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NEW YORK
NEW YORK STATE
--- (Through the Eyes of Harry Anslinger’s Gore File)
Back in 1930’s our Federal Government launched a massive dis-information campaign against the use of Medicinal Cannabis. Literally it was an hysteria campaign against Cannabis.
And while the campaign itself consisted of various elements, its most potent weapon was “The Gore File.” Also known today as “Anslinger’s Gore File”, which was created at his orders and contained various examples of brutal rapes, murders, assaults, etc . . . All said to have been committed while under the influence of Marihuana.
These examples themselves were widely publicized (oral speeches, newsprint, magazines, etc.), and most agree were instrumental in the creation of the anti-Medical Marihuana laws. However from an historical perspective, many if not all of the stated examples have been disproven (meaning the crimes had little or nothing to do with the use of Marihuana) and in fact some of them have been found to have been totally fabricated.
What follows (below) are the contributions made by the State of New York to Anslinger’s Gore File. Please remember that much of what you see below is (ah) somewhat inaccurate – aka, welcome to the world of the Reefer Madness campaign.
WHY THIS PAGE
Obviously other historians have done investigations into the background of (at least) some of these cases, and to no one’s surprise, have found no merit to their supposed theory that medical marihuana had anything to do with the crime. However, doing such research can be very frustrating. One of the main stumbling blocks seemed to be the total lack of reference points; the Who, What, Where and When of the each of these cases.
A view of any one of the quotations regarding any given case quickly establishes that. Thus the reason for this case file index. The museum has collected so many Reefer Madness era articles, from newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, etc. It has been possible for us to pool together many bits and pieces, from various publications. And as the reader might observe, one quotation, might give a date, another a name, and yet another a geographic location etc. Individually they mean nothing, but pooled together they can be used to identify an incident.
Also as a tool for the student of governmental dis-information, we have included various newspaper articles (dates also given) about the given case, which might be of help.
Name: - Joseph Ogden - Location: - New York City- Date: - Aug 18, 1937
This case is somewhat important because it shows just how low Anslinger was willing to go to fabricate some sort of story to fit his theory that Medical Marihuana was a “Killer Drug.”
What the Narc’s were claiming
In New York City, an addicted inmate of the Tombs confessed that he had murdered a friend and put his body in a trunk. -- FORUM AND CENTURY – Jan. 1939
A New Yorker Killed a neighbor and stuffed his body in a trunk. -- The Eagle Magazine [Nov. 1941]
In New York, Joseph Ogden murdered his best friend and stuffed his body into a trunk. –“On the Trail of Marihuana, the Weed of Madness” By Earle Rowell 1939
1937 - J. Ogden, New York - 39 - While both smoking marihuana cigarettes, shot and killed roommate G. Senical, who wanted to borrow $20 to buy heroin. Put body in trunk to get rid of it. Arrested that night, had 20 marihuana cigarettes; had been selling in Miami restaurant before crime. Previous criminal record. III was fearless after smoking marihuana cigarettes but would not have done this without marihuana." - Arrested - 6th conference report - INEOA 1965
1937 - New York - Male 39 While both smoking marihuana cigarettes, shot and killed room-mate G. Senical, who wanted to borrow $20 to buy heroin. Put body in trunk, to get rid of it. Arrested that night, had 20 marihuana cigarettes; had been selling in Miami restaurant before crime. Previous criminal record, " I was fearless after smoking marihuana cigarettes but would not have done this without marihuana." -- Article by James C. Munch; "UN Bulletin on Narcotics"-1966 Issue 2
A thirty-nine-year-old man: "While both smoking marihuana cigarettes, shot and killed roommate . . . who wanted to borrow $20 to buy heroin. Put body in trunk, to get rid of it. Arrested that night, had twenty marihuana cigarettes; had been selling in Miami restaurant before crime. Previous criminal record. 'I was fearless after smoking marihuana cigarettes but would not have done this without marihuana. - “Marijuana, the facts, the truth” 1968 by Will Oursler
NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS:
Bismarck Tribune
[S-– 1937 -08-18 pg. 2] “Man Tells How he Killed Room-Mate”
Edwardsville Inteligencer
[S- 1937-08-18 pg. 2] “Solve Murder in nine Hours”
HammondTimes
[S-1937-08-19 ] “Trunk Murder Mystery Solved In New York”
OshkoshNorthwestern
[S- 1937-08-19 pg. 13] “Held in Trunk Slaying”
ZanesvilleSignal
[S-1937-08-18 pg. 1] “Number on Trunk Trumps up Killer”
MUSEUM NOTES:
While at first glance it might appear that Anslinger actually had a case. That a Marihuana Addict (his wording) committed a crime while under the influence of Marihuana and thus proof that Marihuana was the instigator-of and/or the cause of violent crimes.
