Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-29
CUTTING OFF SMOKE.
Crusade Started Against People Who
Sell Cigarettes 10 Boys.
TWO ARRESTS MADE YESTERDAY.
Inspector McAleese Will Enforce tine Law
Passed in 1887.
ALAUS NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH

Inspector McAleese has commenced a
crusade against the persons who sell the soul
and body-destroying cigarette to children.
The first prisoners of the campaign are S.
A. Bird and Nicholas Jasper. They were
arrested yesterday afternoon by Detective
Coulson on warrant issued by Police
Magistrate Gripp, and locked up in the
Central station, where they are held in $500
bail each.
Bird & Jasper keep fruit candy and
cigar store at No. 421 Filth avenue. A
goodly portion of the firms revenue is de-
rived from the saleof cigarettes inclosed in
neat boxes containing portraits of baseball
heroes or fancy sketches of young ladies who,i
is presumed, compose their toilets in asymphony
IN which the keynote is "beauty unadorned is
adorned the most" A number of future Pres
dents do business with this firm. While the
little shavers are in the First Reader they are
content to dissipate on the toothsome brandy
bottle" a deceptive affair containing four drops
OF syrup and several per cent Of glucose, unless
Major Mckinley has effected reformation.
When the lads get chance to peruse the Sec
ond Reader the drain upon the gray matter
composing the brain is SO great that they need
stronger stimulant. Then they fly to the
deadly cigarette for solace. With Une 5-cent
package nf cigarettes and box of matches half
a dozen youngsters retire into an alley and en-
Joy high old time only excelled in intensity by
a Congressional funeral. This was very pleas
ant, of course, but was hard upon the cOnstitu-
tlons of the boys.
The information against Bird & Jasper was
the result of u complaint made by l.. Bronson,
bricklayer, or No. 1l5 Colwell street. Bronson
has 9-year-Old son, who about two months ago
developed signs of disease that could not be ac-
counted for. The boy would not tell and his
parents were unsuspicious Until finally he grew
SO i'll that a physician was called who pro-
nounced 1t case of nicotine poisoning, the re-
suit of cigarette smoking. The boy was treated,
and his cigarettes 0eing cut OF lie got better.
but as soon as he became well enough to get out
the old practice was renewed and the symptoms
began to return. In the meantime Bronson
learned of the law passed In 1887 and decided
to prosecute those who were violating
the law. He watched his boy and
found the source of his cigarette supply was at
Bird & Jasper's. Then he went to them and
requested that no more of the perncious weeds
be sold to his offspring. Receiving satisfac-
tory answer, he felt satisfied until be found
day or two later that the boy was getting
cigarettes as usual Mr.. Bronson thereupon
gave the lad some money to spend, and when he
left the house followed him, saw him enter
Bird IL Jasper's and buy cigarettes. He at the
same time witnessed the purchase of cigar.
cites by several other children under IL years
Of age.
Bronson went to Inspector McAleese and
laid the whole case before him. The Inspector
had been itching to get chance at some of the
violatorS OF this law, and at once he entered
an information against the defendants. The
warrants were placed in Detective Coulsoifs
hands. and In a couple of hours they were be-
hind the bars. The hearing will be held on
Tuesday. A fine of $500 or 50 days imprison-
ment can be imposed for the first offense.