The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-17
MORE ARRESTS
MADE HERE IN
DRUG CRUSADE
DR.. Edward E. Gardner and
G. F. Phillips, Druggist,
Are Seized.
HEAVY BAIL FOR ALL
State Law Operative, With
Only 1000 Of 100000 Ad-
diets Registered.
HEAVY BAIL FOR ALL

day in the Governments campaign
against the illegal traffic in habit form
ing drugs. At the Custom House be-
tween 100000 and 800 900 filled out
prescription blanks which were seized
In raids on two drug stores Tuesday
night we're arranged for an examina-
ton that may lead to the arrests of
more physicians. Drugs worth $4,000
were seized with the prescription
blanks.
The new prisoners were DR.. Edward
E. Gardner. 246 West Seventy first
street, and George F. Phillips, pro-
prietor Of the drug store in sss Eighth
avenue, which was one OF those raided.
Both were arraigned before United
States Commissioner Hitchcock
charged with violating the Harrison
anti-narcotic law. They were released
in 5000 bail.
High Bail for Physicians.
Other prisoners arrested in the raids
and who passed the night in the Jail at
the East lo4th street station also were
arraigned. Bail was fixed at $1,000 for
the following: DR.. Arthur II. Stern, 327
Katts. III East 1l3th street DR.. Joseph
Kornbium. 1S40 Lexington avenue, and
DR.. N. A. Levy. ;e7 Lenox avenue.
Aaron J. Goldberg, druggist. whose
store In 1912 Lexington avenue was
rsided. was held in $1,000 bail. II. b,
Liss, pharmacist employed by Phillips.
and Charles Fielder drug addict Of 52t
, Fifteenth avenue, Newark, were held in
$1,000 bail each as material witnesses.
Fielder. a poorly dressed. undersized
man with bleary eyes, washed out COM
plexion. was a physical wreck when
arraigned. He finally fell to the floor
in collapse. An ambulance was sum-
! moned from the Volunteer Hospital.
Fielder was given a stimulant and re-
vived.
The arrests marked the beginning Of
the most vigorous effort the Government
| has made to enforce the Harrison law
| and stop the commercialization Of ply
| sicians' professional privileges in New
York. Formerly It has been the prac-
! tice. because OF a lack OF success in
securing convictions, to make arrests in
fragrant cases, confiscate stocks of
drugs. and let the indictments slumber.
DR.. Leopold Harris was convicted
July 10 of violating the Harrison law
by jury in the Federal District Court
and this encouraged the heads of the
narcotic branch of the Internal Revenue
Bureau of New York to believe that q
strong effort to stamp out the Illicit drug
traffic may succeed. The raids were a
direct consequence OF the conviction OF
DR.. Harris. He was to have been sen.
fenced yesterday but was too Ill. He Is
liable TO a fine OF $4,000 and imprison-
ment for flve years on each OF three
counts OF the indictment.
The officials believe that II they can
cause the closing OF not more than
| twenty drug stores in Manhattan they
| will prevent addicts from obtaining
drugs except by compliance with the
law. They charge that Goldberg's store
was a distributing centre for much OF
the populous upper East Side. and say
that the addicts who were detained after
coming out of the place gave addresses
125th street. They allege that Phillips
catered to the custom Of the new tender
loin. Addicts, who called there while
the agents were In possession, said that
| they knew OF no other place where they
could get their prescriptions filled.
Tranic Enriches Doctors.
| 1T Is useless to try to help drug ad-
| Ill Lot WNhI nj L., l.k
prescriptions calling for forty or nifty
| grains OF morphine cocaine or opium are
I filed" said one of the officials DRUG
addiction can be cured, but few addictS
will submit 10 treatment until they are
forced to. We are going to enforce the
Federal statute. We are going to stor
the practice OF a comparatively small
number Of physicians Of writing J 90 OF
200 drug prescriptions a day at a dollar
or two for oach. We are going to stop
those druggists who are filling prescrip-
tions calling for large amounts OF drugs
for the same persons repeatedly. A
physician Is supposed to prescribe for
patients under treatment with q gradual
reduction In quantity. but not to enable
| addicts to satisfy their constantly In.
creasing appetites The physicians and
| the druggists we are after are the fel.
lows who are riding around In costly
limousines that are bought largely
through their commerciaIization of drug
prescriptions.
"Our men who raided Phillips's placs
reported that people IN the neighborhood
told them that It had been marked fol
months because of the large patronag &c
II had among the wounded soldiers con.
valescing in the Polyclinic Hospital ir
West Fiftieth street. II the traffic In
drugs cannot be effectually regulated
many soldiers whose temptation is di.
reotly an outcome OF their service &c
Continued on Fourth Paps