Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-02-22

man and member of the board of
lady managers of the Worlds Column
bian exposition, Mrs. Annie G.. Movers
was fined 81 and costs In Justice Cav.
erly's court in Chicago a day or two
ago on the charge of shopnfting. With
tears in her eyes she told the court
that her downfall was caused by CO.
caine, and asked that mercy be shown
her
Mrs. Meyers was arrested in a de-
partment store after she had been de-
tected in taking shirt waist valued
at $1,000. She was taken Immediately
to the Harrison street police station
and locked up. Inspector Wheeler or
dered that she be well treated while
her friends were being notified.
Mrs. Meyers entered Justice Caver-
ly's courtroom with two well dressed
women, who wept with the prisoner
and who told Justice Caverly that she
had become a kleptomaniac through
the use Of cocaine They refuse to
disclose their identity, but declared
that If the court would release Mrs.
Meyers they would take her home and
care for her.
i know of her case and it is a sad
one, said Justice Caverly, land if you
women will promise to see that she
is well taken care of I will fine her 81
and costs on a charge of disorderly
conduct and dismiss the larceny
This the women promised, and, after
paying the fine, they left the court
room with Mrs. Meyers, who had to be
assisted to carriage.
In book entitled Eight Years in Co.
caine He'll, which was published about
three years ago, and which caused con-
siderable comment at the time, Mrs.
Meyers graphically depicts the horri-
BILE depths to which users of cocaine
invariably sink. She wrote the book.
she said, in order that others who do
not know the degradation and sorrow
that the drug will bring into their
lives may be warned.
/ lured by Patient Medicine.
I'm 1894. while attending to some
legal Matters she writes, my lawyer,
who noticed that was suffering from
severe cold, advised me to try ca
tarrh remedy. He gave me a bottle
and that started me on my downward
course. Form we'll balanced Chris.
tan woman | became haggard and
mental wreck. My thoughts were only
of the accursed poison that was drag
ging me to destruction. Walking the
streets, wandering from place to place,
night and day, insane with grief and
remorse, my every hope of success.
every promise of prosperity, was
dashed to the earth b this demon.
| Homeless, l became wandering
vagabond on the earth. In my saner
moments | had tried to remember the
merciful warnings of God, but had
started, and very, soon found myself
with no will power left, and so sank
lower and lower. I was firmly bound
in the slavery of this awful monster.
From city to city ! wandered, and
as | was using $40 worth of cocaine a
day, was forced to steal, and readers
of newspapers everywhere were great
ly shocked to hear of my arrest in so
many different places. The drug pro.
duced kleptomania and | was con-
tinually in trouble
Mrs. Meyers is the widow of Captain
Meyers, a retired naval officer who
died in 1889. She was a member of
the Marshfield Avenue Methodist
church. In 1890 she was appointe by
congress member of the board of
lady managers of the Worlds Column
bian exposition.
Some time after she became addict
ed to the drug she was arrested in De
troit. but release when the police there
learned of her past. Her next arrest
was in Cleveland. Here she was re.
leased again, but was arrested few
DAYS later in Buffalo for attempting to
pass a forged check. She was arrested
three times in St Louis, once in India.
napolis, once in Elgin, H.. once in
Rockford, ILL.,, and several times in
Chicago.
The experience Mrs. Meyers had in
shoplifting she relates in her book
All OF the thefts, she said. were com.
mite in order that she might obtain
money with which to purchase cocaine.
, Law abiding people. where is our
law, that 1t does not put a stop 70 this
great devastating of souls?~ she writes
1t is time to call halt. They are dy-
ing by the hundreds from these drugs
We have temperance unions to enforce
the laws against Intoxicating liquors,
and there should be the same against
the sale of drugs. What is money com.
pared to the heartbreaks and bitter
tears of mistreated wives. the suffering
Of innocent children. and the grief OF
, heartbroSen mothers? Where are the
Christians who viii hold out a kindly
hand, who viii utter their voices in
warning?"