After all, how could so many respected news sources ALL BE WRONG about the subject? And weren’t they all saying that it was that EVIL MARIHUANA that made him do it? But if one were to actually read the articles in question, it seems that (at least with the parts relating to the marihuana use), they ALL were referencing ONLY one source; -- Harry Anslinger’s Bureau of Narcotics.
Now leaving aside the fact that the perpetrator was also wearing shoes at the time (you know those things that most bank robbers wear when they go out and rob banks), and the fact that the perpetrator was also . . . . . etc. Leaving all that aside for now, let us look at what the Dr Walter Bromberg (who was a highly respected psychiatrist at the time) had to say. As per the book -- Hemp & History by Robert A. Nelson:
One case cited by Anslinger concerned "O.J.", who confessed to the murder of a friend "while under the influence of marihuana". Dr Walter Bromberg of the New York County Court of General Sessions' Psychiatric Clinic reported on the case in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1939, and confirmed that O.J. had indeed murdered his friend and stuffed the corpse into a trunk. According to Dr Bromberg's report, "O.J was examined in this clinic…Although he was a psychopathic liar and possibly homosexual, there was no indication in the examination or history of any use of any drug. The investigation by the probation department failed to indicate the use of the drug marijuana". In 1966, Dr James Munch, who was a member of the Advisory Committee of the Bureau of Narcotics, resurrected the lie in an article published in the United Nations Bulletin on narcotics, and embellished it with a quotation attributed to O.J.And it should be noted that there was never any secrets about his professional opinions on this case: Examples:
There is one other point which I would like to mention and that is the case of a man named Joseph Ogden who is reported among others in Mr. Merrill's paper as having been an addict. I saw him and spent some time with him. He was a psychopathic individual. I think he had been in the State hospital at Lexington, and had had several other arrests. But nothing in his history indicated Marihuana. In other words, the newspaper accounts must be discounted. The fact of the matter was that he had not even been a drug addict, but was a homosexualist. The offender was murdered by him and shoved into a trunk. I do not know whether he disarticulated his arms or not, but he sent the trunk to the express station, and they saw blood oozing out of it, and picked him up. He told the story rather frankly. It was a horrible crime. I think Marihuana was innocent of that. I am sure of that, because I have been able to check that very carefully. --- DR. BROMBERG:-- Marihuana Conference -Held Dec. 5, 1938Now granted, one his statements could be written off as being, “simply one mans opinion.” However, Dr. Bromberg was no ordinary psychiatrist, he was in fact maybe the leading psychiatrist in the whole of New York City at the time. Additionally note that Anslinger himself had no actual proof (other than the confession) that Marihuana was even involved at all in the incident. And this confession is subject to much doubt. ---- In other words, Anslinger simply didn’t have a case and by the mid-1960’s it was quite obvious that Marihuana use DID NOT LEAD to violent crimes, yet in 1965 the Bureau of Narcotics WAS STILL listing this as an example of a violent crime committed by . . . etc.
“Marihuana: A Psychiatric Study” by Walter Bromberg.
“The bulletin prepared by the Foreign Policy Association [MARIHUANA; The New Dangerous Drug (pamphlet 1937 Edition) by Frederick T. Merrill] lists ten cases “culled at random from the files of the U.S. Bureau of Narcotics” of murder and atrocious assault in which marihuana was directly responsible for the crime. Among the ten patients, the second, J.O., was described as having confessed how he murdered a friend and put his body in a trunk while under the influence of marihuana. J.O. was examined in this clinic; although he was a psychopathic liar and possible homosexual, there was no indication in the examination or history of the use of any drug. The investigation by the probation department failed to indicate use of the drug marihuana. The deceased, however, was addicted to heroin. “ --- From - J.A.M.A. [JOURNAL of the AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION] 1939
[Key-finder - Case #F26]
Name: - Perez -- Mrs. V. Lotito (victim) - Location: - New York City - Date: - March 31, 1948
What the Narc’s were claiming
1948 New York - Male 36 Puerto Rican choked and stabbed Mrs. V. Lotito, while under influence marihuana. A frequent user, he was married without his knowledge while under influence. He was violent, desperate criminal and habitual user. -- Article by James C. Munch; "UN Bulletin on Narcotics"-1966 Issue 2
1948 - J. Ramirez, - New York - 36 - Puerto Rican choked and stabbed Mrs. V. Lotito, while under influence marihuana. A frequent user, he was married without his knowledge while under influence. He was violent, desperate criminal and habitual user. - Arrested - 6th conference report - INEOA 1965
NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS:
New York Times [Note, no mention of Marihuana is made in any of the articles]
[**]- March 31, 1948 – pp 28 - "Woman Murdered In Home in 55th St."
