The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-06
COCAINE2
A southern Theory Of Abnormal Grimes

n southern The0ry OF Abnormal Grimes,
To Tas EpIroR or The sUN--Sr, Doe
cocaine inspire In its victims both the impulse
and the power to commit abnormal crimes'
Tit question seems 20 call for earnest ron
sideration At this time In New York city.
As far back a. 1898 We began to hear Of jus
such outrages as are now engaging attention
In this town. perpetrated IL would seem In n
spirit Of absolutely wanton wickedness AMI
characterized by Incredible f~erocity. Tho
frst Of these was reported from Texas. The
victim was an infant less than Ave years old
Tho criminal was burned at the stake. other
horrors OF q like nature followed In different
parts Of the South. They were subsequently
reproduced In Delaware, In Pennsylvania
and elsewhere. Vow We have become all too
familiar with such CHASTITY announcements
and concurrently with the friRhtful hint that
the details are unfit for publication. We are
left TO imagine enormities too hideous TO be
mentioned, brutalities that beggar our con-
~ceptions OF the savage and the brute. Right
here In the very centre Of modern civilization.
with churches gracefully outlined against tho
sky at every turn and schools open to all and
AZ abundant as policemen. we are told almost
daily OF barbarities within our gates that
would have disgraoed the cannibals and
dashed TO envious rage the Minotaur himself
In the South certain serious. II impcrfectlv
informed. persons have inaugursted an in
uuiry and have pursued II to the best OF their
ability. Their conclusions may not be OF any
special value. but they believe that the cocaine
habit Ia at the bottom Of the carnival. Tho
social equation there Ia simpler than it is with
US. The criminal class at the South is COM
posed largely Of negroes. Bad white men
OF course are numerous. but their badness In
only commonplace as a rule-drunkPnness.
quarreiling, often homicide. occasionally train
robbing. In the mountain districts they
sometimes kill revenue agents and informers
against Illicit distillcries. Otherwise lives are
lost In family feuds and seducers are found
dead at various isolated spots. As IL hap
pens. however, the outrages upon women.
and especially upon female children. appear
to be committed by negroes. and the circum.
stances attendant upon these horrors during
the last fifteen years bsv prompted the inves-
~tigstion here referred to. The belief on the
part of the Investigators ia that cocaine Il the
underlying cause. Southerners find in their
local history no precedent that can be tor
tured into an explanation Of the abhorrent
mystery. II their negroes are committing
these atrocities now they certainly never
committed them before-even during the civil
wat and the subsequent period OF reconstrlc-
ton. They argue. therefore. that some new
and exotic agency OF crime must have been
set In motion. and after careful inquisition
they say II is cocaine.
This may or may not be worthy OF respect
full notice. Meanwhile the horrors multiply.
Meanwhile, also, cocaine Is within the reach
OF the humblest citizen. II can be obtained
In one form or another at every pharmacy.
In every dive and desdfarf dance house and
slum saloon. At least the idea Ia worthy OF
consideration. There may be something In II.
4 YORK. August s. y.