Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-16
OFFICE OF DOCTOR
ROBBED BY DOPE5
Three Davenport Youths. Seeking
Drugs, Gene to Grief for
Moline Actions.
PRESCRIPTIONS ARE STOLEN
Store ut Which One OF Number Seeks
TO Purchase Morphine Sum.
mons the Police.

Three Young men from Davenport,
all confirmed drug users, yesterday
afternoon, while DIR. J, NJ. Wyland Of
Moline was absent. broke into his Of
fee. stole drug prescriptions and later
yesterday afternoon and night were
arrested when they attempted TO have
the prescriptions filled Following a
hearing In police court this forenoon
on a charge OF larceny and burglary
they were committed to the county
Jail by Magistrate Frank Gustafson.
All three waived examination and fall
ell TO raise the 1000 bonds required
Of each.
The three are George B. Morris, GO,
Tom Larkins, -. and Ed Powers, 20.
Moline police arrested Morris In a
drug store OF that city. He had failed
In the attempt to i'll the prescrip-
ton. The other two young men were
taken In Davenport, but the prescrip-
ton each Is said to have had is though
by the Moline police to have been tolh
up when they learned by observation
Of the arrest of their accomplice.
The prescriptions taken were only
copies that Dr. Wyland had In his Of
flee and did not have the numbers in
variabiy placed thereon by the physi-
clan making them Each called for
Is grains Of morphine and the one re-
covered from Morris by the police
had the prescription written In lead
pencil above Dr. Wyland's signature.
The clerk at the drug store where
Morris attempted TO have the prescrip-
ton filled became suspicious and no.
tiled the police. Morriss arrest re-
suiting.
Had Promised To Leave.
tt developed al the hearing that the
three young men had received orders
for drugs from DIR. Wyland on pre-
'vious occasion The doctor had given
them the orders as a last resort and
with the understanding that they we're
to leave Moline for st. Louis to take
treatment for the drug habit in an in
stitute Of that city Two Of the young
men, say the police. had learned of
the drawer in DR.. Wylands Office
where he kept the prescription cop
les through seeing him put them
there.
From the St Louis institute DR..
Wyland learned that the young men
had not arrived there. They had not
since appeared at his office, however.
until Yesterday afternoon. Police are
of the opinion that they hoped to get
another order for drugs Yesterday and
originally had no intention Of break
ing into the physicians Office, but that
when they found the Office closed and
the doctor absent they decided to steal
me prescriptions,
Are Mere Boys.
TWO Of those arrested appear to be
even younger than the ages they gave
and because Of that their cases will
be dealt with as. leniently as possible.
/ The charge under which they were ar
rested is a penitentary offense and
calls for q term of years They will
have a hearing before the grand jury
within three weeks. but the chances
are that the charge as originally made
will not be pressed. a change can be
made it is said, In the discretion OF
the states attorney.
Because of the alleged violation
aIen oF fha fpAnraI law known as the
Harrison act the federal representa-
! tive for this state Of the internal rev.
enue department was notified. DR. /.
/ L. Beatty of Fairyiew, who as deputy
collector, holds that position. hap
pened to be at the federal building In
Rock Island yesterday afternoon and
was present at the hearing this morn
/ ing
/ DR.. Beatty expressed the opinion
that the cases of the young men are
such as require treatment for them at
( the Watertown hospital rather than
! Imprisonment in the penitentiary. He
has already used his influence for deal
/ ing ieniently with the offenders as far
as the charge Of thieyery is concerned.
| As to what action, if any. will be
| taken by the federal authorities DR..
Beatty was not prepared to say. He
will. however, report the case as the
law requires. and the indications are
that he will recommend treatment
rather than penal Imprisonment.