[**]- April 1, 1948 – pp 34 - "Woman's Murder is still unsolved"
[**]- April 2, 1948 – pp 46 - "Mrs. Lotito's Books Searched for Clue"
[**]- April 3, 1948 – pp 32 - "Suspect is Seized In Lotito Murder"
[**]- April 4, 1948 – pp 34 - "Woman's Murder is Still Unsolved"
[**]- April 5, 1948 – pp 16 - "Police Guard Wife of Slaying Suspect"
[**]- April 7, 1948 – pp 52 - "Suspect in Slaying Tells Third Story"
[**]- April 10, 1948 – pp 30 - "Perez Confesses In Lotito Slaying"
[**]- April 13, 1948 – pp 17 - "Murder Solution By Police Praised"
[**]- April 15, 1948 – pp 28 - ""Perez is Indicted"
[**]- April 17, 1948 – pp 32 - "Perez Makes Not-Guilty Plea"
[**]- Nov 5, 1948 – pp 56 - "Jury Picked in Murder Trial"
[Key-finder - Case #9]
Name: - Robert Irwin - Location: - New York City - Date: - June 26, 1937
What the Narc’s were claiming
There are probably few in this audience who have not read about the gruesome triple murder by one Robert Irwin last Easter, when he strangled a young woman model and her mother, and killed a boarder with an ice pick. When he was finally caught, they discovered a box containing scores of marijuana cigarette butts under his bed. -- New York Herald Tribune Forum 1938
The press is still publishing stories and pictures of Robert Irwin of New York City who last Easter strangled a young model and her mother and then killed a boarder in the house with an ice-pick. He had set out to kill the model’s sister and not finding her had attacked her family. When he was arrested the police found a box filled with cigaret butts under his bed. -- The Daily Oklahoman, Nov. 8, 1938
NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS: --- No mention of Medical Marihuana is made
AppletonPostCrescent
[S-1937-06-26 pg.1 ] “Robert Irwin, Suspect in Gedeon Murders, Is Sought By Officials at Cleveland”
ClearfieldProgress
[S- 1937-06-29 pp.1] “Scullery Girl Comes From Her Kitchen to Pot of Gold In New York; Gets Gedeon Reward”
Hammond Times
[S-1937-06-28 pp.1] Triple Slayer Gives Self up in Chicago”
Monessen Daily Independent
[S- 1938-10-26 pp.2 ] Sensational Irwin Murder Case Trial Opens”
Oshkosh Northwestern
[S-1937-04-08 pp. 2 ] “Search for slayer of three turns to Pocono Mountains”
[S-1938-11-15I pp.7] “Irwin Faces Life Prison Term for Killing of Three”
Sheboygan Press
[S-1938-11-15 ] Robert Irwin Slated For Life Imprisonment”
[Key-finder - Case #NO25]
Name: -- Location: - Welfare Island Penitentiary, NY - Date: - July 16, 1935
This is not really an example of a “violent crime” committed while under the influence of Marihuana, but somehow it ended up as one of Harry Anslinger’s Gore file cases.
What the Narc’s were claiming
NEW YORK - New York City on July 16, 1935, a large patch of marihuana weed was found growing wild in the grounds of the Welfare Island Penitentiary, and was promptly destroyed. It was believed that the weeds were being grown by prisoners assigned to duty outside the cell blocks. --- ILLICIT TRAFFIC IN MARIHUANA - aka Gore File
New York City.; A large patch of marihuana weed was found growing in the grounds of the Welfare Island Penitentiary, where the plants were rated by prisoners assigned to grounds duty. -- Don't be a MuggleHead Sunday Magazine Section - Oct. 11, 1936 By Hugh Pendexter, Jr.
NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS:
NEW YORK TIMES:
[S]- July 17, 1935 p8] "Marijuana Patch at jail”
“Marijuana Patch at jail”Key-finder - Case tbd]
Narcotic Weeds Discovered on Welfare Island -- Burned at Once.
A large patch of marijuana weed, a plant from which a narcotic smoked in the form of cigarettes is derived, was found, growing wild yesterday in the ground of the Welfare Island penitentiary and was promptly destroyed.
The presence of marijuana on the island dates from at least a year and a half. When the Fusion administration took office, in January, 1934, one of the first discoveries made at the island prison by Austin H. MacCormick, Correction Commissioner, and his aides was that of a small plot planted with marijuana weeds. It was believed that the weeds were being grown by prisoners assigned to duty outside the cell blocks.
After yesterday's discovery Deputy Commissioner David Marcus ordered Warden Lazarus Levy to assign workmen to destroy the weeds. The workmen, prisoners at the penitentiary, carefully pulled up every weed and burned it.
