New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-17
0.Oast-tO-C.oast
Crusade Begun
OnDrang Revels
Federal Officials TO Stamp
Out Liquor and Narcotic
Orgies in Film, Theatri-
cal and Artistic Circles
Simon Gives Warnings
Addict Ends Life in Cell
by Hanging; One of
Five Captured in Raid

Alleged liquor and narcotic drug
orgies in certain motion picture, the
atrical and artistic circles are to come
in for a sweeping investigation extend
ing from coast to coast and centering
in Los Angeles. New York and Wash
the Offices of Frank Oyler, Federal Mar
cotic Division Director, and DR.. Garlic
ton Simon, Special Deputy Police Com
missioner.
The determination to stamp out fla
grant violation of the Harrison anti
drug law and the sanitary code drug
laws among people who are otherwise
regarded as responsible, results, it was
said yesterday, not alone from revela-
tons in the Fatty" Arbuckle case, but
from other cases of international no.
torietv. These include the death in
: Tendon of Billy Carleton, comic opera
singer; the death in Paris of Olive
Thomas, and the death in New York
of Sara Campbell Cowen, daughter of
former railroad president.
DIR. Simon Plans Action
"These shocking cases which occur
periodically call out to the world for
action" DR.. Simon said yesterday, add
ing that he had recent information of
startling nature. He admitted that
he had private and personal informa-
ton, which he has held confidential for
months and which he said connected
people, some of wealth and standing,
with the use of and traffic in narcotic
drugs. Many of these people, he said,
have been repeatedly warned to cease
Illegal traffic, and he intimated that
drastic action was imminent
Frank Oyler, in charge of the Fed
eral narcotic Office, was in Brooklyn,
where it was announced that Sabbas
Mentinhs, fourth mate of the recently
raided Grecian steamship King Alex
ander, had made a complete confession
covering the general smuggling opera
tions of members of the ships crew.
In Mr.. Oyler's Office it was admitted
that the government had taken notice
of the "Fatty" Arbuckle case. 1t was
said that the activities of the Federal
agents in investigating the drug and
liquor disclosures following Arbuckle's
arrest were centering in Los Angeles
and were being directed from Washing
ton. The investigation would extend
to New York, it was said, as evidence of
ramifcations here of the traffic de-
veloped.
addict Ends Life in Cell
Joseph Bostwick, thirty-eight years
old, of 1897 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn,
drug addict, hanged himself with his
necktie in q cell in the Clinton Street
police hold-over.
Bostwick kept calling Historically for
Shot of heroin. When his case be-
came serious he received the hypo-
dermic injection of his favorite drug.
but he continued hysterical and his at
tack terminated in self destruction
DR. Simon said:
"Bostwick was suffering from CO.
caine depression, a condition resulting
from heavy usage of the drug. This
often produces a suicidal mania, and
the patient might commit suicide at any
moment regardless Of where he might
be or how much drug he might have
available. His condition was not due
to his arrest. These cases occur in
and out OF jails and they cannot be pre-
vented"
Bostwick was one Of five men arrest
ed by Narcotic Detectives Pastini and
Quigley, OF Dr.. Simon's division. At
Stanton and Attorney streets, soon
sitter being placed in cells, all the men
began pleading for drugs. John Lee,
negro jailer, called an ambulance from
Gouverneur' Hospital and each of the
men was given an injection by Dr.
Wanstein. All were relieved but Bost-
Sick.