Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-02-23
MEDICINE DRUG
WRECKED HOME.
CLAIM OF WIFE
Husband Got Cocaine Habit by
Using MenthoI Powders, Says
Mrs. c. E. Leach.
USED FOUR BOTTLES
OF STUFF EACH DAY
Divorce Case Hearing Brings
Out Sensational Testimony
in Case of Merchant.

The story of the way in which CO.
caine, disguised as ''menthol DOW
der" destroyed the home of Charles
e. Leach. a dealer In railway supplies
at 165 Broadway, New York, and for
merly living in Essex Fells, was tod
in chancery chambers before Vice
Chancellor Stevens today. Leach has
instituted a suit for divorce from
Jessie NJ. Leach on the ground of de-
sertion. She has filed a cross-peu
ton against him.
On the stand today Leach, who Is
now boarding in Glen Ridge, at first
denied that he had been addicted to
the use of drugs when cross-exan-
ined by Max M. Stallman, Mrs.
Leach's counsel, but admitted that he
had used menthol powders. Mr.. Stall,
man brought from him the further
admission that he had used an aver
age of four bottles of the stuff each
day In September, 1911, the time Mrs.
Leach left him.
In his petition Mr.. Leach said that
he was married in 1900 In Passaic.
Mr. and Mrs. Leach lived in Passaic
for about a year, and then moved
TO Essex Fells, where they remained
together until September 2, 1911, when
Mrs. eLach left him, taking the
boy, Char4es j. Leach, who was born
in 1902. In her answer Mrs. Leach
declared that because of his habits
her husband made it necessary to
leave him. She declared that ha
struck her on two or three occasions,
and that one night he threatened her
with a revolver.
On direct examination Francis
Child, jr., who, with w. Locke Rock
~
MED that he had been cruel to his
wife, but admitted that there had
been differences of opinion and that
these differences were submitted to
lawyers for adjustment before she
left him.
'Isn it true that you were ad-
dioted to the excessive use Of
coca ne?'' asked Mr.. Stallman on
cross examination.
Il did not use any cocaine" an
swered Mr.. Leach. IT used metnthoI
powders, and didn't know until 1906
that there was any cocaine In it."
Isn't it a fact that since the
enactment Of the pure food law in
1905, each bottle bears a label which
shows that it contains eight grains
CT cocaine?"
"Yes. that is true" answered the
witness.
Mr. Stallman then produced a box
containing a dozen bottles cf the
drug, and had them marked in evil
dence.
rs it not fact that in 1911 you
used at least sixteen bottles of this
so-called menthol powder every two
days?" asked Mr. Stallman.
That is not at all true answered
the witness "The most ever used
was four bottles a day"
Had your wife ever asked you to
discontinue the use of it?''
''Yes.''
"The habit caused discord and con-
flict, did 1t not?"
"Yes."
did your mother ever ask you to
stop using it?"
"I do not recall"
What was the part played by
revolver in one of your discussions ?"
asked Mr.. Stallman.
Bluff" replied Leach.
'Did you intend your wife to think
that you would shoot her?''
"No. I intended her to think that
was going to shoot myself"
you asked your mother to go up
stairs and get 1t for you, did you
NJ Il did"
And she went and got it for you,
did she not?"
"She did,
Didn't you tell your neighbors that
your wife was mentally deranged?"
81 did not"
''You scattered circulars throughout
the Eastern States in which you said
that your wife showed signs of men,
tai arrangement, didn't your"
THAT was when l was trying to
find where she had placed our boy.
I did not know what to make OF her
conduct. did not see my son until
November, 1914"
The case is still on.