Name: -- Location: - Governors Island, New York - Date: - Jan 22, 1935
What the Narc’s were claiming
NEW YORK - New York City On January 22, 1935, detectives investigated information received from an official at Governors Island that marihuana cigarettes were being sold to soldiers of Fort Jay, in the vicinity of the Battery. A Mexican was said to be supplying the enlisted men with "reefers". The detectives proceeded to 25 Bowery. A purchase from Joe Lopez (Mexican) of 12 marihuana cigarettes was made by Patrick Keenan. Keenan and Lopez were placed under arrest and were later sentenced, Lopez to the New York county Penitentiary, Welfare Island, and Keenan to six months in the work house. --- ILLICIT TRAFFIC IN MARIHUANA - aka Gore File
NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS:
NEW YORK TIMES:
[S] - Jan. 23, 1935 pp38] Seized For Selling Opiate To Troops
SEIZED FOR SELLING OPIATE TO TROOPS[Key-finder - Case tbd]
Two Accused of Peddling 700 Loco Weed Cigarettes Daily on Governors Island.
TRAPPED BY DETECTIVE
Officers Called Police When Soldiers Showed Lethargy Induced by Marihuana.
Two men, accused of selling marihuana cigarettes to soldiers on Governors Island were arrested yesterday by detectives of the narcotic squad and locked up at Manhattan police headquarters. The prisoners, Patrick Keenan, 27 years old, of 27 Henry Street, and Joseph Lopez, 34, or 25 Chatham Square, will be arraigned today.
Lopez, the police said, was the source of supply for the cigarettes, which contained loco weed, known also as marihuana. They estimated that he sold to soldiers on the island about 700 cigarettes daily, collecting between $60 and $75 a day.
As far back as September, 1934, army officers on the island noticed that some of the soldiers were showing signs of lethargy. An investigation started by the Army Intelligence Division disclosed that marihuana cigarettes were being smuggled to the island and widely used there. The police were notified. In October, 1934, they arrested two men, and discovered a large field of the weed growing in downtown Brooklyn.
The weed was destroyed. The two men, Robert Arnold, 29, and Louis Kelly, 25, both of 17 Concord Street, Brooklyn, were convicted and sent to prison. It was believed that with their arrest the source of supply had been dried up, and no further sales would be made on Governors Island.
Recently, however, army officers again detected signs indicating that marihuana cigarettes were being sold there. The police were again notified. Detective Arthur McCloskey went to the island and posed as a CCC worker.
According to McCloskey, when he inquired from users of the cigarettes where they could be purchased, he was referred to Keenan. Keenan, he said, refused at first to have anything to do with him; but told him, finally, that the cigarettes might be purchased from Lopez.
After considerable persuasion, McCloskey said, Keenan agreed to take him to the Chatham Square Hotel in which Lopez lived. Arrived there, McCloskey said, he gave Keenan a marked $1 bill, and the latter went into the hotel and returned in a short time with twelve cigarettes. Keenan was arrested and the arrest of Lopez followed. The marked $1 bill, McCloskey said, was found in Lopez's possession at the time of his arrest.
Lopez, the police said, is a Mexican citizen and is known under the nickname Little Mex. They added that they were trying to ascertain how he entered the country. If he entered illegally, they said, steps would be taken to deport him.
Name: - Jose Samaniego - Location: - New York City - Date: - April 30, 1938
What the Narc’s were claiming
NEW YORK, N. Y. Among important cases developed during the year concerning interstate distribution was that against one Jose Samaniego and others. The principals were residents of New York City. They learned that large supplies of marihuana were available in southern Minnesota and sent to that territory. Marihuana prepared for smoking was subsequently shipped from Minnesota to New York and to Chicago, ILL., where it was distributed in the illicit traffic. Records obtained in the investigation indicated that approximately 294 kg. 835 gm. of marihuana prepared for smoking had been distributed in New York by this organization. As a result of the investigation, two persons were convicted in Minnesota, two in Chicago, and six were convicted at New York City. —Traffic in narcotics for the year 1938
NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS:
NEW YORK TIMES:
[S]- Apr. 30, 1938 pp.1- “16 indicted here in marijuana ring”
16 indicted here in marijuana ring”[Key-finder - Case tbd]
New York Gangsters Linked to Western Farmers in Chief Traffic in the Narcotic
A Federal grand jury, delivering what Lamar Hardy, United States Attorney, described as the Severest blow ever dealt to traffickers in marijuana, yesterday indicted six-teen alleged members of, a hemp-producing and distributing ring that until recently operated in Minnesota, Iowa, Chicago and New York city.
