The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-30
ALMOST SLAVE
OF The Pipe
Beautiful Girl Started ON Down.
ward Path by Stunning.
JUST OUT OF A CONVENT
Cuarsd Into Tia Den by Young Men, but
Is Saved BY The Complaint Of The Chinese
Proprietor Of The Dive.
JUST OUT OF A CONVENT

Bridgeport. Sept. 29,--From a convent
TO an opium joint was the hasty descent
Of Edna Case, a beautiful girl OF IS
years, who, four weeks ago. left the care
Of the God sisters OF the Sacred Heart.
In Hartford Luckily. although the Sc
ductive fumes OF opium had already fas-
cinated her. time enough had not passed
She has been sent TO her aunt In New
Haven.
Perhaps the strangest fact brought to
light In this exposure is that an opium
den has been permitted to exist directly
across the street from police headquar-
ters. and that the Chinaman who was
master OF the dive had assurance enough
to complain TO the police that Miss Case
and her two male companions. yearning
for a smoke and unable to crafty their
longings. for lack OF money, stole the pipe
for which they had such a longing.
When Edna came here from Hartford
a month ago Melville Kicker was intro
duced to her by mutual friends. Kicker
is a slender. pale-faced young fellow OF
81 years. The whispers about the dissi-
pated life he has lately led have been al
most stilled by the fact that his father
is wealthy. of the best reputation. NOV
ing In the best society.
OPPOSITE POLICE STATION.
On State street. opposite police head
quarters. is Chinese restaurant TO
which fashionable people often resort
when they ''go stunning" Joe" Linn,
as the proprietor of the restaurant calls
himself sleek Chinaman. Is growing
vi
suey Is admirable. his tea Is fragrant and
his rice is so well cooked that a GUS
toner can count every grain in IL. But.
as IL turns out. Joe Linn had other means
of adding to his income.
Young Kicker. showing Edna Case the
sights OF Bridgeport, took her to a Chi
nese restaurant. They dined there. and
there they met George Paige. a young
friend OF Kicker. who, like himself, Is
victim OF the opium habit. They coaxed
and bantered the girl to smoke. and In a
spirit Of bravado she consented to inhale
the fumes. which. they laughingly as
sured her. would make her feel as happy
as princess and as rich as a duchess.
They led her into room, back OF the
restaurant, where the cunning Linn sup
piled them with a layout" pipe, lamp.
opium. needle--everything.
Edna Case says she was decidedly Ill
that night when she returned TO the house
But her friends readily admitted Kicker
TO their home. and night after night. on
one or other pretext. she went with him
TO the restaurant, to the opium joint,
where they met Paige The insidious
drug the opportunities of the two willy
young men conquered her.
STOLE THE LAYOUT.
A few nights ago Miss Case and the
young men found themselves pennfless.
But they went TO Linn's dive. and, as usu-
al ordered a layout. While he was In
the kitchen. 1t is said. they tip-toed out
of the place, taking with them the pipe.
the "hop-toy." the little can containing
the opium. n beautiful bit OF bronze In
laid with gold and silver, and the "yeng
hok," the needle used TO cook" the
pill over the pipe.
Discovering their fight and his loss
Joe Linn was furious. With the greatest
impudence he hurried to police headquar-
ters and insisted that Miss Case, Kicker
and Paige be arrested. When the girl
was arraigned before a police judge she
almost tainted, and. weeping. blushing.
overcome by shame. she related OF her
experience in the opium den. and aston
ished even the police. At any rate they
swore they were astonished.
Young Ricker's grayhaired father was
In court and he sobbed when he heard
from his sons lips the story OF his slav
cry TO the opium pipe Because of the
prominence OF the two young men and
their social connections they were allowed
to go free after being severely lectured
by the judge.
Edna Case was sent 10 her aunts home
In New Haven. and Joe Linn, who had the
temerity TO run his dive In the very
shadow OF headquarters. was sentenced
TO six months in jail and TO pay fine OF
500 and costs. Besides he was bound
over 90 keep the peace for year.
The facts here related have excited
the dormant hatred against Cinnamon.
and the police are searching even the
laundries to learn II they have back
rooms where opium is smoked.
"I would be willing to work" said Tyre
Dout. '1f could get the sort OF Job
want"
what would that lob be?"