The Portland daily press., 1893-04-29
Bangor Commercial.7

Bangor Commercial
A singular case of malicious mischief
occurred on the east'side yesterday after
noon, but luckily did not result fatally,
as one knowing the circumstances would
surely expect. 1t seems that about a
dozen boys were playing on Broadway
Park, and one of them, Russell Lacount.
whose parents live at the corner of Grant
and Congress streets, was the fortunate
possessor of new base ball, upon which
all his young companions looked with
coyetous eyes.
They naturally wanted to play with it,
but the boy, who is only eight years old,
did not fancy having his larger compan-
ions spoil his treasure in apparent short
order, and accordingly refused to give it
up. They were strong enough to take
the ball away from him and proposed to
do SO, when one Of them hit upon an idea
which seemed harmless, but was never
theless of the fendish order.
They had in their pockets a lot of pills
that had been left at doorways in envel-
opes to be used as samples of what they
could do in curing the headache and 9TH
or troubles, and this boy proposed that
unless Lcount allowed the use of his
ball he be made to take the entire stock
of these pills, which amounted to about
80 in number The rest of the gang i'm
mediately united in communication of
this unique punishment ana gleefully
rrap9rpd to inf1iot n
The Lacount boy did not know the ex-
tent Of the punishment threatened and
remained obdprate, and in a few mo-
ments he was in the hands of the little
rufians. They threw him down. and
opening his mouth would drop in few
pills, and then hold their hands over his
mouth and nose until he was forced to
swallow to get his breath
just how long this performance con-
hnued nobody seems to know, but man
came along and started to investigate the
trouble when the little fellows persecu-
tors left him and ran. The boy was al
ready sick, and he lost no time in start
ing for home, which he reached after
some difficulty, and told his story. 1t
subsequently, appeared that he had taken
eighteen of the vile pills.
A physician was, of course, summoned
for him in the greatest haste, while he
was lifted into bed. His extremities had
commenced to grow dark and when DR..
H. L. Jewell, who was called arrived
they were dark blue and the boy was
very i'll. He had already vomited once
and the doctor gave him powerful emet-
les until he dared not pursue the treat
ment further.
After working over him for some time
the boy commenced to grow little
easier and it was evident that the great
est danger had passed, but at first there
was no telling what the result would be.
Today he is better but still very weak
and confined to his bed and it will be a
long time before he RECEIVERS from the
effects of this serious attack upon him.
The whole case furnishes additional
reasons why the distribution of medicine
for advertising purposes from door to
door should be stopped. Half the time
or even more, it falls into the hands of
children, many of them too young to
know better than to swallow it them
selves while one of it's uses by those of
older growth is well illustrated here. 1t
is wonder that the boy escaped with
his life and if the authorities take any
action they ought to commence with the
fellows who distributed the pills and