Arizona republican., 1922-02-20
FEDERAL RAID.
UPSETS QUIET
Of NETWORK
DOPE CENTER
Pistol VolIeys And Crash
ing Of Doors Disturbs
N otor ious Chinatown
First Time In Years
TRepubIican a. p. Leased Wlrel

NEW YORK, Feb. 19.-Rudely dis
turbed in the peace that for years
has brooded over its crooked streets
and mysterious dwellings, China
town awoke at dawn today to the
sound Of pistol volleys and the rend-
ing crash OF barricaded doors as
police raiders stormed a succession
Of long suspected opium dens.
Eight persons were arrested. in
Guiding woman whose back was
thought 10 have been broken in
leap from a second story window. A
man whose plunge for freedom she
initiated was only slightly injured.
Two of the storming party had
narrow escapes from injury. Bullets
fired by unseen defenders passed
through the hat of detective and
grazed the shoe Of a federal narcotic
agent
Large quantities of opium with
pipes and other paraphernalia. were
confiscated.
Under command OF Ralph Oyler
chief OF the federal narcotic division.
n StOTS OL pOilCe anu government
agents launched their attack on sus-
pected dens in Mott street in the
heart of the Oriental quarters.
WELDING heavy axes, they chopped
their way through doors which were
strongly barred and studded with
iron.
AS the barricade at one place
Yielded and crashed to the floor,
there was a shrek from within. With
the first blows by the attacking party
those inside had made for the fire
escape and John Buff, IL years old.
and the woman, Ethel Kelly. 49. had
leaped from the railing, striking on
a stone pavement 20 feet below.
Both were taken to Bellevue hospital
under guard.
Typical Opium Joint
The apartment police reported. was
q typical opium "joint," equipped
with tiers Of wooden bunks around
the walls. and with empty or half
filled drug tins strewn about, the
pungcnt fumes Of cooking pellets
rising from tiny alcohol burners.
an array Of about 100 hollow toys
OF various sizes and descriptions also
were seized These were thought to
have been used for transporting
opium to customers outside.
@lnded, the raiders prepared to leave
the place They had just recalled
the men from the roof and gathered
about the entrance when three shots
rang out. Bullets whizzed past and
sank into the woodwork about the
door. They ran into the court yard
and more bullets followed. in fusil-
ladies', spattering on the paving stones
and ricocheting in every direction.
Turning back into the house. the
detectives, weapons in hand searched
the upper floors, flashing their lights
into shadowy corners and probing
every possible place OF concealment
No one was found
Mobilizing, the party left for Null
berry street. Here it met with nc
resistance rather than barred doors
and the prisoners were taken.
In marked contrast to the other
the Mulberry street resort was
sumptuous in every detail. Carved
mahogany furniture, luxurious
couches Of upholstery and velvet
hangings replaced the mean pallets o.
the place on Mott street. Four pipes
one Of them of ivory and inlaid witt
gold, were seized together with sup.
plies or opium and burners.
The last place visited. on Henr!
street mad been raided several weeks
ago. Here 20 Chinese were fount
asleep in their bunks. Their slumberi
were not disturbed however, Mr.
Oyler remarlSing that they scenes
under the soporific influence. not o
opium but of hard work and mucl
chop suey.