The sun., 1919-05-03
SCHIEFFELIN SUES
HYLAN FOR 100000
Says Letter to Copeland In
jured His Reputation
and Business.
INTENDS TO PUSH CASE
Citizens Union Chairman Re-
sents Charge of Illegal
Drug Sales.

William Jay Schief.elin, president OF
Schieffelin a Co., wholesale drug manu-
facturers, and chairman OF the Citizens
Union. instituted suit for libel yester-
day against Mayor Hyian as a result OF
the publication Of communication con-
tanning alleged slanderous statements
sent by the Mayor to DR.. Royal 8. Cope
land, Health Commissioner.
Clarence M. Lewis OF the law firm of
Seligsberg. Lewis q Strouse, attorneys for
Mr.. Schieffelin. filed papers of Supreme
Court action In which judgment OF $780,
600 for malicious injury to the plaintiffs
reputation and business Is demanded
against the Mayor.
Summons and complaint were served
on the Mayor In the City Hall before the
papers were fled In the County Clerks
office and Mr.. Lewis announced on be-
half Of his client that the suit would be
fought through the courts until a verdict
was rendered either for or against Mr.
Schieffelin. He said the suit would not
be secretly withdrawn and that there
would be no private compromise reached
by the principals or their attorneys
Every effort, he said. would be made to
have the matter brought to trial with all
possible despatch.
Letter Brings Fight to q Head.
The suit Is the elimination of a long
and bitter controversy between Mayor
Hylan and Mr.. Schieffelin, as chairman
OF the Citizens Union. which is opposed
to the present City Hall administration,
and was brought TO head when on
April 16 letter dealing with the mar
cotic drug evil in New York. In which
reference was made to Mr.. Schieffelin,
was sent to the Health Commissioner
from the office of the Mayor over Mr.
Hylan's signature.
A copy of the letter Is attached to the
complaint. In II the Mayor tells the
Commissioner that he hopes he will con-
tinue to Brighten druggists doctors and
80 called decent drug addicts whp traffic
illegally In narcotics. and that In cooper
alton with the police he eventually will
get to the wholesalers and manufactur-
ers OF these drugs.
Exception is taken by the plaintiff to
the portion Of the letter which reads as
follows:
''Schieffelin & Co, the firm of which
william Jay Schieffelin Is senior mem
Der and chairman OF the Citizens Union,
so-called reform political organization,
is one Of the chief narcotic drug manu-
facturers and dealers in cocaine, heroin.
morphine and opium in New York
While Schieffelin q Co.'S drug concern
is manufacturing and selling these dan
gerous habit forming drugs for financial
gain, hundreds OF our young men are
using drugs and becoming addicts and
committing crimes, some going insane
The police Of this city are kept busy ap-
pretending drug addicts who commit
crimes as a result of its USE"
Attenttn Is called In the complaint to
that portion OF the Mayors letter IN
which Mr.. Hyian refefs to circular
sent out by Mr.. SchieMelin as chairman
OF the Citizens Union for contributions
70 promote sanity in the city govern
ment and TO command respect for the
law" and refers to the Citizens Union
as paper and bunk" organization.
Mayors TRADE which Caused Suit
Another portion OF the Mayors letter
reads:
Just think of reformer like William
Jay Schieffelin attaching his name to
such letter as this asking the people
to promote sanity when the cocaine and
other narcotics that his drug company
manufactures drive people to insanity
and crime, and asking people to contrib
ute to command respect for the law
when the Schieffelin narcotic drug manu-
featuring company does not comply with
the law until compelled to. A sorry
spectacle is William Jay Schieffelin, the
chairman OF the Citizens Union, appeal
ing for money to command respect for
the law when his drug concern violates
the law in the sale OF narcotics which
makes criminals by the wholesale"
The final chapter of the Mayors letter
stated that he did not know whether Il
was Mr.. Schieffelin's influence and pres-
tige which were behind the campaign In
augurated through the newspapers and
reform organizations to stop the health
investigation. but do know that this
administration compelled William Jay
Schieffelin's drug company to comply
with the law OF this State"
Mr.. Schiefrelin charges in his COM
plant that this final paragraph was used
ironically by the Mayor and was in
tended to charge the plaintiff with manu-
featuring and dealing illegally in mar
cotic drugs and manufacturing and sell
ing for financial gain habit forming