The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-12-19
MUSlCA HAD
OLD ARSENAL


. (Continund from pare onc) ~
rich's ability to speak fluent
Italian. -,
AS federal officials converged
on New York to tie together the
loose ends Of far flung investiga-
ton, the body of Philip Musica,
notorious .pre-war swindler known
more recently as Dr.. F.. Donald
Coster, conservative president of
the worlds third largest drug firm,
was brought with attempted Sc
crecy to a Brooklyn funeral home
from his Fairfield, Conn. resi-.
dence, where he committed suicide
Friday. .', ~
1t was believed that funeral SER
vices were held privately Sunday
afternoon in the chapel of the
Fairfield funeral home. although
members of the Musica family had
said the services would be today.
Mrs. Coster, stricken wife OF the
drug magnate engaged a room at
the funeral home. 800 -. .
Automobiles bearing Connecti-
cut license plates arrived at the
home. throughout the early after
noon. About ii persons who ar
rived in three AUTOMOBILES entered
the chapel before 3 p. M. -
: Fairchild spokesman said they
had been instructed to give out no
information.
,Brien Mcmahon, assistant u. s.
attorney general and ace prosecn-
tor, meeting here today with fed
eral agents were making an effort
to coordinate the investigation OF
Coster's gun-running activities, OF
which acting y. S. Attorney Grey
Dry Noonan said the government
had obtained conclusive proof
The smuggling of arms and mu-
nitions to belligercnt nations, ac-
cordinG to investigators, was q
natural outgrowth Of. Coster's pro-
hibition days activities, when he
operated an illicit alcohol and
rum-running business under the
guise Of a simple hair tonic estab-
liShment. When he entered the
wider drug field. it was pointed
out, he had contacts, equipment
and other means to abandon one
type of Struggled goods for an
other, even more lucrative.
Despite their conclusive proof
federal authorities were convinced
that they had but scratched the
surface of Coster'S munitions
smuggling business, both as to its
extent and personnel.
The state department. represcn-
tative, it was explained, would at
tend the session to study the cf-
feet upon diplomatic relations Of
this country with those nations
which could be shown to- have re-
ceived arms and munitionsjn cases
marked "milk of magnesia. W.
While lawyers for the other Mu-
.sica brothers-known as George
Dietrich. Robert Dietrich. and
Robert Vernard - denied indigt
nantly that. .they,would plead gull
tv, there were persistent reports
that at least: George Dietrich. as
sistant treasurer Of the drug firm,
was "ready to talk"
1t was believed that although a
not; guilty plea might be entered
for Dietrich today in New York,
an. attempt, might be made for
quick solution Of the. complex case
by some deal in which Dietrich
would; tell what he knew of the
firm. and it's presidents e., opera
tons. e
This would have its precedent
in the previous. acknowledgements Of
Philip Musiea with the law. He
twice pleaded guilty to charges:
obtaining a. light sentence and
suspended sentence. His third
brush. perjury case, resulted in
his disappearance; to turn up
again as F. Donald Coster.
REPORTS that Coster, his empire
tumbling about him, was planning
TO flee on his expensive yacht,
Carolita, during the winter were
denied last night by its skippcr,
Captain William Baker. who has
been employed by Coster since the
drug tycoon bought the vessel
from John Hays Hammond, famed
inventor. two years ago. : -
That's just a Pigment of some
ones stupid imagination" Captain
Baker said. Il suppose Mr.. Coster
planned to make his usual voyage
to Florida waters around Christ
mas time"
The report arose apparently
from the fact that Coster recently
discharged 10 of the yachts IA
crew members but told them that
he expected to: hire them during
the winter.
Authorities were counting great
" on "Long John" Kantor, bushy,
haired promoter, who was seized
after he appeared as a spectator