New-York tribune., 1922-03-18
Killed by Drug
Given w lille
In the 'Tombs
John Costello, Alleged Gang
ster, Sent to Bellevue
With Wha, Was Believed
TO BE an Injury 10 Skull
Source Sought
Confusion SIS TO Identity of
Man Follows His Trans.
fer to the Hospital

John Hudson. alias James Costello
a gangster, died in Bellevue Hospita,
last Tuesday from al overdose of NOR
phine, which he received while he was
81 prisoner in the Tombs, it became
known last night.
No information could be obtained az
TO how he got the drug. The medical
examiners report is said TO have de.
clsred that the man was an habitual
drug user. The warden of the Tomb.
and the police declare, however, that
the gangster had q positive aversion to
drug venders and drug users. Little
information could be obtained Of the
incidents leading up to Hudson's death
It was as John Hudson that the man
WAS committed to the Tcmbs by Mags-
trate Harris in Washington Heights
court in default of $4,000 bail on q
charge OF stabbing Charles and Sam
uel Murray in Bronx restaurant sew
eral weeks ago. Il was as James
Costello that he was admitted to Belle
vue Hospital on Tuesday. No reason
was given for the change in names.
Drug Poisoning Not Suspected
When it was reported that a James
Costello had died at Bellevue Hos
pital he WIS not Associated with the
prisoner who was removed from the
Tombs, for when the man was taken
from his cell he was said to have been
suffering from q possible fracture of
the skull.
The reason for this report was cx-
plained last night by the warden. He
said that a keeper was within q few
feet Of Hudson at 8 o'clock Tuesday
morning, when the prisoner suddenly
collapsed. His head is believed to have
struck on the floor, the fall being at
tributed to heart disease.
The warden said that it was not
until Dr. Perry Lichenstein had been
working on Hudson for some time that
he suspected the man was suffering
from some kind of drug poisoning and
ordered him removed to a hospital at
once. On his death an autopsy was
performed which revealed that it was
due to morphine poisoning.
Overcome After Exercise
The warden has begun an investga-
tion Of the case. For come time be-
fore he was overcome it is reported
that Hudson held protracted conver-
sation with two prisoners who occupied
tho cell adjoining his, According to
the warden, one Of these prisoners was
an old acquaintance, while the second
man was ono with whom Hudson had
become acquainted after he was placed
in the Tombs.
The prisoners were in cells on the
fourth tier. During the two-hour con-
stitutional from to 8 o'clock Tuesday
morning the trio is said to have been
in conversation. It was few minutes
after the men were ordered back to
their cells that Hudson was overcome.
The two prisoners have been closely
questioned, but as far as can be
learned threw no light on Hudson's
death.
When first questioned the warden de-
clined to discuss the case. He said
that there had been no prisoner named
Costello removed to hospital. AS the
name Of Hudson did not appear on the
death certificate issued by Medical Ex-
aminer Schwartz inquirers were unable
to make much progress.
Asked If there had been any removal
Of prisoners on Tuesday morning, the
(CSntinuSd on page thrps)