it appeared as if the Harrison law,
which superseded the state law last
year. had had no effect in lcsscning
the traffic in drugs. 1t seemed to be
carried on much more openly"
1t was found, according TO the rev
cnue men. that dope was prescribed
by certain doctors without any pre-
tencc at examination or treatment.
One of the revenue agents, partlcu
larly healthy looking man. went into
the crowded Office OF one of the drug
selling physicians.
81 want (. prescription for thirty-tive
grains Of heroin,', he told the doctor.
"That's my daily supply"
Obtained Two Days Supply
"Better tako two days worth of the
stuff" the physician replied, and wrote
out an order for seventy grains, TO be
filled by druggist he named.
The three physicians arrested kept
five offices. at each of which. according
to Mr.. Matthews, from fifty to one hun
dred addicts received prescriptions for
narcotics every day. DR.. Bankowsky
maintained offices, in addition to the
Eightyfourth Street and at pit West
123d Street.
Physicians. it is alleged, charged for
their dope" prescriptions according to
the amount Of drug called for. The
usual rate of pay was: Thirty five
grains of heroin, 81; fifty grains, 81 80,
and fifteen gralus, 30 cents.
DNc mau VINO ASKED Tor noroln re-
ceived an order for cocaine in addition.
Usually the man received nvc or ten
grains moro than he asked fer The
docton always explained that as the law
required drugs given addicts to be
gradually cut down in amount it would
be better to tart with larger guam
tity.
"Doctor. what will you do when 7 get
down too jow?" asked one drug victim
mournfully.
"Why, I'll give you another name and
start you all over again at the top"
said the physician.
No treatment for the eradication of
the drug habit was ever given the ad-
diets, according to Matthews, and even
women and boys of seventeen or cigh-
teen were started in the use of n&r-
Cotics.
Members of the drug squad took
charge of the Offices of the arrested
physicians. As the victims called for
their daily supplies they were first Ques-
toned and then turned over 10 physi-
cans. They were assured that they
would receive immediate treatment for
the cure Of the habits they had formed
aud every protection by the Federal
government.
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