The New York herald., 1922-04-23
Suicide OF Freda Kempton
Reveals She Openly OBJ
tanned Drugs Easily.
SYNDICATE IS SUSPECTED
Every Effort to Track Ring OF
of Smugglers Has Failed
Thus Far.

Special Gable 10 THE New York HERALD.
Copyright, 1899, 1p THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
London, April 22.
The widespread traffic in dope in
London's night life district, illicit
drinking and "deplorable social de-
pravity'' were exposed at the adj
1ourned inquest into the death of
F'reda kempton, pretty dancing in
structor who committed suicide by
taking cocaine in her West End
apartment. The testimony showed
that she had openly obtained drugs in
many forms in taxicabs, anterooms
and even dance floors, usually from
we'll dressed Chinese known, as
Billy Chang, who is believed here to
he one Of the leaders of ring of
smugglers dispensing their wares, at
night clubs which have sprung up and
become popular since the war.
Investigations revealed that many in
eenious devices are used to smuggle the
drugs INTO the country. Cocaine is hid
den by using it as stuffing for teddy
bears and chocolates, inside sugar coat
I'd pills and under large Oriental stones
as face powder by being scented. In
one case dozen tablets were found in
q hollow jeweled cross worn as a neck
lace ornament.
The authorities suspect that power
ful syndicate Is in operation which has
complete control of it's agents. Attempts
TO track down this syndicate have failed
thus far. One Indian who was convicted
said when asked where he got the drugs !:
1T is more than my life Is worth to tell
where I got the stuff"
There is strong ground for the belief
that efforts are being made to encourage
the desire for narcotics by popularizing
certain types OF sweets filled with ex-
tract OF mint. sugar and linseed or
chlorodyne lozergeS--not to cure coughs
but for the enjoyment of the narcotic
fleet OF the sweet. Cigarettes have been
found treated with laudanurn. winch the
police say s designed to establish the
future success Of the cocaine traffic.
1t Is estimated by authorities that the
traffic is now greater than at any time
In London's history and has become a
public menace. Night clubs particularly
are under surveillance and vigorous
campaign Is advocated to interrupt the
systematized passing OF drugs. some
OF the places under observation are sit
uated i'm the finest streets in the West
End. others i'm the less elegant areas OF
Shaftesbury avenue, and still others in
the squalid areas OF Tottenham ana
Court road.
But the police suspect the headauar-
ters TO be in the East End where Japan
est Chinese. Lascars, Hindus and Ger
mans act as agents, receiving the drugs
and passing them on to Weather dis
trlcts. The places under observation in
cIude Chinese restaurants. barber shops,
manicuring establishments. shops for
the sale of lingerie and tobacco stands.
The old coffee houses and artistic saloons
IN Chelsea and Kensington. famous
through history. are quietly being
watched
There have been many prosecutions
IN the past month, but still the source
IL the supply has not been exposed.
although Scotland Yard believes that 1t
Is on the trail following the Kempton
inquest The testimony at this inquest
revealed that 1t is easier TO obtain drugs
than drinks after hours. and this has
caused a spirited campaign OF suppress
sion which threatens to result In 1egfs-
Iation against the commoner clubs which
have been advertised as brighter Lon
cor clubs