The Indictment, based on evidence presented by David L. Marks and Abel I. Smith, Assistant United States Attorneys, charges that 100 pounds of marijuana have been shipped to New York as produce every three weeks since last October, when the Federal Marijuana Act became effective.
The marijuana, according to Mr. Marks, was enough to make 100,000 to 150,000 cigarettes, which sell at anywhere from 10 to 50,cent each. Investigators, he said, found between 12,000 and 15,000 pounds of harvested hemp abandoned in the fields of Minnesota and Iowa.
Vast Supply Abandoned
The supply, which was believed abandoned because of the Marijuana Act, was enough, according to Mr. Marks, to make 30,000,000,000 cigarettes.
Most of the defendants named in the indictment, which merely charges conspiracy, an offense punishable by a two-year prison sentence and a fine of $5,000, are of Mexican and Puerto Rican extraction.
The Indictment charges activities in Frost, Wells, Ricelyn, Delavan, Alden and Kiester, Minnesota; (Continued on Page Sixteen) Scarville, Iowa; Chicago and New York. The defendants are: Jesus Gonzales and Frank Mujika, farmers, of Frost; Jose Samaniego, I,610 Madison Avenue; Leopold Trevino, alleged ringleader, and Lupe Almarez both of 96 Henry Street; Jose Rodriguez, 1,363 Fifth Avenue; Fidel, Margarita and Anthony Villarreal, 18 West Third Street, and Fernando Vasquez, Juan Sanchez, Louis Franco, Salvatore Perez. Domingo Solis, Pirimativo Castro and Marcilino Rogaz, whose addresses are Unknown.
Mr. Hardy said that the ring was "the most widespread syndicate known to have operated in the illicit marijuana field” and that the farmers had been financed by New York and Chicago racketeers, who instructed their Minnesota colleagues to send the numerous shipments of marijuana under fictitious names addresses with provision for their being picked up in New York.
Investigators, he said, learned that in 1934. Farmers in Frost and Blue Earth Minn., and later in other towns had been induced to grow hemp for a guarantee of $50 an acre made to them by racketeers, who were engaging in a relatively safe game before the Federal law became operative. Production, he said, reached a high peak last Autumn, but when the law became effective most of the farmers abandoned their crops.
Gonzales and Mujika, it is alleged, continued to operate and were recently arrested and brought to New York, where they were lodged in the Federal House of Detention. Neither has been admitted to bail. All the other defendants except those whose addresses are unknown have been arrested and arraigned on short affidavits from time to time and admitted to bail. They will be arraigned soon under the indictment.
Name: - Miss Norma De Marco - Location: - New York City - Date: - April 1938
This case does not appear to have officially been one of Anslingers Gore File cases, but it is the only example of a girl jumping out a window (under the influence of Marihuana) that we have been able to document.
What the Narc’s were claiming
Various (mostly newspaper accounts) about Miss DeMarco’s (alleged Medical Marihuana use), and how she allegedly jumped out a window (just as two cops had finished talking to her. The following is typical
“Only the other day it was revealed, in a case typical of many tragedies throughout the nation, that Norma De Marco, 22, who plunged to her death from a 12th story apartment window in New York, was a marihuana smoker.” --- Atlanta constitution.
NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS:
ATLANTA CONSTITUTION:
[ ]- May 15, 1938 pg SM3 - “A Doctor Tries Marihuana” by Charles Neville
NEW YORK TIMES:
[ ]- April 13, 1938 pg 3 - “Night-Club Bandits Shoot A Policeman”
[ ]- April 14, 1938 pg 12 - “Witness in Killing Plunges to Death”
[ ]- April 16, 1938 pg 28 - “Witness’s Suicide Starts 2 Inquiries”
[ ]- April 17, 1938 pg 12 - “Policeman dies of Hold-Up Wound”
WASHINGTON POST:
[ ]- April 14, 1938 pg X1 - “Woman Who Saw club Holdup dies of 12-Story Fall” (AP)
CHICAGO Daily TRIBUNE:
[ ]- April 14, 1938 pg 8 -“Woman Eyewitness in Night club Holdup dies in Plunge”
[Key-finder - Case #81]
Name: - Arthur Friedman/ Michael Foley (Victim - Location: - New York City - Date: - Jan 27, 1939
| NAME | FRIEDMAN, ARTHUR |
|---|---|
| AGE | 21 |
| RACE | WHITE |
| SEX | MALE |
| OCCUPATION | GANGSTER |
| CRIME | MURDER |
| METHOD | ELECTROCUTION |
| DATE | JAN 26 1939 |
| COUNTY | NEW YORK |
What the Narc’s were claiming
Arthur Friedman, twenty-one, was one of five youths charged with the fatal shooting of Detective Michael J. Foley in a restaurant holdup. On April 7, 1938, [...] journeyed down from temple and repeated his fantastic story, this time for the Big Apple jurors. -- A few weeks before that tragedy, defense counsel in the holdup murder trail of Arthur Friedman, 20, had blamed “Reefers” for the crime” --- Atlanta Constitution April 15, 198 p SM3
NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS:
Stevens Point Daily Journal:
[S- Jan 27, 1939 pg. 10] “Three young Killers Die in Electric Chair”
Chronicle Telegram:
[S- Jan 27, 1939 ] “Three Executed For Killing Policeman”
[Key-finder - Case #19]
NEW YORK
THE UNSOLVED GORE FILE CASES
Try as we might, the museum has NOT been able to actually verify that any of the following actually took place. NOTE; this does not mean that such or such an incident DID NOT TAKE place, only that up until now we have not been able to locate any actual evidence (other than what the narc’s are saying) that they actually did.
