The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-01-31
PIrrsFIELD's OPIUM JOINT.

HGenD LutE, Formerly of the salvation
Army, and Friend Arrested.
The Pittsfield police Saturday might
made a raid upon the residence of'Gen.
I,utz. 101 Fem street in that town. ano
arrested Lutz and a Pitched dentiet
named Hammond j. MalleTy' Snlei
Nicholson, Capt. Leonard ana OnceIs
White aud Flynn made the RAID aoou'
11.S0 o'clock. White having been watcn-
ing the house all the evening. LUZ an
swered the ring at the door bell ana the
chief rushed up stairs to where hghi
was burning. Young Mallery was touno
In bed and under the bed was found a
smoking outfit which had recently been
used. The room was full Of the fumes
of the drug and the pipe was still warm
Lutz and Mallory dressed ana were
placed under arrest. Lutz protested Vlg-
orously against the raid, saying that tine
officers had no right to touch anyttl Ing
in the place. Keys were taken from
him and he and Mallory were uncere-
moniously marched off to the police STA
tion and locked up. The search was
continued, smoking outfits were found
complete with quantity OF fresh opium
and a large box full of smoked opium
there were also found several empty
metallic boxes which had contained
opium. This property was all connscst
ed and taken to the lookup. The Officers
also searched the barn and found room
there fitted up for smoking.
Items limiting at this place have from
time to time found their way into the
local newspapers, but the first detailed
descriptive account OF the resort was
printed in last Sundays Springfield ne
publican. LutZ, who came to Pttsnelu
few years ago with the SalvallonArmy
and has made his home there since, mas
acquired the reputation OF being phe-
nominally bad man. He induced a Mrs.
Luce, an aged Pittsfield widow with
some property, to become his wife, and
it is at her residence that this opium
Joint has been fitted up. The Republican
reporter who gained access to the place,
writes of the oriental luxury and accom-
paniments of the several apartments de-
voted to the use of the drug, in one OF
which he found some half-dozen men
well known in Pittsfield, wearing masks
which however we're soon thrown aside.
The scene that ensued the reporter de-
scribes as follows:
1.-THE general took the tray contain
ing the outfit and placed it in front OF
him in the center of the floor. The
smokers ranged themselves about him
in circle, reclining on pillows placed
on the backs of inverted chairs, and pre-.
pared for siesta. Lutz is very expert
cook, and claims that he can earn $40 a
week in that capacity. He lighted the
small olive oil lamp and taking the
''yenhowche" extracted small quanty
OF opium from the little tooth case and
began to make the pill. The opium used
is of the finest quality, costing SO an
ounce. 1t is about the consistency OF
molasses and Of much the same color.
After it has once been smoked it is call
ed "hap," and is sold to the Chinese,
who smoke it in the low joint. 1t takes
considerable skill to prepare the opium
for smoking. and in this Lutz showed
himself an adept He placed the opium
on the bowl Of the pipe, which is as
large as small teacup and has small
hole in the center, and proceeded to
knead and turn it, heating it occasionally
over the little lamp. When the stuff
was sufficiently cooked he formed it into
a conical shaped pill by dexterous turn
Of the hand, and placed it in the small
hole in the bowl Of the pipe. The smok-
er who held the pipe placed the stem in
his mouth and at one inhalation used up
the pill, or transformed it into hap He
then emitted the smoke with a puff, and
seizing cigarette, lay back on his i'm
povished divan to await his turn again.
This process was repeated several times
around the circle each one smoking from
six to ten pills. The drug has a very
exhilarating effect and the smokers
seemed imbued with new life. They
eyes grew bright, their cheeks flushed
and they were as Vivacious as could be.
But the insidious power which they had
inhaled aroused their baser nature and
led to obscenity and profanity, The re-
porter was requested to hit the pipe
but refused, desiring to keep his head
clear. But he inhale the fumes of the
drug for long time, and on leaving the
house was taken with deadly sickness
which kept him in bed all the next
day."
Lutz says ne has smoked the drug for
eight years, having learned the habit in
Philadelphia. He also says that he con-
Quoted the finest joint in the country
while in Philadelphia, and is now the
real proprietor Of two joints in that city
and also claims that he conducts Two
disreputable houses in Philadelphia, and
that from these dens comes the money
which he spends 80 lavishly. He says
that there are nine men and two women
in Pittsfield who are victims of this habit
and frequent his rooms as friends"
and also says that his wife, whom he
terms the ''old woman, has also become
slave Of the drug.
Gen" Lutz was before the district
court in Pittsfield Monday morning
charged with keeping an opium Joint.
He was represented by Lawyer Wood,
whe waived the reading of the com
plant and entered plea of not guilty.
ID. j. Mallery, the young man who was
arrested in Luiz's joint, was charged
with resorting to place where opium
is smoked, and through his counsel,
Lawyer French, pleaded not guilty. 4!
Both cases were continued for two
weeks, the bail being $500 for Luiz and |
$500 for Mallery.
The Mrs, Luce whom Lutz induced to
marry him is the widow of "Iamen
Luce, tin peddler, who travelled thro'
this country years ago, and who at that
time was about the only person in his
vocation in these parts, and is well re-
membered by our older residents. Mr..
Luce made money in his business and
left comfortable fortune to his widow.
which excited Lutz's regard. -North
adams Transcript