Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-09-12
Startling Revelations About
Sale of Cocaine In Oskaloosa
To Mere Youths
DR.. FITCH KEPT HEADQUARTERS
1t Was His Arrest and Conviction on
the information Given by Givin Bur-
ton, One of the Victims, That Re-
vealed the Terrible State of Matters
Parents Complain.


Oskaloosa, Sept. 12.-The arrest and
conviction of DR.. l.. NJ. F'ritch for sell
ling cocaine to a mere boy named
Giyin Burton. has brought about start
ling revelations in regard to the sale
of the drug to dope" fiends in this city.
Within the past few months it has
become no uncommon thing for the po-
lice to receive complaints from parents
that their boys ranging III age from ~
cocaine habit and had somewhere pur-
chased the drug. Mayor Williams and
his officers are determined to put a stop
to this destruction of Oskaloosa's boys
and in their efforts have the hearty CO.
operation of County Attorney Dewitt
and Justice Stanley.
DIR. l.. NJ F'ritch, who has a sort of a
sanatarium over No. 215 High ave-
nue. west, was taken before Justice
Stanley on a warrant issued upon IN
formation of Il. M. Burton, charging
selling of cocaine unlawfully. The evil
dence in the case was heard with the
result that the defendant was fined TO
the extent of the law. 500. The de-
PENDANT was given several hours IN
which to pay the fine and being unable
to get the money he was committed TO
jail The case was the mans nfst
otfense and hence the case does not go
to the grand jury. The second offense
is indictable.
A mere boy, Givin Burton, fourteen
years of age. was the prosecuting wit
ness. The officers had some OF the CO.
caine that had been sold, in their pos
session and the evidence in the case
was direct.
1t was a terrible story revealed in the
court yesterday. The boy was only
fourteen years of age. for seven years
his parents had lived apart. and he had
drifted gradually into the streets. II
was in WeatherwaX's pool room once
he met .'hop fiend' snufting cocaine In
a dark corner of the room. Child like
he asked what it was and wanted to ex-
pertinent. He was given some and tried
it again and again. Now that the habit
was formed the "fiend'' told him he
must Shift for himself but gave him
note to Fitch an order for the drug, and
the boy when he got quarter would
hunt UP the HOP fiend" for another or
der.
About this time that worthy deter
mined to profit by his victims habit.
orders he said were worth money. SIX
for a quarter, and he sold six, Burton
took the first and he got 1t filled. Here
the police interfered, got the drug and
,ot,t tr, no mo nj
flee. bundle of skin and bones, dull,
stupid, vastly different from the Burton
of a few months before. His father
was called and took him to his farm at
Lynnville and forced the boy to fight It
out with the habit He was never out
OF his fathers sight, never given
chance to get the drug. In six weeks
he has gained twenty-five pounds OF
flesh and was bright, and sharp mem
tally. At the trial Fritch admitted the
sale but claimed 1t as a legal right.
Justice Stanley has been informed
that there are a large number of young
boys in the city who are using the drug
every day. They become frantic in
their efforts to get the poison to satisfy
their Unsuitable desires for the stuff.
When they once begin taking the drug
they are worse than useless wrecks.
The Burton lad became SO bad that his
mother had no control whatever over
him. He would leave the house and be
away all night The mother did not
know at first what was the cause OF the
trouble, as the boy was quite secretive
in the habit Mr.. Stanley was told that
the drug was being used in the city of
Oskaloosa TO an alarming extent and
that men and mere boys and he did not
know but women also, had been seen at
all times of the night sneaking up the
alley to the place where the doctor has
his office and sanitarium.
The police officers have not finished
their Investigations with reference to
the matter and other arrests may be
made in connection with the revelations
that have been brought about as the re
suit of Investigations already made