New-York tribune., 1920-02-11
DR.. Bishop
Held on Drug
Plot Charge
Authority on Addiction Ac-
cused Over Prescriptions;
Druggist Named i'm Con-
nection With the Case
Friends Defend Expert
Arrest Laid to Members of
the Profession Who Diff
fer With His Methods

Dr.. Ernest s. Bishop, author, lecturer
and widely known authority on drug ad-
diction. was arraigned before Judge
John c. Hough in the United States
District Court yesterday, charged with
violating the Harrison drug law.
He was indicted, according to Assist
ant United States District Attorney
David V. Cahill, on twenty-six counts,
twenty-five of which related to cases in
which DR.. Bishop prescribed drugs for
addicts. The last count alleged con-
splracy with William II. Spangenberg.
druggist, of Eighty Street and
Columbus Avenue. in the filing of drug
prescriptions.
Bishop Pleads Not Guilty
When the indictments. which covered
period of three years, were returned
DR.. Bishop appeared in court by ar
rangement with internal revenue
agents, pleaded not guilty and was re-
leased on $4,000 bail for trial later.
Spangenberg has not been taken into
custody.
DR.. Bishop lives at 15 West SEVENTY
third Street. He formerly was at
tached to Bellevue Hospital, is Fellow
of the American College Of Physicians
and is at present clinical professor Of
medicine in Polyclinic Medical School.
As the result of his wide knowledge of
drugs and their use he was made a
member of the narcotic committee of
the conference Of Judges and justices Of
New York State and the committee of
I habitforming drugs of the American
Public Health Association.
His friends and professional asso-
ciates say that the present action
against him is due to the influence of
state and other professional practi-
TONERS who do not agree with the doc
tors ideas on the subject Of drug addc-
tion. DR.. Bishop has for a long time
held contrary to the general conce ption
bid appetite that should be punished
socially as we'll as legally, that it is a
disease and should be treated as such
Drng Ideas Attacked
His ideas were considered revolu
brought to q climax by the publica-
tion a month ago Of book entitled
The Narcotic Problem" in which Dr..
Bishop set forth his latest ideas on
the subject.
IN the course of this work he states
thnt the way in which drug victims
are spoken of as drug habitues," drug
TENDS and dope fiends" shows scien-
tific neglect Of it and apathy ana in
difference on the part Of thoss who
ought to be better informed A pam
phlet issued by the Mcmillan Company
that published the work, which
is in possession of the Federal prose
cutor, states that Dr. Bishop is not
connected in any way with any So
called drug cures or specifics.
Doctor Refuses to Talk
The physician refused to make any
statement last night, referring all ques-
tioners to his attorney, James Taylor
Lewis, of 40 Exchange Place
! Spangenberg expressed his belief
however, that the entire affair was due
to the Vaccinations Of Jealous prac-
ttioners, saying that Dr. Bishop had
been the subject of their attacks for
many years. He said that recently he
has filled the prescriptions of about
twelve patients receiving treatment
from DR.. Bishop; that the drugs pre-
scribed were of the usual amounts and
dosage, and that most of them were
for patients with painful, incurable dis
eases. He said he rarely got more