POSSESSION OF THE EVIL WEED
NEW YORK - New York City On April 26, 1935, a raid by local narcotic squads in New York City resulted in the arrest of four men charged with having in their possession 1,500 marihuana cigarettes. The seizure took place at an “incense-perfumed apartment” at 245 West 51 Street. Those arrested said they were George Mingo, 29, an actor; William Miller, concessionaire; William Scarborough, drug clerk; and Kenneth McCormick, 22, salesman. --- ILLICIT TRAFFIC IN MARIHUANA - aka Gore File
BACKYARD FULL OF MEDICAL CANNABIS
New York: - June 17, 1935, in the backyard of a deserted house in Brooklyn, N. Y., police came across a large growth of Marihuana, and destroyed it. -- Finger Print & Identification Magazine March 1938 pp3
NEW YORK - New York City On June 7, 1935, city police found marihuana growing in a yard of a deserted tenement house owned by the National City Bank of New York. The confiscated marihuana filled 20 burlap sacks. --- ILLICIT TRAFFIC IN MARIHUANA - aka Gore File
NEW YORK - New York City On June 7, 1935, police confiscated a field of Mexican marihuana. It was said there was sufficient quantity of the weed to make 10,000 cigarettes. The entire crop was destroyed. The field evidently had first been cultivated with care in the rear of 59 Herzle Street in the Brownsville section. --- ILLICIT TRAFFIC IN MARIHUANA - aka Gore File
BACKYARD FULL OF MEDICAL CANNABIS
NEW YORK - Buffalo On September 13, 1935, the local police department destroyed a patch of growing marihuana behind a garage at 11 Tennessee Street. The woman arrested at the Tennessee Street address gave her name as Mrs. Edna Swiatek, 42 years old. She was arraigned in a city court on the morning following her arrest on the charge of possessing marihuana. Mrs. Swiatek told the police that she planted the weed herself. The Patch was about 20’ x 40’. --- ILLICIT TRAFFIC IN MARIHUANA - aka Gore File
Buffalo - The local police destroyed a patch of marihuana approximately twenty by four feet in size, growing behind a garage. The woman arrested, when arraigned in court the following day, charged with possession of the drug, told the Court she had planted the seed herself. -- Don't be a MuggleHead Sunday Magazine Section - Oct. 11, 1936 By Hugh Pendexter, Jr.
BACKYARD FULL OF MEDICAL CANNABIS
NEW YORK - Rochester On October 8, 1935, hundreds of dollars worth of narcotic marihuana weeds were confiscated in the back yards of the Charlotte Precinct. In a 15' x 40’, lot at 4575 Lake Avenue, a quantity of marihuana sufficient to make 5,000 cigarettes was destroyed by saturating the crop with kerosene, later firing it. Three hundred pounds of cut, dried and bundled marihuana weed were found in the rear of 273 River Street, enough to "spike" 15,000 marihuana cigarettes. Five more cut and dried bundles of the narcotic weed were found in a garage at 31 Lakeland Avenue, which was confiscated and sent to the property clerk's office in police headquarters. Another patch of growing marihuana weed 5’ x 12’ was found at 15 Hincher Street. This also was confiscated and burned. The trail was first started from the properties of one DiMassino who lives at 17 Hincher Street. --- ILLICIT TRAFFIC IN MARIHUANA - aka Gore File
Rochester, N.Y.; In a vacant lot on Lake Avenue, a quantity of marihuana sufficient to make 5000 cigarettes was found and destroyed. Three hundred pounds of cut, dried and bundled marihuana weeds was found in the rear on a River Street house, enough to "spike" 15,000 marihuana cigarettes. Another patch was found growing on Hincher Street. -- Don't be a MuggleHead Sunday Magazine Section - Oct. 11, 1936 By Hugh Pendexter, Jr.
