The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-04
ACTOR DRUGGED
AND ROBBED HERE:
Negro Performer Found Himself
III Alley will, All His Pos
sessions Conc.
EVILS OF THE DOPE HABIT
Many Joints" in Operation, But
Police Arc Working 70 Wipe
Them Out.

Clarence Marsh, n colored actor OF
some reputation on the stage in Amer
tca, arrived hero early Saturday en- route
for Washington to join his company.
and stopped in this city for q few
hours MS lie Intended to see tho
sights Marsh was here loaded with
the goods, but he started out III tho
wrong direction. and that is why he did
not appear In Washington Saturday
night with his company In the role OF
"a Drowsy and Disinterestcd Coon
The company is playing "1hc Emancl-
patton Day
Marsh visited n colorcd sporting joint
4 in Jackson street, where lie had II good
time and pulled OF u musical program.
He declared Saturday night that he took
only three drinks, and the last thing he
heard was some one singing and saying
you VIII Miss Me When Am Gone"
After this all was blank to him until
he awoke in rear alley and found q
doctor sappng him In the face.
The man had been given a large
quantity OF dope in his drinks and
robbed OF his possessions. The doctor
said 1t was morphine and cocaine tho
man had drank The stuff sent the
colored actor UP against the ropes IN y
manner that he will long remember he
was turned over to some prominent col
orcd men here. who investigated the
affair, found where he got the dope ana
forced the proprietor OF the house TO
return the lost money, watch and SCARF
pin taken of the actor. iu
Marsh left for Washington Saturday
night, but not in time toanppear as. tho
"Drowsy Coon rs nc had been de-
tanned too Yong on this engagement
IN Richmond.
Many Dope Fiends.
The evils OF cocaine and morphine are
lust bringing about a critical situation
here among the lower and middle classes
OF colored people, many OF whom are
already slaves to the deadly dope The
hot bed of the evil has always Deeh III
the Tendcrl0in district uptown, and lts
use has been confined mostly 70 the
lower CLASSES OF negroes but the hap't
has nov; spread to many parts OF Old
Jackson Ward. where 1t is being freely
used with serious results 1t has increased
both Tho crime and the death rate here
/ among the negroes.
There have been more drunkenness and
sickness rash and irresponsible tcts,
brought on by these drugs among colorch
help mere recently thari%at any time pre-
! vious Drinks, 1t Is said, IRE being touch-
ed up With 1t, and 1t Is being lnserteo
| into cigarettes In nearly all Of the colored
| objectionable houses and sporting resorts,
| and a few bar-rooms also
Police at Work.
The police authorities are determined
to wipe ont the dope Joints and to stop
the peddlcr's business. It Is largely
through the perncious poddlcrs OF cocaine
and morphine and other like deadly drugs
| that the evil habit has grown to such an
extent among tho negro population OF.
| the city.
But the police have made great lnroada
! into this promiscuous peddlnK. and many
! of the pcddlers have been caught. When
| hailed before Justice Ciutchfeld he gives
! them always the full extent OF the law,
| and thus through him and the energetic
/ police. the dope" joints and pcdd!ers
are gradually being rim out OF busi-
| ness.