New-York tribune., 1921-02-11
Boy, 9, Seized
w itll L Gather as
Drug Strntlggggler
Link i'm Chain of Evidence
Against international Mar
cotic Ring Is Found
in Home of Prisoners
Lad Refuses TO Talk
Won't Tell Name of s'tncIe"
He and Parent Visited
q ON Italian Steamship

An important link in the chain oil
evidence that is being forged against
the international band engaged in
smuggling narcotic drugs into this
country was obtained yesterday, the
police say, as a result Of the arrest of
Louis Rufno, of 80 Mulberry Street
and his nine-year-old son, Salvatore.
The two Rufnos were halted by Gus
toms Guard Rosenberg at Pier 25
n. r., as they left the Italian steam
ship Giuseppi Verdi. Under the
sweater of the boy, the police say
were found two packages, each con-
:aining half a pound of morphine, with
a total value of $1,000.
The customs authorities immediately
Informed Special Deputy Police Com
missioner Carleton Simon, head of the
narcotic division, and Detectives Jocher
and Shaudell followed the two Rufnos
when they were released by Rosen-
berg, to Mulberry Street, where they
we're arrested. At the house where
they were taken several letters were
discovered that give valuable clews to
the workings of the international
smuggling band. Those referring to
ether parts of the country were turned
over to Special Federal Agents J. A.
Boone and Rudolph kubik to run down.
Detectives of the narcotic division will
Investigate the clews that affect per-
sons in this city.
Boy Refuses to Talk
Immediately after the arrest the two
Rufnos were brought to Police Head
quarters, and DR.. Simon closely ex-
4mined them. The youth absolutely
refused to say anything in connection
with the smuggling and refused to
identify the uncle" he went to see
aboard the Giuseppi Verdi. In the
mean time Special Agent McConnachie
and Chief Customs Guard w. W. Trum
Bile arc searching the steamship for
the man who brought the drugs from
Italy. The elder Rufino is being held
on a charge of traficking in narcotic
drugs and the boy as juvenile de-
linquent.
The police records show that Rufino
previously conducted cafe at 139 Mul-
berry Street, which has been raided
many times and ii which many arrests
have been made.
An incident in connection with one
of these raids on another Mulberry
Street place led to the arrest of Harry
Givner, who has been sought for two
years in connection with the murder
of Mrs. Elizabeth Nnnick. OF At St
Mary Street, Yonkers, in October, 1919
Givner was turned over TO the Yonkers
police yesterday.
His arrest came a result of detec-
tive work done by DR.. Simon following
the personally conducted raid on a
Mulberry Street drug den Tuesday
photograph of girl and copy of the
circular describing Givuer issued by
the police The girls address in Phila
delphia was on the back of the photo
graph.
Commissioner Simon went to Phila-
delphia on Wednesday in connection
with the drug situation and while there
interviewed the girl. He found she
had been a former sweetheart of Civ
ners. The girl informed DR.. Simon
that Givner was now living in Brooklyn
and gave him Givner's address. This
was telephoned to Brooklyn and Givner
was arrested by Detective Beck.
Sought for Two Years
At the time of the murder If Mrs
Niznick two men entered her home and,
after stealing $4,000 in cash and Lib
erty bonds, gagged and tied her to the
couch. They then turned on all the gas
jets in the room and left her. Three
hours later her Ion discovered he.
dead.
Max Lipp, who was arrested in con-
nection with this murder, turned states
evidence, with the result that Samuel
Michalow, known as Sam the Land
lord" was arrested, tried and sentenced
to death, He succeeded in getting an
other trial and then pleaded guilty to
murder in the second degree and was
sentenced to twenty years in Sing Sing
Search has been made for Givner for
the last two years. He was implicated
by the testimony of Lipp.