Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-25
JUDGE DEPLORES
RECENT STATUTE
SAYS LAW BARRING DRUG
USERS is UNFORTUNATE
Young Man Who Is Weakened Men,
tally Through Use Of Drugs Cam
not Be Sent to state
Asylum

ut is a most unfortunate condition
that the officers of the insane asylum
refuse to receive these morphine and
cocaine fiends, and that we are COM
PEELED to care for them about our homes
until there is either a murder or suicide
added to the records through their
acts"
Such was the statement yesterday Of
Jugde Rivcs in department two OF the
superior court when after examining
a young man charged with insanity he
found that although the victim was
suffering from the effects of constant
use of drugs, he could not be sent TO
the asylum because of the recent law
which will not permit the care of pa
tients who are feeble minded or afflicted
only with drug habit
This law has prevented many families
from sending their mentally sick to the
asylum where they can be properly
cared for and in many instances, and
particularly that of yesterday it has
worked a great deal of hardship.
Drinks Deeply of Sorrow
William f. Bickle, SO years of age,
and until eighteen months ago a resi-
dent of Pittsburg. was the victim. For
many years Bickle made an excellent
living in the east as music instructor.
of the eastern conservatories and had
a bright future before him, when the
trouble that has wrecked his life oc-
Cured His wife died and shortly after
his baby.
Several months later, five years ago,
he was hunting with party of friends,
when one of his companions accident
ally shot him in the back, the shot tear
ing his kidneys and lacerating his flesh
1,N "a
and it's later effects that caused his first
use of morphine. Many of the shot
could not be extracted and his blood
became poisoned. Great assesses ap'
peared on his body. and the pain be-
came so intense that he was compelled
to continually use the hypodermic
syringe with it's relieving drug to stor
the agony.
Since then he has been using cocaine
and morphine, and when yesterday he
told the examining physicians that his
usual amount was eight ounces a day
they could hardly believe him until mis-
mother. Mrs. Emma Weber, tearfully
corroborated his statements. Bickle
admitted that the drug had such hold
of him that he was beyond hope Il
guess [ am mighty near dead now" he
told the court. II have been taking
mosphine and cocaine for the past five
years ana l can 90 nOlnlllS lOI lily sell
l take about eight ounces of morphine
a day, hypodermically.'
Is an Enormous Quantity
That amount would kill two dozer
men, but Bickles system has become SC
thoroughly saturated with it that i
does not affect him.
For months he has suffered from
eruptions wherever he has pierced his
flesh with the needle, but with the per
sistency of the drug user he has KEPT
right on using the stuff despite his
pain.
The physicians at first yesterday de-
cided to discharge the young man and
let him fight his battle alone. because OF
the fact that he would not be receive
at the hospital but the mother begged
that something be done. She stated tina
her husband, the young mans step
father refused to have anything more
to do with him, and that if he was no
taken care of some place he would bt
the cause of a separation in the family
The family came to Los Angeles jus
after the San Francisco disaster, anC
Mrs. Weber explained that they Were
in financial difficulties and that she haC
often gone hungry to provide for th
young man.
Judge RiVes continued the case unit
today, when an effort will be made It
send the victim to the asylum and Civ
him a chance to break away from tn
drug habit.