New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-27
Fifty Arrests
Made as DRUG,
Crusade Opens
Several Women Among Pris-
Oners and Addicts Battle
With Detectives Combillg
City Under New Ruling
$4,000 Narcotic Haul
Board Of Health Restores TO
Police the Power TO Curb
Evil Called Public Menace

Detectives working under the direc-
tion of the narcotic division OF the
Police Department yesterday began a
as result of new authority given to
the police by the amending of the sani-
tary code by the Board of Health on
Monday. The addition of new article
to the code confers the same powers as
under the public health law, abolished
by the Legi stature May 13 last.
Yesterdays raids began at noon.
They were marked by frequent fights
in which the raiders were subjected to
much rough treatment. Moro than 100
detectives were employed in the drive.
They invaded all parts of the city.
sometimes being forced to drag their
captives down flights of stairs. At
$3.50 o'clock last night fifty prisoners
had been brought to Police Headquar-
ters, ali charged with having drugs Ia
their possession.
$4,000 in Drugs Seized
DR.. Carleton Simon, in charge of the
narcotic division, estimated last night
that the cocaine, morphine, heroin and
opium seized by the raiders in the
course of the days work was worth at
least $4,000. Detectives continued
their activity until midnight and will
resume operations this morning. The
purpose Of the roundup is to pene-
trata every nook and corner of the city
known to be frequented by the users
of drugs.
A number of those arrested have
been in the custody of the police many
times on charges of violation of the
drug act as we'll as on accusations of
burglary, grand larceny and assault.
,rrl,t
we're sailors.
Reserves from the Elizabeth Street
station had to be called out last night
TO dispense a crowd in Bayard Street
following the arrest of Mike Peppi, Of
SO Bayard Street, by Detectives Moffett
and Buckley. The detectives say they
bought a vial of cocaine from Peppi
and then told him he was under arrest.
He showed fight and the police soon
found themselves surrounded by more
than one hundred Italians, many of
them making threatening gestures.
Buckley fired his revolver twice into
the air and the crowd fell back. The
Elizabeth Street reserves arrived
short time later. Peppi tried to escape
while the crowd swarmed around his
captors, but ives caught.
Alleged Vender Caught
Among the prisoners brought to
Headquarters last night was Joseph
Salerno, alias Joe Daily, widely known,
according to the police, as drug
peddler. He had large quantity of
morphine in his possession.
Benjamin Krakover, sixteen years
old, Of 11l6 Attorney Street, was ar
rested as seller of drugs. When
brought before Commissioner Simon he
offered the Commissioner 81 900 for his
release, it was said.
Before midnight the cells at Head
quarters became filled and a number of
the prisoners were transferred to other
stations
DR.. Simon said las. night that yes
terdays drive against drug users was
only the beginning" of the fight to rid
iation. He said that the amending of
the sanitary code made it possible for
the narcotic division to get the drug
situation under control again.
The Board of Health, at its meeting
Monday, added Article 8-A 20 the SAM
tary Code. Copies of this article have
been sent to all magistrates. viola
ton of any of its provisions shall con-
stitute misdemeanor
Menace to Public Welfare
Section l3O OF Article ga provld DIES
that amy unauthorized possession,
sale, distribution, prescribing, admin
istfation or dispensation of cocaine or
opium or any Of their derivatives, or
cannibas indica, cannibas saliva or
any of their derivatives, is hereby de-
clared to be dangerous to the public
health and menace to the public well
fare"
DR.. Simon said that the repeal of the
public health law had not only left
the hands of the police tied as far as
prosecution of drug peddlers was con-
cerned, but that it materially increased
the number of new users of drugs, so
that the $500 arrests made within the
last few months, prior to the abolition
of all narcotic laws of the state have
to large extent been Ineffective, and
new impetus given to the growth of
narcotic users and vendors in New York
(itv"