Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-14
BOY OF 19, SLAVE
OF DRUGS, SEEKS
TO OBEGIN new LIFE
Tells Amazing Story of the
Ease With Which He
Was Able to Buy Nerve
Destroying Substances.

Twenty-four hours out of police cell.
boy of 49, pale thin and hardly able to
drag one foot after the other told today
how he took to using cocaine and heroin
and what the drugs have done to him in
the two years he has been their victim.
William schaffer 922 olive street, is the
boy. He was arrested as a dIsordery
character. Magistrate Tracy, at the
Eleventh and Winter streets station, gave
him his freedom yesterday. Today he be-
gins his fight against the drugs.
Schaffer is a flaxen-haired youth who
was fairly sturdy in the days before he
began experimenting with heroin He
weighed about 40 pounds then Today
his weight is down to l2Q and the clothes
he wears are sizes too large. though once
they fitted him. His head hangs weakly
and he has trouble walking more than a
few steps
Schaffer has been treated twice for the
drug habit Once it was in the House of
Correction, where he sreved three months
after stealing from a department store to
get money for the drugs, month ago
he was discharged as cured from the
Philadelphia Hospital
But you can't keep away from it
around here" schaffer explained as he
told his story II kept away from the
drugs two weeks and then two men held
some heroin before me. I've been pretty
bad since then"
His being pretty bad" resulted in an
attack of heart failure, which caused his
arrest. When Patrolman Mckenna of
the Eleventh and Winter streets station,
found that Schaffer was not drunk, the
boy was sent to the Hahnemann Hos
pital and then back to the police station.
IT had close CALL said schaffer. Il
was filed with heroin and cocaine all day
and CONFUSION got me. That's the way
they all die" he added shaking his head.
Schaffer can clear up the mystery that
surrounds the making Of l7-year-old CO.
caine fiends.
Hard to get cocaine? Well, I should
say mott" he exclaimed. II never had
any trouble buying all wanted when l
had the money. Did they mind selling to
a boy? They did not | could show you
a good many drug stores where YOU can |
buy 1t now. But most of 1t comes from !
the cocaine peddlers.
II started taking drugs just about two
years ago l used to stay around pool |
room at Eighth and Vine streets. The
fellows in there asked me If didn't want
to try some heroin. So I did. l took it
every day for a month and then thought
I'd stop. But I couldn't"
The only times since then that the
schaffer boy has lived without drugs have
been the periods Just following his re-
lease from hospitals.
Il worked for some chemists at Eighth
and Callowhtll streets when first began
using the stuff, Schaffer went on. But
7 cRlldnt hold on long after the habit
gSf~ne. | started taking one tablet of
one-sXth Of a grain day. SATURDAY, l
took 35 tablets.
"Of course. / didn't always have money
TO buy hsroin. I used to stea. things from
department stores when | needed money.
once YOU get the habit you can't go more
than three or four hours without heroin.
II used 70 take little things from the
counters and never got caught. But
last march l picked up some jewelry and
they caught n" out on tho sidewalk"
Schuffer was sentenced to three months
In the House of Correction for that He
was released on June and then got work
as a mechanic,
81 was getting along all right" said
Echaffer. - didn't 70 with the old crowd
and I thought I had won.
But one night down az Eighth and
Vine streets l met fellow named Hart
man. He held some heroin under my
nose and then Just had to buy it, They
sell two tablets for 4 nickel Since then
have been taking % or 80 tablets a
day"
Schafer says he has taken heroin for
the last. I'm scared" he declared II
know what happens and they all die when
they get like I am. I'm going to stop
Schaffer thinks getting out OF the city
TO a farm is the best way 10 keep from
using more drugs.
But what chance have 7 goto" he
asked. II don't know where I can go
Sure. l know lots Of othe. young fellows
who are taking drugs. How old are rhero
Oh. l6 and l. and some younger ANY
one can buy the stun IL they know where
10 60"