Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-11
THOMAS ROBERTS
On Druo Peddlers

TRACKING down drug sellers is. in a
l. measure, comparable to big game hunt
ing, is the opinion of Thomas Roberts
special federal narcotic agent in the Phila-
delphia Office. At least it is fully as thrill
ing says Mr.. Roberts.
"Thc big fellows, especially, who are the
ones that we are most anxious to capture
said Mr.. Roberts; ARE regular marVeis
when It comes to keeping one guessing. Ihe
schemes which they develop to carry on
their Illicit traffic and outwit the authori-
ties are worthy of better purpose The
same skill and wit, used in constructive
way, would place them high in the ranks OF
the community's citizens.
"If one were to look at it purely from the
standpoint of the pleasure and excitement
which you get in matching wits with these
fellows. in defeating their schemes. capturing
the drugs which they attempt to dispose of,
preventing it from being distributed, and in
catching the big fellows themselves ana
getting the goods on them so that you Will
be able to present evidence in court that will
convict them, this business would have many
compensations.
Used Mails for Deliverance
The cunning of Machiavelli. the
strategy of a Napoleon or a Foch. and the
guile, craft and nerve of historE,s noted
figures are all combined in these fellows.
''I arrested two young fellows the other
day, sons of wealthy parents, who had a
prize scheme to get drugs through the
peddlers and users.
"It was nothing more or less than plan
to use the mails and let Uncle Sam do the
work for them. They reasoned that in this
way they lessened the personal risk and
that Uncle Samuel would simply be guilty of
breaking his own laws. 1t was pretty
scheme.
'But II they thought that their risk was
lcssened when they got into court, they had
reckoned without their host. When they
finally get there they will learn their mis-
take and learn their lesson thoroughly at
that.
II trailed several we'll known users in the
central section of the city. One of them
had been sick In bed for a month. l knew
that he was getting the drugs regularly
He did not come in contact with any one
except his physician, who knew was too
reputable a man to have supplied him with
drugs, unless they were an actual medical
necessity.
Regular Mail Deliveries Give Clue
'"There was one point that struck my
fancy and that was the fact that the post e
mon delivered little colored package each
day, as regularly as the clock works.
''I followed up these mail deliveries and
found that it contained many packages Of
| drugs. Then it was but step to go to the
| source and there find the Senders. / was
| taken for a drug addict, got the drugs on a
number of occasions, until l finally dis
closed my real identity and placed them
| under arrest.
II got big thrill when I tried to arrest
a big distributor, whom had led to believe
was about to make me a $4,000 sale, AS
placed him under arrest, he made an outcry
and the next thing 4 knew was surrounded
| by q crowd that tried to take the prisoner
from me. 1t became case for the hospital
| before was able to close the incident, and
| might have occasioned several funerals il
| had not had the good fortune to retain my
| wits.
II recently completed a purchase Of
| enough drugs to keep the city happy for d
| week. When it came to paying, ! was
forced to produce n gun to show the sever
peddlers In the case the error OF their ways
| and take them to the commissioner. In
cidentally the capture included an expensive
automobile.
Bank Official Sent to Jail
"In my visits down South the big fellows
in the business gave US a lot OF trouble. Th'
difficulty was in getting the man higher up
NV work directed my attention to banl
official, a man whose reputation was ap
parentiy beyond any possible question of {
doubt, who ranked high In the community IL
""But patience brought its reward and tn
time came when ! was able to get the eyi