New-York tribune., 1919-02-18
O'Leary Calls
Drug e Expert to
His Defence
DR.. Lichenstein Testifies
That Statements of Opiate
Addicts Are Unreliable
Move Aimed at Victorica
Confessed User of Morphine
Is Principal Witness of
the Government in Trial

The Susceptibility Of drug addicts
to suggestion, especially if promised
the drugs they crave, was described
yesterday by DR.. Perry M. Lichen-
stein, specialist on drug addiction
and mental diseases. at the trial of
jeremiah A. OLeary and his asso-
ciates. O'Leary and his co-defendants
are on trial before Judge A. N. Hand
in the Federal District Court on an
indictment which charges conspiracy
to obstruct the draft
The Introduction of DR.. Lichen-
stein by the defence was the open
ing of an attack on the testimony of
Nine, Marie X. de Victorica, the gov
ernment's chief witness. This self
acclaimed German operative while on
the witness stand told Of alleged
dealings she had with O'Leary in the
interest of Germany. While under a
grllllng croSs-eXaminatlon she de-
clared she was d drug addict and that
she had been given morphine before
she entered the courtroom.
Affects Intelligent Most
In answer to questions by Colonel
Fielder he explained that it had been
his experience that the effect of a drug
on highly intelligent person was much
more pronounced than on person of
poor mentality. He swore that the cul-
tured addicts were more prone to con-
cealment and therefore a combination of
restrained nerves and morphine had a
greater effect on their highly organized
intelligence.
Arthur OLeary, who is appearing as
counsel for the American Truth Soci-
ETY., then took up the Interrogation.
timony that drug addicts are suscep-
tible to suggestive influence. Dr.
Lichenstein added that drug addict
will commit any crime and admit any
statement to obtain the drug.
When Assistant United States At
torney James w. Osborne took up the
cross examination he clashed immedi-
ately with DR.. Lichenstein on the re
liability of Nine. Victorica.
ON passing on the credibility of d
person don't you think it would be
fore passing expert opinion?" asked
Mr.. Osborne.
"I would not consider it necessary
in view Of the facts in this case" re-
sponded the witness.
On re- direct examination Arthur
O'Leary brought out the strongest
point for the defence in the physi-
clans testimony. The witness said
that a strong characteristic Of NOR
phine addicts was the plauslblllty
of their statements.
Shipping Board Manager on Stand
The next witness called by the
defence was John D. Moore, a consult
ing engineer who said that he had
been State Conservation Commissioners
and production manager with the
United States Shipping Board. Mr..
Moore, who has been mentioned in the
trial, said that he was national secre-
tary of the Friends of Irish Freedom
In answer to o question he
said that Cardinal Farley and other
prominent officials Of the Catholic
| Church were in charge of the affair.
The witness then told of the prelim-
mary work done before the opening
of the bazaar He also testified re
garding the meeting held by the work
ers at T15 Lexington Avenue, where,
according to Mrs. Gonzales, witness
for the prosecution, plans for obstruct-
ing the draft were discussed. He en-
phatically denied that this was a closed
meeting and said that the coming of
people was encouraged rather than
discouraged In contradicting the tes-
timony of Mrs. Gonzales, he said that
Jeremiah O'Leary in his speech had
not uttered one word that might be
construed as antagonlstic to the
United States.