POSSESSION
NEW YORK - Binghamton On January 14, 1936, Alfonso Reynolds, alias “Buddah”, was arrested at Binghamton, New York for possession of 300 marihuana cigarettes and 3 ounces of marihuana in bulk. He was sentenced to 7 months’ imprisonment. --- ILLICIT TRAFFIC IN MARIHUANA - aka Gore File
POSSESSION
NEW YORK - Buffalo On February 26, 1936, police at Buffalo, New York, arrested Chauncey P. Graham and seized 36 marihuana cigarettes. These cigarettes had been sent to him through the Mails by Margaret Griffin of Cleveland, Ohio. Graham was held for trial. --- ILLICIT TRAFFIC IN MARIHUANA - aka Gore File
SMUGGLING (Steamship)
NEW YORK, N. Y. - On September 27, 1938, customs officers at New York City discovered five bags containing I kg. 765 gm., net, of marihuana concealed on the steamship Orizaba coming from Veracruz. Enrique Almestica, fireman on the vessel, was arrested and was subsequently sentenced to 6 months imprisonment. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1938)
SMUGGLING (Steamship)
New York A second marihuana seizure, amounting to 1 kg. 644 gm., was made on the steamship Orizaba by customs officers at New York City on October 19, 1938. The case is still pending. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1938)
SMUGGLING (Steamship)
On December 28, 1938, a customs guard at New York found in a ventilator in the steward's washroom of the steamship Brazil, coming from Buenos Aires, via Santos, Rio de Janeiro, and Trinidad, a package of marihuana, weighing 280 gm., net. Customs agents investigating the seizure were informed by certain crew members of the vessel that the marihuana belonged to Miguel Aponte, steward. A search of this person revealed one marihuana cigarette. Another marihuana cigarette was found in his looker. The prisoner stated that he was a marihuana smoker and that the cigarettes were for his own use. However, he claimed that he knew nothing about the marihuana found in the ventilator, nor would he divulge its origin. The defendant is being held for prosecution. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1938)
SMUGGLING (Steamship)
A seizure of 1 kg. 816 gm., net, of marihuana, was made by customs officers at New York City on April 2, 1939, on the steamship Orizaba, coming from Progreso, Veracruz, and Havana. Ownership of the marihuana was not determined. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1939)
SMUGGLING (Steamship)
On April 11, 1939, customs officers at New York City, during a routine search of the steamship Exiria, just arrived in port from Tunis, via Piraeus, Salonika, Istanbul, Constanta, Gibraltar and Lisbon, found concealed thereon three packages, containing 911 gm., net, of hashish (cannabis). This hashish was in the form generally encountered in the Near East, consisting of reddish colored powder which had been steamed or moistened in sacks and allowed to dry, forming a hard dry brick-like substance. Investigation disclosed a wiper on the ship, Nicholas Voupoukos, to be the owner of the hashish, but this Greek seaman had signed off the ship that morning. He was finally apprehended in New York City on April 17, 1939. In the meantime, an anonymous letter was received by customs officers, stating that Nicholas Voupoukos had brought some hashish into the United States. When Voupoukos was questioned on April 17, he admitted having purchased the hashish at Istanbul from an unnamed Turkish citizen. When informed concerning the anonymous letter, he stated this must have been written by Socrates Argyros, a New York resident, from whom he had previously purchased marihuana cigarettes on several occasions. This information was given to New York narcotic agents, who proceeded to the premises occupied by Argyros and arrested this person. A search of his residence disclosed the presence of 541 marihuana cigarettes, weighing approximately 254 gm., net, and 401 gm., net, of bulk marihuana. The marihuana in this second seizure consisted of the dried, flowering tops and leaves of the cannabis plant, in the form most frequently encountered in the United States. On May 17, 1939, Argyros was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment, and ordered placed on parole for 3 years after serving this sentence. On June 20, 1939, Nicholas Voupoukos received sentence of 1 year and 1 day. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1939)
SMUGGLING (Steamship)
Three seizures of marihuana were made by customs officers at New York City on the steamship Mexico, coming from Veracruz, via Havana. The first seizure, on May 9, 1939, consisted of two packages of marihuana, weighing 452 gm., net. Ownership was not established. The second seizure, on July 11, 1939, was one package of marihuana, weighing 4 gm., net, with ownership undetermined, while the third seizure was two bags of marihuana, weighing 1 kg. 327 gm., net, on August 22, 1939, with ownership not ascertained. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1939)
SMUGGLING (Steamship)
On Aug. 22 and 23, 1939, customs officers at New York City found 291 gm., net, of marihuana concealed on the steamship Santa Paula, arrived in port from Curacao, Netherlands West Indies. A member of the crew of the ship, Inocencio Rodriguez, was subsequently sentenced to imprisonment for 1 month in connection with this seizure. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1939)
