Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-06-16
Trap Dope King
$1,000 in Narcotics

prize fighter, now a nerve-shaKen
opium smoker, who had been arrested
in a pretentious house at 4s15 North
Smedley Street, Logan, where was
found one of the largest supplies CT
opium, cocaine and other narcotics
ever discovered in this city.
Living with him in the respectable
Logan residence was woman, also
of the underworld, who tried TO foil
detectives and Federal agents when
thew descended en- the house by
barring their way and by fiingins
from the windows large balls of gum
opium, thought to have been brought
to this country from Turkey, where
"giut" Of the drug has existed since
the start of the war.
Hints were not lacking of visits to
this residence Of some of the re
spectacle citizens" of the city, who
sought in the dreamy fumes of the
poppy blossom surcease from dull
care, or renewed excitement for Jaded
or overwrought nerves. In fact, it
was the visits of several such persons
to the house and the recognition of
the master" Of the house himself by
Police Captain Nicholas kenney, who
lives in the neighborhood. which
brought to hook the man who has
been watched by Federal and city au-
thorities for almost decade, without
having found direct evidence against
him
The evidence was found this time,
on the roof, in the basement, flung
into the side yard. hidden in a piano
in the parlor and secreted in hidden
closet in a bare second-story room
Federal authorities valued the dope"
at 5000. Diluted with sugar of milk.
as the minor agents who surreptiti-
ously pass the decks, 'or little white
papers Of the stuff from hand to hand
among the addicts. are accustomed to
dilute it, it probably would bring in.
$4,000 or $4,000, they say.
An entire table was covered with
the bottles, papers and balls of the
narcotics at the hearing yesterday.
Crouched beside it, with his face
resting on his arms so that news
paper photographers. who haressed
him with innumerable flashlights,
could not get his picture, was the &C
cused. Dreamy steel grey eyes,
livid complexion of cold slate grey.
a protruding lower lip. and a wasted
form-that was "Puge" Clark, former
prize-fghter. who under his real
name. Max Friedman. was formally
charged with dealing in narcotic
drugs, and with being in possession
Of smoking opium.
Friedman was not humble person.
however. He seemed to feel himself
just what a number of drug pedlars
who stood about the room, unknow-
ing that they were also being
watched by the authorities, knew him
to be, a venerable Dope King"
Colonel Will Gray Beach, head of the
Narcotic Division of the Department
Of Internal Revenue. who engineered
the raid after the city detectives in
formed him Of the case, declared that
the King is worth at least about
$50. 900 and possesses besides his high
powered motorcar, at least twelve
properties about the city. Jewelry
and other possessions of consider
able value were found at the Logan
address.
1t was shortly after noon Monday
that six detectives and three Federal
agents went to the residence on in
formation given by City Deceive
Thomis J. Leo who had been watch
ing the house for several weeks,
following the recognition of Friedman
by Captain Kenney. Friedman was
known to the police when he lived at
405 North Franklin Street. in what
used to be called the "Tenderloin."
His house had been raided there,
but Friedman. feeling less secure in
that neighborhood. had managed
never to have any of the narcotics
on hand. About six months ago he
moved into the new house, and was
familiar figure in the neighborhood,
motoring in an expensive car with a
woman who is said to be named May
Miller.
The detectives surrounded the
house, and one of them knocked at
the door. There was no answer, so
they opened it to see the woman,
about thirty years old. coming down
the steps. Half way down them she
turned around and ran to the second
story and into a front room. This
she closed and barred. but it was
forced down.
Friedman, according to John
Walsh, one Of the city detectives, waA
lying on a bed smoking an opium
pipe. He pushed the pipe onto the
floor and reached for some white
powder on a tray" near the bed, but
Walsh seized this. While he was dis
covering gum opium on the roof, out
side the window. other detectives
found some outside on the ground. In
a secret closet in the second room was
found a large colectionsof bottles hid
den under some bedclothes. In the |
piano downstairs were found some
more Of the drugs.
The girl was not arrested because
Friedman said she didn't have any |
thing to do with the ownership of the
drugs. Phillip Pachelli. Edward J. |
Hicks, Leo. William Palmer, John |
Walsh aud Odap E;,lor,,r <1zt.