New-York tribune., 1921-08-03
<pGis:e Accused
(sf 1 ea'secgatlOHl
I'm Drug Drive
Crafs Accusations Coupled
With Alleged Hountling
of Victims To BE Heard
by Legislative Committee
Cruelty Charges Made
Inquiry Is Planned Into
Clubbing Cases: Hirsh-
field Has New Probe On


The Health Departments connection
with the present system of handling
drug addicts, and the powerful role
played by the Police Department in the
alleged bounding of victims, resulting
in the recent death of one and intense
suffering to countless others, will be
taken up by the legislative committee
investigating the Hearst-Hylan Tam
many administration soon after the
public hearings are begun next Tues.
day.
The announcement was made yester.
day by Senator Schuyler NJ. Meyer
chairman of the committee, following
the arrest of Horace NJ. S. Matheson
a policeman, of the West Forty-seventh
Street station, for the alleged attempted
extortion of $50 from a drug addict
Drug Evil To Be Reviewed
We shall go into the whole question
Of the drug evil and how it is being
dealt with particularly by the health
and police departments" said Senator
Meyer. 1--WE have seen what is hap
penIng as the result of the strong-arm
methods of the police" One person
has died and hundreds of others have
suffered untold miseries In the cir
cumstances the present system GER
talnly does not appear 20 be satisfac-
tory to anybody.
There is no doubt that the system
leaves the gates open to unlimited
graft and oppression and the Matheson
case, II found to be correct, is only
an illustration of what might occur
on large scale if the subject is not
given attention"
Senator Meyer said that Joseph C.
Caiccio, the registered drug addict
from whom Matheson is alleged to
have taken $50, came to him Monday
night and asked the Senator for two
OF the committees Investigators as
passed over yesterday. The Senator
referred Caiccio to the District Attor-
ney's office, telling the victim he would
not take part in any such proceeding.
Copeland Suggested Statute
The present method of handling ad-
diction, explained Senator Meyer, was
put into effect about week ago, when,
at the suggestion of DR.. Royal S. Cope
land. Commissioner of Health, an
amendment to the Sanitary Code was
adopted, making the use of habit form
ing drugs by addicts an offense against
the law
Under the regulation the police were
empowered to make arrests, the offend
ers being sent to Blackwell's Island for
about nine months, or, If they surren-
har Sn1U
given forty days treatment at River
side Hospital.
1t is the contention of the commit
tees informants that the system has
the effect of driving many citizens out
Of town or into sanatoriums controlled
BY ring in favor of continuing the
present scheme. Under the previously
recognized theory, addiction was re-
garded as a disease rather than Grim
inal habit, and private physicians were
allowed a certain latitude in the treat
nent of patients.
The commit is continuing its in
vestigation of other Police Department
matters, particularly that phase in
volving policemen under charges SIM
iliar to those lodged against Charles F.
Tighe. First Assistant District Attor-
ney James G. Wallace appeared at the
committees Offices at 38 Park Row and
turred over batch of papers declared
to contain testimony bearing on the
case Of Patrolman Henry Coleman,
charged with assault. Coleman was
sricd in General Sessions, but the jury
disagreed Mr. Wallace prosecuted the
Gaze.
Hirshfield Threatens Attack
Commissioner of Accounts Hrshfield
promised that the Meyer committee
will not claim all the spotlight when
IL begins it's hearings next week. He
Inserted Yesterday that many subpoena
servers have already been sent ont by
him to round up witnesses for public
hearings. which ne said he planned in
connection with his personal investi-
CATION Of all bills introduced in the
last session Of the Legislature by
saembers Of the Meyer committee. He
SAID that these hearings il he could
get the witnesses in time, would begin
to-day.
Commenting on Senator Meyers
statement that the committee had
spent $4,000 of its 100000 appropria-
t'or. Commissioner Hirshiield said:
"IH bet that Senator Brown Will
submit bill for $4,000 IS counsel
20 the legislative committee. III bet
leonard NJ. Wallstcin and Sam Berger
each asks for $4,000 or $4,000. Berger
"a the law partner of Silver Service
Lusk. ard as the latter, as majority
leader. has TO pass on the payment of
bills in the Legislature, he will see to
it that his partner gets his. The law
vers' fees alone will probably amount
20 between 100000 and $150,000."