The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-10

his people for the collecting of in
formation for u.s. he was in certain
ways invaluable, for through him /
was always kept in touch with the
underworld and knew many things
that were supposed to be buried
deep. Asking him for help he readily
agreed to put Rich and Reilly in
touch with Ferez and vouch for them,
which he soon did.
Rich and Reilly were to pose as
both users and peddlers. They were
to represent themselves as having
plenty of money, and as soldiers they
could sell the dope to the troops. Two
interviews with Fere5 convinced
them that they had found retailer.
and that Ferez himself paid tribute to
some one higher up. 1t was this one
higher up that we wanted. 1t was
most necessary, too, if we were to be
successful, that we shut off the
source of supply at the fountain head.
Putting this little piker in Jail would
by no means stop the sale of cocaine.
The Hunt For The Hisher-Up.
To reach this one higher up. Rich
casually remarked to FereZ, "Ferez.
you and l can make some money on
the side! Reilly has a man in tow
who has loads Of money! This man
has been convinced that there is
money in this business and he is
iCdty ~ Pdi SiietoC oHOW III idi {, Z
amounts. If we can put this man of
Relly's in touch with the wholesalers
we can get a rake off both ways!
He will pay, and so should your
man.
Before I would make move"
said FereZ, Il should want to meet
this man! Tell Reilly tC bring him
down and / will talk with him. l
must be sure of what l do. for if
make slip my life would pay the
forfeit.''
"All right" replied Rich. 81 know
| you can depend absolutely upon this
man. L will bring him down to-
morrow night"
On the next night. dressed in civil
liam clothes, I accompanied Rich and
Reilly to FereZ's house. / explained
to him that l had connections where
could dispose of large amounts of
the drug and l showed him a large
roll of bills. 1 was to purchase the
first order to the amount of 10000
francs; and if the first lot was salts
factory 1 would then take 10000
francs worth the next shipment.
Ferez, without doubt, figured on
getting a good slice out of this money
and, in consequence. his cupidity
overcame his native caution and he
agreed to try and put me in touch
with his chief"
They were a suspicious lot-these
cocaine smuggltrs. 1t required a
great deal of letter writing and tele-
graphing before the inner circle
would agree even to meet me. Final
ly their desire for the money carried
the day and they sent man down
to Bordeaux to investigate.
We met at Ferez's house, and al
most his first words were: Il want
to see the color of your money"
1 laughed. DO you think" l de-
,d fx,
enough to carry around $4,000 francs
with me? 1 should say not. 1 also
wanted to see you first! But now
| will go and get the money and be
back here in an hour, and then we
can talk business
money out of the safe and returned
with it. l had Rich and Reilly with
me and l felt safe in taking the
money to the average French crook
so we were on the watch for trouble.
1t was evident. however. that they
were playing square with us and did
not intend. at this time, to kill the
goose that was to lay the golden egg.
And once again their cupidity car
ried the day for me; the man from
Paris agreed to meet me in that city
and introduce me to the "chief."
Rich and Reilly accompany me to
Paris. AS an added percaution
also had Lieutenant Greene and
Sergeant Graham, in civilian clothes,
go along. They were to keep a con-
tinual shadow on us and Tip us off,
if things looked dangerous. I be-
lieved that the smugglers would play
square with me as long as that suited
their purpose, but ! didn't know just
how long that would be. 1t would
not be at all difficult for them to
try and knock me over the head and
clear out with the money-and
never believed in taking unnecessary
chances.
With Ferez as guide We all went
to Paris, where we stopped at one
of the second rate hotels. We had
to await the pleasure of the head
crook, and Ferez informed US after
he had gone to the chief" that it
might be two or three days before
he would see us. So, in the meantime
we could see Paris.
The "Chief" Was A Clever Man.
This chief" was very clever and
very cautious man as well. Dur
ing the time we were supposed to be
seeing Paris, We were. in realty, be-
ing seen by the ring. and the chief"
was studying us at his leisure. AS
we learned afterward, when we went
fer walk with Ferez, he would
manage to take US to a cafe where,
while slipping our wine. the chief"