New-York tribune., 1922-09-03
France Alarmed at Increase
OF Drug Evil Laid to Germans
Soldiers, Dogs, Birds and Many Ruses Used TO
Bring Cocaine Over Border; Rigid
Laws to Curb Traffic

happen to offer some to a detective.
Even then the chances were in their
favor before the new law, for their
profits were so great that a small fine
or a weeks imprisonment meant moth
ing to them. The more usual methods
of sale are to offer the Initiates" a
bracelet with a false watch filled with
powder, various hollow medaliions.
small powder boxes with double bot
tom, and even artificial flowers with
small sack of cocsine in the center.
These are peddled in most of the bars
in the night life district of Paris.
One clever seller had lost leg in
the war. His wooden leg was an in
tricate bureau with dozens Of little
drawers, each opening when an in
visible button was pressed. He could
put his hand in his pocket, touch
spring to open a drawer and draw out
package Of the stuff. The police sus-
pected him for a long time, but every
time they searched him they found
nothing. One day, while feeling of his
wooden leg to see if it had any open
ings which would serve to hide the
drug, a policeman accidentally touched
a spring and a drawer filled with the
small packages Immediately opened.
There are others who sell the drug,
accept money, and then say where the
package is hidden. 1t may be under
flagstone of the sidewalk in front of
a certain house, or behind a pile OF
bricks. Every day the merchant hides
his wares in various places to prepare
for the evening sales. 1t is strange
to say these men rarely cheat the
purchaser and the drug is always
found where indicated. Another man
employs an aid who carries the
cocaine and follows him about fifty
yards behind. The first man takes the
money and makes sign to the aid;
then the addict slowly walks away
and a package is slipped into his hand
or pocket. AS the man with the cocaine
never offered any for sale, the police
did not suspect him; and every time
they searched the man who offered the
drug, they could find none on him
and were forced to release him.
But Small Quantity of
Pure Cocaine Sold in Paris
Very little of the powder on sale in
Paris is pure. 70 make a larger
profit. the dealers mix little boric
acid powder with the cocaine, which
is good thing for the health of the
users. One day woman, who had
been shifting three quarters mixture
of boric acid unknowingly, bought
some cocaine from an "honest' dealer
who had not diluted his wares. She
took her habitual dose and died in a
hospital to which she was carried
soon after. On the other hand,
young boy offered "shot' to detec-
tive, but in the police station they
found his dope was pure boric acid.
They could not hold him on a charge
of selling cocaine, so they entered the
charge of "defrauding the public" A
Paris newspaper discussing this case
said that such defrauding was won
derful thing for the public and~should
be encouraged. 1t was jokingly sug-
gested that the boy be given medal.
There are some houses Of i'll repute
IN Paris where business is made of
selling nothing but cocaine. Only peo-
pie who are known TO the management
are admitted, but occasionally de-
tcctive slips in and closes the place
The detectives cannot be everywhere
every night, but the few arrests made