The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-22
WAVE
LAID TO DOPE
Anti-Narcotc Chief Says Drugs
Used as Substitutes for Liquor
Cause Orgy of Terror.
BY WINIFRED VAN DUZER,
Universal Service.

NEW YORK, Dec. EFT is not
crime wave but Il narcotic wave
that is rolling over the city.
"The bandits, murderers, and gun
men spreading terror here practi-
cally all are users of drugs. They
are not registered with the State
commission and so far are able to
roam at large, venting their vicious
ness upon the public.
"One hundred thousand dollars
worth of narcotics is sold every day
upon New York's Streets
ADDICTS COMMIT CRIMES.
DR.. n. Carleton Simon. special
deputy police commissioner in charge
of the drug traffic division. today
made these astonishing statements.
A half-dozen spectacular holdups,
robberies, shoOtings, and murders
within the past week have spurred
DR.. Simon's department in establish
ing by statistical record how many
"habitual' criminals-that is persons
convicted more than once-are users
Of narcotics.
He continued: :.
Our record, as yet incomplete, al
ready proves that drugs are behind
the large percentage of crimes.
THE average cost per day Of the
addict's supply is between 81 and IS.
ITO earn that amount in addition
to the sum required to pay for lodE-
ing and the small quantity Of food
necessary to the user is out of the
question for one weakened physically
and mentally as well as morally by
the devastating effect Of opium.
APPETITE DRIVES KILLERS.
still the longing compcls as does
no other torment bcsCtting the
human body. 1t drives the slave out
with a gun to kill and steal to procure
the wherewithal by which it may be
assuaged
"While the law covering drug
traffic is as stringent in this city as
elsewhere, catching and convicting
'peddlers is more difficult because Of
the water on every side of Manhattan,
over which smuggling may be ac-
complished with utmost facility. The
great size of. the city furnishes ad-
ditional shelter for the traffic.
"For this reason such cases occur
as that Of two men. both arrested on
the charge of 'peddiing' and released
on heavy bail, who went back to q
more than ever determined pursuit Of
Illicit selling in an attempt to earn
money with which to pay for their
trial"
Dr. Simon said the most difficult
work OF the police is apprehending
addicts from other cities, particularly
those driven from the West and
Philadelphia, and attracted to New
York by word going out that this city Is
wide open" because of the increased
amount of crime here he went on.
WANTS BUREAU IN ID. &.
"This situation never will be ham
died until central bureau is organ
lied, preferably in Washington, for
the registration of all criminals and
drug addicts from every part of the
country. Such registry would endow
the police of every city with full
knowledge of underworld characters
OF every other city and eliminate n
great menace to the peace and safety
of the nation"
He said that he has no idea the
narcotic wave intensifying crime" is
| due entirely to prohibition.
81 do believe" he stated, that
many underworld resorts once cater
| ing to the vicious element with wills.
! key have substituted drugs.
1.-THE addict type of criminal re-
nuires Dutch courage OF some sort
! before he is capable Of depreciation,
and the ordinarily quiet man becomes
n flghting maniac when he has alb
sorbed certain amount OF cocaine"