The New York herald., 1922-12-22
OPIUM RAID CLEARS
LUXURIOUS RESORT
Detectives Arrest Four Men in
Apartment on Washington
Square South.

Another link in the chain Of dope
dens' was broken early yesterday when
detectives of the police narcotic squad
headed by DR.. Carleton Simon, Special
Deputy Police Commissioner. raided a
luxuriantly furnished six room apart
ment on the top floor of building at
A Washington Square South, seized
quantities of opium and~several sets OF
burglar tools and arrested four men,
The prisoners were arraigned before
Magistrate Max S. Levine in Essex
Market Court and held In $4,000 bail
each for examination December 2s.
They were Anthony La Rocco. "a Wash
ington Square South John Russo. 116
Summit avenue. Jersey City; Michael
Privinzini, 206 Thompson street. and
Peter Radice, 141 Thompson street.
The apartment was used. according
to Or. Simon, as the rendezvous for
women addicted to the smoking or
opium and was frequented by them In
the early hours of the morning. d.
Simon stood at the entrance of the
apartment house while Detectives Ber-
nard Boylan. George Belaffer. John
Rogers and John Barry crept up rear
stairway to the top floor. A warning
that "the bulls are coming" was shouted
as the detectives entered the apartment.
Then came the crash of broken glass.
Opium pipes and burglar tools We're
thrown through the windows. Eight
families living in the house were
awakened by the noise A free for all
fight ensued when one Of the men In
the apartment turned out the lights.
vt,t.o w b.
dued.
A search Of the apartment revealed.
DR.. Simon said, that one of the middle
rooms was equipped in dainty colors and
luxurious furnishings for the use OF
women "pipe smokers" Two opium
smoking outfits were found under one
Of the beds. A tea can containing
quantity Of opium was secreted under
the bed.
A five pound can Of opium, several
boxes of hypodermic needles, severai
cases of liquor and number OF pack
ages Of coral canoes and perfumes were
seized late yesterday by agents of A. o.
Hokenson. narcotic inspector for the
Customs Department. from the liner
Colombo at pier 81 North River. The
contraband was found in quarters OF the
crew. No arrests were made.
Represe enting himself as James Lynch
of the narcotic squad Of the Customs
Service, an unidentified man yesterday
fleeced thirsty Breadwayites out OF sew
eral hundred dollars. He was able to
sell them Christmas tea at very low
price through his connections, the man
is alleged TO have told shoppers. Many
bottles of the stuff were bought up hur-
riedly at prices ranging from 81 to 81.
Analysis of the liquor proved it to be tea
with a touch OF alcohol.
Infuriated at the duplicity of the bogus
customs agent. the real James Lynch,
accompanied by co-workers in the Gus
toms Department, conducted a futile
search for the man. III. G. Stuart, acting
Collector of the Port. notified police and
prohibition enforcement agents to be
on the alert for the fake agent.
The number of drug addicts in New
York city has decreased $4,000 within
two years. DR.. -Sarleton. Simon told at
tendants at the MONDAY luncheon of the
Exchange Club In Hotel Breslin y-ster-
day. The extensive use Of narcotics. he
said, is traceable to the war, wherein
the moral fibre of many men was
broken. Prohibition, he asserted. Is not
responsible for the use of drugs.