Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-12-11
Thursday, December II, 1918.
He who wants little always
has Zimmerman.
The onth Century eoraias.

We are giau l1dl SVAAiC -
Of daily papers are hearing OF the ny
rosermic needle method of recruiting
tba white slave ranks. The system was
explained fully, giving the experiences
of several girls, weeks ago. several
Maine weekly papers have puoisheu
the facts and the Kennebec Jourha1
treated it editorially early in the fai'
vet in the dailies that came TO our desA
~, -rnasdav no less than three referred
editorially to the new" form OF deVil-
;sbness. The philadelphia Press said'
No more than a week ago 1t would
have been considered inconcelVaole 10
commit a new crime which was hither-
70 unknown in the musty annals OF
moral turpitude from the dawn OF clVi-
lization. Yet here the nation Is aroused
and startled by the discovery that
young women at picture shows nave
been stabbed in the arm with hypooer-
mic needles containing opiate polsohs'
The first case TO become pubic was
that of a bride in Newark, \. j. Inc
sting of the needle was felt wnlle
stranger sat beside her. Evidently he
took advantage of the darkness to ad-
minister the poison. Shortly afterward
his victim became i'll from the effects
of the opiate. A South American mas
been arrested, and the suggestion is
made that the poison has been brought
from South America.
Other girls and their friends, includ-
ing prominent social workers. have
come forward in New York and New
ark and complained of similar expert
enees. Assuming that the stories are
verified, young women being always
the victims, the theory is advanced
that a needle gang is at work in the
nefarious interests of white slavery
A "doped' girl overcome in theater
might easily be claimed by man sit
ting beside her and asserting his rela-
tionship. To take her Oft in cab would
be the natural course.
Certainly the mysterious affair of the
needle gang" calls for the most rigor-
Gus investigation by the police. 1t adds
a new terror to the lives Of unprotected
girls Whether the crime has been in
vented through the maleyolent ingen-
uity of the white slavers' or is the
manifestation of a subtle form of de-
generacy. it is equally astounding by
reason OF its audacity. the suggestion
of Federal aid in solving the mystery
is a good one. because the apprehension
of a needle gang" il it exists, con-
Germs the whole nation. If the case of
Mrs. Graft the Newark bride, should
provo to be unique, the demonstration
of that fact would set at rest a great
deal of uneasiness, though police vigi-
lance against the use of the needle will
be necessary at all times hereafter.
The Press evidently had not heard
of the experience of the young lady
who visited an eastern city for a days
shopping with her mother. To save time
they separated, agreeing to meet in one
hour at large department store. The
girl paused on the outskirts of a crowd
to learn what the excitement was
about She felt sting like pin prick
in her arm and turned to find several
men crowding about her, none of whom
she could accuse. She thought it might
have been a hat pin and would have
dismissed the incident from her mind,
had che not Immediately began to feel
queer" and then ILL She hurried to
the appointed meeting place and reach
ed it before fainting. While efforts were
being made to revive her a man rushed
in exclaiming: my poor, unfortunate
wife" He calmly explained that she
was addicted to drink and he would
take her home He was, with assist
anee, taking her to a waiting taxi or
carriage, when the mother arrived,
claimed the girl and the villain es-
capped.
Can human fiendishness invent any,
thing more damnabA? How long have
such methods been robbing homes and
breaking innocent hearts and lives?
how many of the missing" girls of the
past year, have gone the way of the
noodle gang?
Here is something that should be CIV
en- the most earnest attention of the
cleverest men in the government SER
vice, and the punishment made to fit a
crime of such enormity.