The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-04
Young Lumpkin 7 ellis of
Downfall. His Fight Against
Habit and Regeneration
Money Only Needed
At Some Places
Dope Fiend. Who Believes
Himself Cured. Says He Has
Purchased Heron Without
Doctor Prescription

With his hands grssping the bars
OF his cell at the city jail, unsteady n
his movements his head shaking to
and fro with little 3erky motions, and
with all the signs Of IA dope fiend de-
pictad on his young but wrinkled face,
y. u. Lumpkin. a member of a we'll
known Richmond family. told yester-
day TO a reporter for the Firginian
the history OF his connection with the
: cocaine traffic in Richmond aud Of
his own iife from the time he took the
first shot untii the present
Practically o complete wreck. his
life has proba bly, been saved through
his confinement where he has been
unable TO get the dope" which he
sought.
First smile for Months.
Lumpkin. through whom many of
the arrests of alleged drug vendors
has been brought about. probably for
tho first time in several months wore
= smile Yesterday. He has been near
~ cured according TO the Jail physi-
Ian, by confinement where he Is un-
able To reach the drug. and can be
completely cured Ii placed IL SAM
.arium for a short while. Lusnpkin
was arrested on December ] D. Since
that time, he said yesterday, he has
taken one shot" struggled 10 him In
aid, JUS, after being confined. He
told yesterday that during the last few
DAVIS another chance was given him
but he turned the Offer down. me
unfortunate man now declares mat
never again Will he touch heroih, 10
the use of which he Mas addicted, and
that Furthermore he will testify glad
w against those from whom he has
secured different drugs. He. like all
M hers who have been through the tor
lures known only to the drug mend
who Is unable 10 SECURE his shot
now realizes what the traffic in this
drug means. He wants 70 lead bet :
ter life, he said. and wants 10 go hack
Ia his fari,k and friends, % whom
he had ruany autil few months Ago.
Iunapkin started his story with a
little sketch Of his earlier life, al
though he Is still young. being only
about twenty-three wears old. In a
manner that touched his hearers he
told Of the positions that ne lost
through use Of the dope and OF the
friends who had deserted him one by
srs,
Began In Cincinnati.
He began BY telling that about three
years ago he went to Cincinnati, ONO,
where he secured q position as an
asher In a theater I'm that city, While
working there he became sich
and had to call in - physician Inc
rAnysiclan, Lumpkin said, prescribed
for him certain pills, and ordered MIN
10 take them He did this. 1t was
not long before he felt that the piis
nraced him up. They made him feel
s,runger and more energetic. Each
time the pills gave out he visited the
doctor asking to have nle prescrip-
lion renewed rs the medicine seemed
ID be deing him worlds OF good. FOR
probably few months mpkin said
that this went On.
Finally Lumpkin said that he de-
cided that as long as the piiis had
apparently strengthed him, and ne
felt cured of his aiiment NE decided
10 stop using them. He attempted to
do this. The third day his head ached
terribly and he felt as II Il would
spIit open. He visited a different ply
sfcsan this time. Then the terrible
truth was made known to him me
kindly physician told Lumpkin that
he was addicted To the use OF dead
" drug, and that 1t had him
Frightened. Lumpkin said that ne
fought the desire, but II became too
great and he then sought places
where he could get the drug. which
he afterwards learned was heroin-
This was easily done. He did, not seek
tho physician who had first prescribed
for him as he had now learned the
name Of the drug. and did not have
70 pay the physician the price for his
writing a prescription.
Hts Mother Learns
A few months went by and then
the desire for the drug became 50
great. that he was taking so much
that II inca FACILITATED him fos work. He
lost his position and with no prospect
az another In view. he decided To re-
turn to his home here. l4umpkin said
that he did a little better for while
inst after getting back home. and
ss,at for long time his family were
not aware of the fact that he was
addicted to the nse of drug. Soon,
however. he was suspected and watch
cd. and II was not long before MEM
bers Of his family caught him in the
act OF taking dope
Hts mother astounted. with tears In
her eyes begged her son to desist from
the use OF hesoin. She offered to
help him IN any way she could, but
All 10 no wall because he had gone
so, far 10 turn back.
with cynical smile on MS race,
tttmpktfr then said
~And l had M trouble all this ttme
huylnx the drug which I uaed from
sruggfmts without a Prescriptions
lie called the druggists name and
said that he bought from him reEu-
larIy until he got into his debt for
about three dollars and half. and
that the druggist then stopped selling
IA to him Lumpkin then said that he
houxht from another weil-known drug
xtst. until the day of his arrest on
December Ia I.umpkin mentioned
during his talk nearly everyone whom
the police believe Is connected with
the drug traific. and also said that he
would appear against them when their
sxase Ii called 10 trial.
III Lumpkin denied vigorously that he
ever used forged prescription In oh
taiasing drugs and said that this was
Continued from second Pags.)