The New York herald., 1921-06-26
FRENCH DOPE FIEND
POSED AS A COUNT
UNTIL DISCOVERED
Fictitious Guy de NOrfalck
Deceived Civil and Naval
Men in Brest.
BIG PROFITS IN COCAINE
Brought From Germany by
Airplane, Cost 800 Francs,
Sells for 5000.
BIG PROFITS IN COCAINE
Special Gable to THE New YorK HK4ALp.
Copyright, 1921, oy THE NEW YORK HxrALo.

Special Gable to THE NEW YorK EKS.tn
Copyright, 1921, ov THE NEW YozK HslALo.
New York Herald Bgreau,l
Paris. juno IS.
French criminolog,sts are studying
the unprecedented number Of cases Of
mythomania which have been re-
vealed by arrests here recently. They
believe the diseaEe Is caused by the
increasing use Of opium in certain
quarters of Paris. While the diseaAs
is easy to fake, being merely an ap-
parent belief in the truth Of impos-
sible statements, French criminoso-
gists hold that such victims should DO
released under pnl!ue surveillance while
the disease is studied further.
The latest victims of mythoman1a
include the fictitious Count Guy de
Norfalck, who was arrested in Paris
last week on his arrival here from
Brest, where he paradsd In a naval
uniform with many international deco
raticns. He was wined and dined by
civil and naval authorities there, and
even succeeded in getting an appoint
ment on a delicate Government mis-
sion.
Believed His own Fake.
So convinced was De NorfaIck with
his own story that it was days before
the police were able to convince him
Of his crime. The source of his dis
ease was discovered when his COM
panion. who posed as Countess de Nor
falck, but who was really ta,ented
| artist OF the Paris Latin Quarter and
known as "Zezette." was found.
''Zezette' was before the war the
fiancee Of a noted sculptor. but he
was killed in battle. Driven by sor-
row TO the use of drugs she met De
Norfalck In charming studio in Gren-
ellie, and together they consumed
pounds OF opium while concocting
weird stories OF their adventures
The police Lave started a crusade
against such smoking rooms. many Of
which were said to be frequented by
some of the French capitals most
brilliant social and literary person.
ages, besides a class of criminals whose
tendency to lie is facilitated by rolling
nightly pills"
Fortunes I'm Cocaine.
Fortunes are being made by both Ger
mans and Frenchmen in the smuggling
OF vast quantities OF cocaine across the
franco German frontier in airplanes.
which land in out of the way fields
Shere there is little danger Of custom
officials being on hand TO receive them.
/ a. linz e. l,,fx
French Academy of Sciences by DR..
Curtois Suffit and DR.. Rene Groux. who
have been studying the cocaine menace
for several months. They advocate the
passage OF more stringent laws and the
compulsory notification OF the police
whenever an airplane lands outside reg
istered fields. They expressed the opin-
ion that the cocaine traffic is Germany's
method of gaining revenge for her mill
| tary defeat.
1t Is now possible for any one to buy
cocaine in Germany for 800 francs a
pound, and an airplane can be hired for
1000 francs that will carry 500 pounds
OF the drug into France. either in ballast
bags or in the petrol tank. The chances
OF successful smuggling operations are
so great that scores of drug merchants
are being tempted TO enter into IT,
Latest reports show that pound of CO.
calne costing 800 francs in Germany.
when divided into small packets such as
are sold In the boulevards or the Paris
underworld, will fetch at least $4,000
| francs.
Many French soldiers returning here
from the zone of occupation on the
Rhine are, II was said, acting as willing
agents In bringing in this drug and are
certain to receive a liberal share of the
profits when the SNOW is delivered
to the Paris clearing agent.
In the cheaper night restaurants the
cocaine traffic Is recognized to the ex-
tent that agents OF the venders are even
allowed TO approach diners and offer
to lead them TO the cocaine sellers.
! Members OF the French Academy OF
Sciences recommend that a law be
passed providing for a FIVE year SEN
tence at hard labor for any person con-
victed OF smuggling cocaine into France
or selling It here illicltly.