SMUGGLING (Steamship)
On Sept. 6, 1939, Customs officers at New York City found 1 ½ marihuana cigarettes, weighing 0.88 gm., net, in the possession of Pedro Velazquez, member of the crew of the steamship Santa Rosa. Velazquez stated he had purchased the cigarettes in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela. He was not prosecuted. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1939)
SMUGGLING (Steamship)
On September 20, 1939, customs officers at New York City found concealed on the person of Eustico Rios, Puerto Rican seaman on the steamship Monterey, coming from Veracruz, via Havana, one cheese cloth sack holding 255.6 gm., net, of marihuana. Rios refused to divulge the source of the marihuana. On November 13, 1939, Rios was sentenced to serve 1 year and 1 day in prison. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1939)
SMUGGLING (Steamship)
On Oct. 3, 1939, customs officers at New York found one package of marihuana, weighing 2 gm., net, concealed under a coil of rope on the steamship Santa Paula, arrived in port from Curacao, Netherlands West Indies. On October 4, they found five glazed paper packages, containing 5 gm., net, of prepared opium, and two metal "toys," containing 8 gm., net, of prepared opium, concealed in spice tins in the main galley of the vessel. The first cook of the ship, So You, admitted ownership of the opium; claiming he drank a solution made from the opium; further, that he had purchased the opium in Curacao, Netherlands West Indies. He was subsequently released. Ownership of the marihuana was not established. This case was called to the attention of the Netherlands authorities. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1939)
SMUGGLING (Steamship)
Customs officers at New York City on October 11, 1939, arrested Jose Rodriguez, Puerto Rican fireman on the steamship Santa Elena, coming from La Guayra, Puerto Cabello, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Colon, and Curagao, when he attempted to bring ashore 7 marihuana cigarettes. A search of the vessel resulted in the seizure of 65 additional marihuana cigarettes. Rodriguez stated he had purchased 10 marihuana cigarettes in a saloon in Panama.
SMUGGLING MEXICAN BOARDER
July 1944 In another major marihuana case Henley SELLERS and Neil SCHAU were arrested in New York, N. Y., in July 1944 and charged with importation and possession of 47 pounds (21 kilograms, 351 grams) of marihuana. These men, with John W. SIMMONS of Texarkana, Tex., had smuggled the marihuana into the United States from Mexico. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1944)
ROBBERY
1953 - M Negro, shot and killed while attempting holdup grocer in Harlem; plea guilty. Arrested -- Article by James C. Munch; "UN Bulletin on Narcotics"-1966 Issue 2
1953 - A. Callaway - M - Negro, shot and killed while attempting holdup grocer in Harlem; plea guilty. - Arrested - 6th conference report - INEOA 1965
DOMESTIC VILENCE
New York: - Roosevelt, N.Y., March 9, 1966----While smoking marihuana at home a man became violent. He brutally assaulted his wife and terrorized his two children, continuing to smoke marihuana throughout the Incident. -- Congressional Record -- April 4, 1968
RESISTING ARREST
Hempstead, N.Y. November 14, 1967----An undercover police officer was in a car with two men in their early twenties for the alleged purpose of buying a gun. The suspects were "high" on marihuana. One pulled a knife on the officer forcing him to leave the automobile. Both then chased him through a residential area, where he was caught, disarmed, and assaulted. Attempting to kill the officer, one defendant pointed the gun at his head and pulled the trigger. Fortunately, the gun was only a starter's pistol. Both subjects were later arrested. -- Congressional Record -- April 4, 1968
ASSAULT
New York: Franklin Square, N.Y., Feb 17, 1967---A teenage youth became wild and unruly in a local restaurant and assaulted one of the customers. Arresting officers found the suspect in possession of marihuana which he had admitted smoking prior to the incident. -- Congressional Record -- April 4, 1968
ROBBERY
New York: Garden City East, N.Y., Feb 5, 1967---An 18-year old youth was arrested at the scene of a burglary. He later admitted smoking a marihuana cigarette immediately before the crime was committed. -- Congressional Record -- April 4, 1968
AFTERWARDS:
“This was the craziest business you ever saw. Every one of these so-called marijuana insanity defenses were successful. The one in New York was just outlandish. Two police officers were shot and killed in cold blood. The defendant puts on the marijuana insanity defense and, in that case, there was never even any testimony that the defendant had even used marijuana. The testimony in the New York case was that, from the time the bag of marijuana came into his room it gave off "homicidal vibrations", so he started killing dogs, cats, and ultimately two police officers.” ---A Speech to the California Judges Association 1995 annual conference by Charles Whitebread,
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