The Washington times., 1921-10-30
RESORT TODOPE
TRADE AS BOOZE
L|D|SCLAMPED
D. C. BootIeggers Find Profit
able Substitute for Liquor,
Dry Agents Say.

Bootleggers are becoming dope
peddlers. according TO III. r. Stephen
son, agent In charge OF the Wash
Ington prohibition office. Stephenson
said last night that several liquor
peddiers whose source OF supply had
been stopped. had taken up selling
dope for a livelihood.
Several week ago. Stephenson and
his assistants located one OF the big
sources OF supply Of the Washing
ton bootleggers. and Immediately
there was a lull In the liquor market.
adelphia IN vain effort 10 obtain
liquor for their Washington Gus
omers. The wholesale dealers in
Philadelphia told the Washington pa
trnns that their source OF supply was
being closely watched by Commits
sioner Haynes and that they were
unable TO obtain any liquor. They
told them cf the enormous profits
that could be made by selling dope
in wholesale quantities to the ped.
dlers I'm Washington and in some in
stances gave them the names and
addresses of drug addicts.
Acting on the advice of the
Philadelphia syndicate. II is said
that many of the alleged bootleggers
bought quantities OF the drugs and
brought them to Washington.
Find Good Demand.
At first the boot!eggers were shy
at handling dope. They had never
handled any of II before, did not
know the methods of selling 1t and
doubted there was the ready market
here such as was told them in
Philadelphia. They only bought a
small quantity at first, but it found
such a big and quick sale that the
next time they went back to Phila-
delphia they bought large quanti-
ties.
Stephenson said last night that
Some of the former bootleggers are
now refusing to take a chance on
selling whiskey when they can make
more money and run less chance Of
being detected by selling dope.
Bootleggers on former trips from
Philadelphia with whiskey, carried as
much as fifty gallons in their automo-
biles. They had to carry this amount,
IL is said, because Of the expense OF
the trip and also on account OF the
fact that they would be punished just
as much for carrying one gallon as
fifty. But the large amount Of whiskey
they carried made it either a run or
fight proposition If they were sighted
on the road, and there was no throw
ing off of the liquor while they were
on the run. #
With dope, II is said, II is different.
They can bring 1000 worth of dope
from Philadelphia in two packages and
keep them safe from the sight of pry.
ing eyes. If they are suspected and
chased, as many Of them have been re.
Gently, they put on all the speed they
can and while rounding curves in the
road throw the dope out into the fields
and keep on. After going about five
miles they allow themselves to be
overtaken by the officers.
Search Unavailing.
When they are searched and the car
is searched without finding anything
they explain their trying to escape by
saying that they thought the officers
were holdup men.
AS a matter of fact. it is said, every
dope and whiskey runner on the road
between here and Philadelphia, knows
personally every officer that patrols
the road in every State and town they
pass through, and their explanation
that they thought the officers were
holdup men is merely a ruse.
A few days after things have quiet
ed down, II is said, agents of the dope
runners go along the road and armed
with the description of the place
where the dope was thrown off, find
1t and bring it into Washington.
Agent Stephenson's charge that
bootleggers are now peddling dope is
born out by Detective Mansfield OF
the Fourth precinct station house.
The Fourth precinct covers the
Southwest section of the city, and
has for years been the rendezvous
OF bootleggers.
Detective Mansfield said few days
ago that most of the dope sold in
Washington was sold IN the south
west section of the city and that
was on the wane.