The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-12
CRED" LAIRD INSANE.
A Pitiful Example of the Rapid Work
of Cocaine

OF cocaine
Topeka Red" Laird. well known
here as a circus follower, is insane from
the use of cocaine. This morning at
$50 o'clock he ran away from the house
of his father, E. E. Laird, at 93S Morris
avenue, in a delirium resulting from
an overdose of cocaine. He ran yell
ing that some one was after him. The
neighborhood was aroused by his cries.
With some difficulty he was caught.
He pleaded with his captors to keep
that man. from killing him. He was
in a state of great nervousness The
police department was notified, and
Patrolmen Gordon and McFadden went
to the house of Mr.. E. E. Laird and
took young Laird to the police station
and locked him behind the bars until
his parents should come and take him
before the probate court. He had ar
rived home yesterday afternoon from
Utah and had stayed in his room all
night with his clothes on.
He continued to yell and cry that he
was about to be killed. When asked
what he had taken he at first refused
to tell. Finally he admitted having
taken cocaine.
He sat in the jail room at the city
prison with a far-away look in his eyes
When questioned he would answer in
a dazed sort of way. His parents went
to the city Jail at IL o'clock to see him.
He but partially recognized them He
was taken before Probate Judge Dol
man, where his trial was held The
jury returned a verdict of insanity.
Laird sat in court quietly, but the ex-
preston on his face revealed the fact
of his deplorable condition. He was
afterward taken back to the county
Jail, where he was held until Under
Sheriff Lucas took him to the Topeka
insane asylum.
At the county Jail Topeka Red"
Laird was seen by a State Journal re-
porter. He sat on chair near to the
barred door of his cell. He was in
-dustriously smoking a cigarette. I'm
a dope fend now" said he sadly. II
left here last August and went to Salt
Lake City. 1 got a job as a news
agent on the Rio Grande. 1 got to
using dope and I lost all respect for
myself and for other people. When
was here before used morphine some,
but now 1 use cocaine, too. Just look
al my arms" saying which he removed
his coat and rolled up his sleeves, eX-
posing his arms, which were covered
with small scabs which had been made
by hundreds of punctures by hyper
derTnic syringe.
Il got here from Utah yesterday af-
ternoon at 3 o'clock pretty nearly
died on the way here from an overdose
of morphine. use cocaine mostly now
Last night at home 1 loaded up on Co
caine. 1 didn't go to bed at ALL Co
caine keeps you awake, you know Ear
ly this morning 1 thought somebody
was after me, and ran away from the
house. I guess it's the best thing for
me to go out to the asylum now. have
been sick a good deal lately
Topeka Red Laird was one of the
best known young men in Topeka He
was a bright witty fellow, liked by all
who knew him. He was an Industrious
fellow and a great rustler. Twice he
was out with Sells circus as CRATER,
and since then has been with medicine
shows, and later has been running as
news agent on the railroads. He was
widely known for his witty remarks on
current topics. In his work he put this
talent to good advantage. At a circus
he could sell more lemonade, concert
tickets and songs than two ordinary men
on account of his cute expressions He
was never a man to go to excess in
drinking, although he used liquor
His use of opiates was begun some
thing over a year ago. Within a year
the once healthy, happy, jolly Topeka
Red has been reduced to a sallow, ner-
Vous physical wreck, without ambition
or mental balance. The work has been
rapid and deadly.
This afternoon Fred Laird was taken
to the insane asylum