The New York herald., 1921-07-27
F|FTY-ONE ARRESTED |
in RAIDS FOR DRUGS
Amendment to the Sanitary
Code Results in Big
Roundup.
POLICE HAVE POWER
Cells at Headquarters Are
Filled, Overflow Goes TO
Other Stations.
FIGHT IN COLUMBUS PARK
Detectives Are Surrounded and
Threatened After They
Seize Suspect.
FIGHT IN COLUMBUS PARK

Amendments to the sanitary code
sections affecting the handling OF CO.
caine and opium m n m ents
through which the police set a fresh
start in running down and prosecuting
violators Of the drug laws--were In
cluded in aresolution a adopted Monday
by the Board Of Health. At noon yes
terday detectives operating under DR..
Carleton Simon. special Deputy Com
missioner in charge OF the drug squad.
began series Of raids that up to mid
night had netted fifty-one prisoners
and 5000 worth Of drugs DR.. Simon,
in statement given out At Police
Headquarters said he had had the city
specially districted In preparation for
the adopting Of the new measure and
that his men went to work at once TO
rid It of addicts and pedlers.
Under the new provisions Of the San
itary Code violations are classed an
.misdcmeanors and the power carried
under the old State law, recently re-
peaied, Is restored to the police. Tho
resolution adopted at tho meeting of
the Board OF Health said that the un-
authorized possession, sale, distribu-
ton. prescription, administration or
dispensing Of either opium or cocaine
is dangerous to the public health and
"a menace to the public welfare For
the frst' time hasheesh. drug derived
from Indian hemp, Is under tho ban. .
The drug squad detectives under
.ilese provisions had wide latitude In
making arrests. and early in tho eve-
ming they had filled tho cells at head
quarters. Some Of the prisoners had
to be moved to other police stations for
detention.
One Of the first raids was made on
a seamen's mission in West street.
There eight seanien were arrested.
Two of them. DR.. simon said, have
been suspected Of smuggling drugs on
slips on which they are employed
From then on the day was one OF
nights and pursuits for the detectives.
Two detectives--Buckley and MofIett-
went to Columbus Park in the Mulberry
bend" district and. after negotiating
for the sale OF a phiai Of white powder.
arrested 4 man who called himself
Michael Peppe. 20. Of 80 Bayard street.
INC Q6tcCtlVeB lOuuQ themselves Bur
rounded by Italians In q few minutes
and It was impossible to get their pris-
oner out OF the park. Peppe, they said.
took advantage Of the situation and put
up q battle. Buckley fred one shot
from his revolver. soaring away the men
who had surrounded him and Moffett
and the prisoner.
Ono Of the prisoners arrested uptown
was woman who said she WAS Mrs.
Mamie Clinton, 20. OF 314 East rortieth
street DR.. Simon said the woman told
him she was committed q few months
ago for using drugs and that when she
was released she was unable to locate
her husband. She was said to have
told tho police she decided to live under
the influence Of drugs until she found
Clinton.
Another arrested. BENJAMIN Krakow.
II, told the police he was 4 post oflice
clerk, 1t was stated by DR.. Simon. DIR.
Simon also said the youth told the de-
tectives ne was indicted by the Federal
Grand Jury Monday for selling drugs.
The action Of the Board Of. Health
was the result of tho Legislatures wip-
Ing out tho public health law which
provided for narcotic drug control at
the Same time leaving the city without
adequate protection from the operations
Of drug addicts and sellers.