Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-04-09
DOPE F|[N||S' MECCA
VICTIMS OF HABIT BLOCKING TO
DIES MONIES FROM SMALL
TOWNS.
HOPE TO SECURE DRUG
IN PoPuLous CITY
Many Disappointed and Applying to
Hospitals and Charity Organizations
For ReIief-Two Deaths Due to FAIL
ure to Secure Dope-Some Giving Up
Position. and Floekins to City.

Des Moines. April 9-Des Moines has
become the mecca for the dope tends
of Iowa, according to local physicians
and Claude Rooms, county coroner.
Investigation of the cause of death
in Des Moines this week OF Mrs. Myr-
tie Ware of Ottumwa, made by the
county coroner. has disclosed the fact
that there are many victims OF the
drug habit who have come to the
city recently in the hope of obtaining
the desired drug. A striking fact
brought out in the investigation is
that the majority of the victims are
women.
Persons who are drug victims ad-
mitted frankly to the coroner this week
that they came to Des Moines to live
in the belief that the drugs, prohibited
for sale by the government, could be
had at a few of the drug stores here.
The danger of arrest is greater in the
small towns. they said. For that rea-
son thew gave up their jobs and moved
to the city. Unable to obtain the drug
in Des Moines, these unfortunate vic
Tins became i'll and were compelled TO
apply TO the charlty organize Iioiis ~
relief.
Charity workers have been puzzled
hy the number OF applications MADE
for temporary relief by persons will
dressed and successful at one time
in various lines of business. Investi-
gation of the cause of their present
strait did not always prove satisfac-
tory. The books show that these ap-
towns in the state.
Tragic Scenes in Offices.
1t was not known to the charity
workers that these prosperous looking
appIicants for aid were drug users un-
til they became seriously i'll thru loss
of the drug stimulant and had to be
placed for medical care in the hospitals
So far two applicants, both women,
have died.
The physicians say that some OF the
scenes which take place in their offices
are tragic. Men and women in the
small towns who fear publicity from
the druggist who furnished them with
their dope, and who are now unable 10
Obtain even so much as small portion
of the drug, plead for prescription
which will contain sufficient amount
pain. The suffering of persons ad-
dicted to drugs and deprived OF their
supply is intense The physician is Of
ten tempted to give them temporary
uhysical relief, the medical men say.
1t is surprising, they claim, the kind OF
men and women Who have been secret
users of drugs for years. Bank clerks,
department store managers ana schooi
he
The story Of Mrs Ware as told by
Coroner Rooms, is pathetic. Several
wears ago, according to his findings,
Mrs. Ware underwent an operation.
She did not, however, recover entirely
and suffered intensely from a pain in
the right side. To ease the pain she
ACQUIRED the habit of taking morphine
each day. When the federal law be-
came effective, Mrs. Ware was denied
her supply by the druggist in Ottum-
wa Her husband worked each day at
his trade but at her request gave up
work and brought her to Des Moines,
! 1t is said.
Dies Of Exhaustion.
| Unable to obtain the drug here Mrs.
| Ware suffered a collapse and died, ac-
cordins to coroner's certificate, of ex-
|
! stimulation by morphia. This IS out
| one of the many similar cases which
| have come to the attention of the char
! ity workers.
| MANY persons have come to Des
| Moines from the small towns in the
| state in the hope OF obtaining the
! drug" Coroner Rooms said yesterday
{ They fear publicity in their nome
| towns and will leave good jobs to come
/ to Des Moines with no work in view
| They say that they believed that in a
city where there are so many drug
| stores there must be at least two OF
| three where they can get their supply
We win get many dope patients and
some deaths before many months
| These persons will not go back home
and face their friends in their shaken
| condition Denied the drug they either
|