The Oskaloosa herald., 1903-09-17
THE COCAINE HABIT.
Startling Revelations Brought Out
in Fritch Case.

a bdUlldTlums over 1NO. 11O I1lBA ave
nue. west, was taken before Justice
Stanley Thursday afternoon on a
warrant issued upon information Of
e. M. Burton, charging selling Of co.
caine unlawfulIy. The evidence In
the case was heard with the result
that the defendant was fined to the
extent Of the law, $4,000. The de.
fendant was given several hours in
which to pay the fine and being un.
able to get the money he was com
mitted to Jail this morning. The
case was the mans first offense 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
witness. The officers had some OF
the cocaine that had been sold, In
their possession and the evidence In
the case was direct.
About seven weeks ago while ON.
Ger J. v. Miller was investigating
some matters in an alley north from
High avenue, he caught sight OF
some suspicious actions on the part
of a lad standing near a shed. He
turned his attention in the direction
and looked in. On the inside was a
mere boy holding paper in his hand
and in the act of snufiing something
into his nostrils. When the officer
spoke to him he crumpled the paper
hurriedly and dropped it from his
hand, endeavoring to conceal it from
the officer who had to run around to
the door to get into the shed. But
Officer Miller was too quick for the
boy and he found where the little
package had been thrown.
The lad was Givin Burton, son of
Mr.. and Mrs. e. M. Burton. He was
taken before the police officers and
placed in the sweat box, but he would
not divulge where he had obtained
the drug. He denied everything and
anything and made misrepresenta-
tions. The police officers could get
nothing from him. After several
hours of questioning he was released
and the officers have been working
upon the case now for seven weeks.
Some time ago the mother of the
boy telephoned for the father to come
to the house Immediately. The faith.
er responded and found the boy in
a frightful condition. He begged for
cocaine and said he must have some
or he would die. He begged piteously
for the drug. The father would not
listen to him and thereupon deter
mined that he would stay by the boys
side night and day to- prevent his
| getting any more of the poison. The
| boy at first would tell nothing abou
how he came to use the drug. Ht
| had been addicted TO its use but {
comparatively short time but was il
pitiable condition and insanity OF
death was not far distant. His ap
pearance was that Of a walking
corpse. The father was true to his
resolve and he kept the lad with hin
and under his watchfulness and care
it was impossible for the boy to OBJ
tain any more of the stuff. AS hi:
system became cleared of the drul
he awoke to a realization of what ht
had been doing and at last he made
"clean breast" of the whole thing
duplicating Mr.. Fritch as the on,
who had sold him the stuff. He SAT-
that he had taken orders to the place
from one Calvin Coates who was co
| oht oh frrys
grains of the drug for twenty-five
cents. This amount lasted the bo!
about two days. Coates was made
to leave the city some time ago BY
the police. g..
Justice Stanley has been informed
that there are large number o
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 de
sires for the stuff. When they once
begin taking the drug they are worse
than useless wrecks. The Burton lat
became SO bad that his mother hat
no control whatever over him. Ht
would leave the house and be ava,
all night. The mother did not know
| at first what was the cause of the
trouble, as the boy was quite secret
i've in the habit. Mr.. Stanley wa,
told that the drug was being used IL
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 ofic'
and sanitarium.
The police officers have not finish
ed their investigations with refer
ence to the matter and other arrest!
may be made in connection with the
revelations that have been brought
about as the result Of the investiga
tions already made.