The New York herald., 1921-01-15
YOUTH AND 5 BOYS
HELD IN DRUG RAID
Detective in Role of Addict
Buys Dope and Finds Sup
ply in a Flat.
$4,000 WORTH Is SEIZED
Lads Sent to Childen's So
ciety-NarcOtics Struggled
in From Europe.
$4,000 WORTH Is SEIZED

Detective Boylan of the headquar-
ters narcotic squad stood in First ave-
nue. near Thirteenth street yesterday
morning, shivering in a doorway while
the wind and the srain drenched his
clothing. He was roughly dressed
With cap pulled down over his eyes;
his hands twitched nervously and the
little of his face that showed was
drawn and pallid. He was carefully
made mp to resemble drug addict in
the last stages of the habit.
Boylan had not been standing there
more than fifteen minutes when q
twelve-year-old boy, who later said he
was Joseph Cusinano of 349 East
Thirteenth street, came along. his
slight form almost hidden by a huge
umbrella. The boy stopped and
watched the detective curiously, and
Boylan exaggerated the twitching OF
his hands and his general discomfort
The boy came closer.
Say. Mister" he said. do you want
to buy some stuff?'
Sure" said Boylan. That's wha,
I'm looking for
According to Boylan. the boy then
stepped into the doorway beside him
and drew him back into the shadows.
There he reached into his pocket and
pulled out a number OF small bottles,
one of which the detective says he pur-
chased for $3.50. This bottle, Boylan
said. contained cocaine.
The detective followed the boy, nc
said, and saw him go into the East Thir'
teenth street address. He notified Lieut.
Henry Scherb. in command of the Mar
cotlc Squad. Late yesterday afternoon
the police raided the Cusinano home
and arrested Joseph and his brother
Thomas. who is 10 years old. search
Of the apartment according to the po-
lice, revealed 5000 worth of cocaine and
heroin hidden in phonograph under a
bed and inside a couch.
on information obtained from Cusi-
nano the detectives then arrested sal
atore Cattadore. IA, of S56 East Thir-
teenth street: Philip Tullotta, IA, OF -
First avenue: Frank Salsilla, IA, OF S5
East Thirteenth street, and salvatore
Lotado, Is. OF 352 East Thirteenth street
all of them public school boys.
DR.. Carlton Simon, Special Deputy
Police Commissioner in charge OF the
narcotic investigation. said last night
that the arrest OF Thomas Cusinano
and the five small boys was one of the
most important his detectives have
made IN long time. Thomas Cusinano
Dr.. Simon said was the Pagan OF the
gang. obtaining the cocaine and heroin
and sending the boys out to sell 1t to
addicts. For their work they received
25 per cent. commission on all sales
made by them and 10 per cent. or
sales made by Cusinano. In which tho
BOYS acted as lookouts. The work oi
the gang, Dr. Simon said. has beer
going on for several months. the dope
being obtained from smugglers who
bring it in from Europe. Cusnanc
put It up in vials to be sold by the
boys for $3.50, So and SIS each.
According to DR.. Simon none OF the
boys is a drug addict, although thu
detectives are investigating a report
that they had been selling the narcotics
70 school children in the Gas House
district The younger boys were Sent
10 the Childrens Society. while Thomas
C,usinano was locked UP at Headauar'
tcrs charged with possessing and vend-
ing narcotics.