The sun., 1919-08-02
DRUG TRIO GUILTY;
MADE Big FORTUNES
Doctor and Two Druggists
Face Maximum Penalty of
80 Years in Prison.
WEALTHY FOLK ADDICTs
Federal Agents Regard Con-
viction as Most Important
Under Narcotic Law.

When a jury filed into Judge Rufus
Fosters part Of the United states Dis
trict Court late last night and returned
a verdict convicting physician and two
druggists Of conspiracy to violate the
anti-narcotic law there terminated, ac-
cording to Federal officials, one of the
most important prosecutions ever waged
under the drug acts.
The defendants, who were found guilty
specifically Of Illegally selling and aiding
In the sale OF narcotic drugs and of con-
spiracy. gave their names to the clerk Of
the court who took their records as Solo,
mon Rothman, physician of 107 West
Eighty-eighth street, and Louis and Will
lam Cohen, druggists of 16 Amsterdam
avenue. But Ralph H Oyler. special
agent Of the internal revenue, called
them the dope kings"
The story of the fortune which, ac-
cording to the testimony, these three
resped In the pursuance of their trade
Is amazing. Regarding the Doctors in
come figures are lacking. but not so In
the case OF the druggists. Their income,
1t was testified, jumped 1S4S per cent.
wien they began filing the prescripticns
which DR.. Rothman was writing for
We rious addicts. In the year beginning
September. 1916. It was testified. these
druggists took in $500 cash. That was
before they began their extensive drug
traffic.
The following year their income
jumped to S147.654.sS, as a result Of
their dealings with the unfortunate ad-
diets. They were getting anywhere
Fl ON 81 to s11 for filling prescription.
while DR.. Rothman, who is charged with
having supplied a large percentage OF
the prescriptions. was said by witnesses
to have received from 81 to "a for each
case.
According to the testimony addicts
rolled up to the door of the Cohen
drug store in automobiles at all
hours of the day to have their prescrip-
tons filled with orders Of heroin and
cocaine. They also staggered in rags
ready to pay their last dollars for the
drug.
The prosecution of the three was con-
Quoted by Peter B. Olney, Jr.. special
Assistant United States Attorney, while
H b. Dobbins, agent of internal revenue,
and other Federal officers presented the
mass of evidence collected against the
trio. Dobbs was one of the party that
arrested the men.
Mr.. Olney stated last night after the
| announcement of the verdict that the
maximum sentnece which the men can
receive is about thirty-two years i'm
| fines, and that he will be prepared to
ask a very severe penalty when they are
sentenced on August Il.
Mr.. Oyler declared that since thei,
| arrest and while out on bail the men had
filled $4,000 prescriptions for narcotics
They are still out on bail Of $500 each
awaiting sentence.
William Cohen, the elder OF the broth
iers, was for several years employed b,
the Health Department in this city al
drug inspector. his employment having
| te rminated after his arrest. Upon the
announcement of the verdict he broke
into tears.
Former Magistrate wahle and Hya
cinth Ringrose. attorneys for the de
PENDANTS, moved to have the verdict SCI
aside, but Judge Foster overruled them
| According to Mr.. oyler the men wer'
connected with other physicians who
were making a living writing drug pre-
scriptions promiscuously. in the year,
preceding their arrest they handled SO,
600 prescriptions in ALL according Z
the Federal agents.
A. clerk, Harry Weinberg. who WA
arrested with the Cohens, was exonerat
ed by the jury. He was an employees
and had nothing to do with the manage
ment of their place.