The New York herald., 1921-01-17
DRUG RAID MADE
in PURE FOOD SHOP
Two Men Arrested When De-
tectives of Narcotic Squad
Visit Broadway Place.
MARKED MONEY PASSED
Sleuth Poses as Rich Addict'S
Valet in Investigation
Lasting Month.

Considerable stir was caused in the
bright light section of upper Broadway
last night when it became known that
detectives OF the staff of DR.. Carleton
Simon. Special Deputy Police Commits
sioner. and Ralph Oyler. Federal mar
cotic agent. had arrested two men. one
a waiter. in Reuben's Pure Food Shop,
Inc, 2120 Broadway, on the charge
of dispensing narcotics. The Reuben
place has been the brightest spot in
the upper West Side since the Eight
eenth Amendment descended on the
Great White Way, and has been the
gathering place for large crowds OF
fashionable dressed men and women in
the early hours Of the morning.
The prices charged for food at the
shop have been reviewed by the courts
at the instigation of Robert II. Manner.
banker and honorary battalion chlet
of the Fire Department who objected
TO paying Reuben s2J for a ham.
Reuben took the matter into the courts
and a Municipal Court Justice held
s14 was a fair price. Reuben again
objected, but Supreme Court Justice
confirmed the findings Of the lower
court
According to Dr. Simon. who has an
nounced no place viii be spared from
'.the hovel on the East Side to the pail
ace in Riverside Drive in the fight TO
| drive narcotic dispensers out OF New
York, the police have been working up
| the case against the two men arrested ~
Reuben's place for more than a month.
Harry Sails, boyish looking policeman
was assigned to make the restaurant
more or less of a hangout, DR.. Simon
| said. with the view TO see II he could
learn whera narcotics could be purchaser
after he had become acquainted
Professed to BE valet.
/ sails worked under the name of Miller
/. and represented himself to be valet 70 a
wealthy drug addict. Miller succeeded
IN ingratlating himself into the conh-
dence of Napoleon Gervais, 50, OF 2oi
West Fifty-fifth street. who was en-
ployed In the restaurant as waiter.
Through Gervais, the detective says,
he obtained an introduction TO Elmer
Sullivan. 25, Of 90 Eighth avenue. lie
\ first met Sullivan last Friday night N
saloon at Eighth avenue and FIFTY
fourth street, at which time, the detec-
tive alleges, he bought IL grains or
heroin for SIS. Sails represented that
his employer needed a great deal more
! of the STUFF It is said, and entered INTO
an agreement to meet sullivan in Reu-
ben's place yesterday afternoon.
Federal Agent Oyler and Sergeant J.
J. Mooney Of the Commissioners staff
were standing across the street when
| Sails entered the restaurant They
gave him enough time ''to transact busi-
ness." they said later. and then followed
! him into the plasc Both Oyler and
Mooney say they saw sails hand sac in
\ marked bills to Sullivan, and the latter
pass package to the detective. The
/ two witnesses then closed in on sullivan
! and placed him under arrest
Mr.. Reuben, who was in front OF the
| restaurant at the time, hastened 10 the
rear and announced that mistake lnuAt
have been made when he saw the detec-
tives seize Gervais.
~
planned Sergeant Mooney. this waiter
introduced this detective so he could OBJ
tain narcotics"
"1f that Is the case" Mr.. Reuben =
quoted as having said. II will help you
officers in every possible way to convict
this man"
Prisoners Make statements.
Although there were twenty or more
! persons in the restaurant at the time me
| arrest caused little or no confusion. Ger
/ vais and sullivan were taken to Police
! Headquarters. where. the detectives say.
/ they made statements admitting they
had been traflcking in habit forming
drugs. Gervals had been employed In
the restaurant for about year and had
been IN partnership" with Sullivan for
several years, y was said.
sails. Oyler ard Mooney say that the
high price paid for the drugs was in
/ keeping with the charges made for food
/ at Reubcn's Sails has been eating most
/ OF his meals for the last month at Reu-
| hens. he said. and has az Zines paid -
/ for a sandwich, 81 for coffee and cake
\ for two and S2.T0 for coffee. two sand
/ witches and bottle of ginger ale Moo
| ney had a sandwich and q cup of coffee,
7 he says, while waiting for Sails TO pass
/ the money TO Sullivan. This cost him
/ S1.2o. AS regards the drug prices. the
detectives assert they could purchase the
same amount on the lower East side FOR
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