The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-13
A Policeman Talks About
"KnOck Out Drops"
Stories of Their Use Generally
FabricatiOnS.
Ficticious Tale Of Drugging and
Robbery Covers a Spree.

There has existed for some time the
suspicion that what are known as KNOCK
out drops are in use in some OF the
saloons in the district bordering on the
river on the West Side. Men have as
serted that they have gone into some OF
these saloons with chance acqusintances
and after having drank with them have
lost consciousness and ON regaining their
senses have found that they have been
robbed. The explanation made by these
men ~ invariably that they were the
victims of knock out drops. Yesterday
the Gossiper had talk with member OF
the police department who Is familiar
with the district referred TO and who
has frequent occasion TO look after the
saloons In II. de does not give any cred
ance at all to the story that Knockout
drops are Kept In the saloons and mixed
with drink when some stranger is TO DC
done up by hanger-on of the place.
ssIf knock out drops are used at all, !"
he continued, sit is by the fellows who
hang about the harrooms waiting for
free drink or possibly for chance TO re-
lieve man of his money. Even at that,
i think the use OF the drops Is very rare.
yhe fact is that men who have gone OH
on a spree and spent their money have
come to use the knock out drops story as
an excuse when they go home empty
handed. 1t works at home all right and
the people there are so happy that the
alleged victim has escaped with his LIE,
tnat they never stop to see whether his
story will hold water or not. IL Is differ
ent with Us. We have complaints OF
having been robbed from men who have
ssblown in" all their money and that we
know have done so, and their friends
think we are neglecting our duty because
we don't get the money back or capture
the thief.
I-remember one knock out drops story
that will serve as a fair sample OF most
of them. ] noticed one afternoon GER
tain man who is in business in Provi-
dence going into a saloon on my beat.
thought noihlng of 1t at the time, but an
hour OF two later saw him again, this
time with a companion. lie had improv-
ed the interval TO get comfortable
..iaR.n although he was not what call
drunk. lie was Just in the reckless stage,
the going-to- -to-have-a-good-time condition
that generally proceeds intoxication.
ANY way this man was bent ON a good
time. A hack had been called to the sa-
loon and the man and his companion
started of in 1t for the railway station
where they proposed TO take the train
for Boston. They did go to Boston, as
found out later, but not from the man
am speaking OF.
swell, two or three days afterwar6
this same man came to me and told 9
great tale of woe. He said he had met q
man he hadn't been previously acquaint
ed with two or three days before, and as
this new friend had appeared compan-
ionable sort OF fellow he had taken sew
erai drinks with him. He went on tc
say that he finally lost himself, by which
he meant that he lost consciousness, and
when he came to..his senses again 1t was
a day and half later, when he found
himself sitting on the steps OF his own
house minus between 500 and S100 and his
gold watch and chain. He had no doubt
he had been given knock out drops, and
he had been robbed, though where he
mad been during the day and half he