Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-03
| TRAFFIC IN COCAINE
Belief Expressed That Sale
Should Be Prohibited.
APPEAL TO CONGRESS
POLICE CITE INSTANCES OF DE-
PRAYED APPETITE.
Victim Says It is Either Cocaine or
Insanity-Many Use the
Drug.


ing Congress TO pass law that will put a
stop to the traffic in cocaine. Complaints
have been made to the police from time to
time about the harm that is being done by
the use of the drug, and the question OF
procuring remedial leSsla ton is under care
full Amusement. One day during the past
week Detective Proctor Investigated case
that was particularly sad and concluded his
Investigation by swearing out warrants
against a firm. where, he had been told 1t
was easy matter t. purchase the drug.
That 1t is an easy matter to purchase
coke" as it is called in many drug stores
in this city has been Shown number of
times by victims Of the habit.
"All you need If you want to get It,, said
one who was almost crazy from having
used it. SIS TO have nickel and go to one
of several drug stores. AT some of the
stores you don't even have TO exert your
self enough to say what you want Just
put down nickel and the clerk viii hand
over its equivalent in cocaine"
In several of the police stations the po-
lice have Witnessed many horrible exam
pies in the line of cocaine victims. jail,
and wcrktuuse officials also know what II
means, many of the victims get into
prison. Victims of the drug do not hesitate
to say that when they need 1t they will do
almost anything to get 1t. One of those ac-
customed to it's use told policeman not
long ago that he would not consider that
he had done great wrong by stealing to
get money with which to purchase cocaine
If he could not get it any other way.
Cocaine or Insanity.
'It means getting the cocaine" he said,
'or going crazy and man is not going
crazy if he can help it, While l have not
yet had to steal in order to get money for
such. a purpose. I've seen the time that 1
would have stolen if l could not have OBJ
tanned it otherwise.
Nobody but cocaine fiend can ever i'm
agine the feeling of a man who wants
dose of the stuff and can't get it. I am
free to admit that 1 am victim of the
murderous stuff and, while I feel that I
cannot do without it, l think there should
be law making its sale penitentiary
ofiense. Before l INDUCED in, blew
coke, as the 'fends' says | was up against
the bar on the whisky proposition, and that
was easy. My only regret Is that l aban-
doned the whisky for the cocaine"
Woman a Victim.
Another case that was recently called to
the attention of Detective Proctor was
that of young woman. She had become
addicted to the use of cocaine, and had
been sending colored boys to drug store
for 1t. 1t was just as easy for the boys
to get 1t as it was for the woman and a
friend OF the latter appealed to the detec-
tive TO see If something could not be done
The officer went to work and succeeded
in getting case against the proprietor of a
drug store, but the prosecuting attorney did
not insist upon the highest collateral, it
is stated, and the offense was passed upon
as being little worse than diSordery con-
duct.
About the time the detective was investi-
eating the case his attention was called to
another store where, it is said. it is an
easy matter to make a purchase. At the
latter store the proprietor and clerks re-
cord about forty sales of cocaine a day
ia la of no cttf, rriSt
has the legal right to sell cocaine to all
corners, but he is required to register the
names and addresses of the purchasers. 1t
is for not complying with this provision Of
law that dealers are being prosecuted and
compelled to pay fines.
No case involving the sale of cocaine has
yet come to the attention of Judge Null
loWny but he has seen many of its vic
tins, It is said, and is likely to deal Sc
verely with those who violate the law re-
specting sales. Detective Proctor, who has
charge of the prosecutions of such cases is
anxious that law shall be enacted that
will throw so many obstacles in the way of
selling cocaine that the people who use it
habitually will be unable to make a pur-
chase. He thinks man Should pay at
least S1,2Oo a year for the privilege of
selling it under restrictions that will prove
benefit to the weak people who are I'M
able to break themselves of the habit.
Believes in Prohibition.
prohibit its sale" he says. "and save
the people from lives of suffering and deg
radiation. They seem to be unable to take
care of themselves, and it seems that the
government should step in and enact laws
to save them
Major Sylvester has frequently referred
to the habit of using cocaine, ard called
attention to the necessity for some legsla-
ton to stamp out the evil. 1t is believed
he Will make effort to have Congress
enact a stringent law at the session this
winter Reports Indicate that the ha bit
has gained a hold upon the people In other
cities, but in some of the states there are
laws upon the statute books to assist the
police in their fight against the evil. In Bal
timore, 1t is stated, the habit is particular
ly bad and has claimed many victims
among both white and colored.
Pharmacists View.
The superintendent of a pharmacy In that
city said TO reporter a daily news
paper not long ago:
THE use of cocaine as habit is on the
increase right here in Baltimore, and I
| know what 1 am talking about.
rs 1t sold surreptitiousy? Well, no; It
Is not necessary to do that; some drug
gists simply sell it openly. Why. man
can get all the cocaine he wants right
now in Baltimore from any number of
druggists. There is law against the sell
ing of cocaine, but the law is constantly
| being violated. There seems to be no more
| trouble in purchasing cocaine in any form
or quantity than there is in buying soda
water. The chief trouble which the author
| tiles are encouutering is the difficulty of
| proving the sale on the part of the drug
| gists. But they have indisputable evidence
! that the law is being violated every day.
1.-The cocaine fend himself hampers the
| authorities in every possible way in trying
| to enforce law which he knows will de-
| prve him of the drug.
''In that respect he differs from the VIC
| Tins of other habits which tend to run
| down society He will not divulge, under
| any circumstances, the source OF his drug
! supply. and the men who deal in 1t sell with
| the assurance that their lawbreaking will
| not be divulged.
Il could not begin to define the class of
| men and women who are addicted TO the
use of cocaine in its various forms, con-
| tinued the druggist. 1.-The list runs from
| the professional man and the society wom-
| an down to the dregs of the slums. In
| many instances its use is begun fnnocently.
| and L believe that many take the drug
| through prescriptions given by doctors, and
never know what they taking even
| when the habit has grown well upon them.