Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-28
The Story Of the Ruin Of the Widows Son

TN awarding mother widow 900 damages aeainst
druggist who sold to her son, a minor quantities
of heron during n period OF several years q Su:
preme Court jury sitting in Schenectady New York has
established precedent making just as criminal to
destroy the efficiency Of boy as it would be to iniure
a mans property, his horse or COW
Hitherto persons who sold to young men drugs or
alcoholic drinks which damaged their health could be
prosecuted only the legal technicalities prohibiting
the sale Of drugs without prescription or the sole
of drugs to minors.
What is OF nation wide interest and significance in
the verdict accorded the mother OF Leo Rooney. Of
ochenectady' New York, is that it makes the scoun.
ares VINO Tor petty and sordid profit hand out to
young men poisons that ruin them In BODY and mind
legally Responsible for the destruction of their moral
character and practical efficiency. The verdict of
the supreme Court Jury the of its kind ever rem
dered was recently carried before the anneato Dv;
sion IN the fight made by the druggists accused Of
selimg dope was unanimously upheld
In the opinion written by Justice Wesley q Howard
o. Troy. IN winch Tour other judges concurred it is
o'eu that the evidence produced in this particular
case proved that the mother OF young Rooney had
oeen actually damaged inasmuch as previous to The
boys generalization through the drug habit ba had
earned considerable money and that in the deprivation
" services 70 which she was legally entitled the prop.
'S 'iehtS OF the mother had been trespassed upon
me piaintin bases her claim upon the same prin.
clple which underlies the cause OF action accruin, n
1aher In case OF the abduction of his DAUGHTER mr.
husband IN case OF the alienation OF his wife,s
aHecuon declared the. Judges. "Precedent is not nor
essary IN order that the plaintiff may recover hero
~ ne rights OF The plaintiff have been invaded there
must be redress" " ' 'A'ie
according TO this decision any parent whose son 10
soo drugs or alcoho! to such degree that his chor
aete ana ellclency are destroyed may take action
against the offender for the actual damape dono
1uuee howard and his confrercs decision makes -
as criminal TO undermine boys health bv selling
horse. 'o'soh ~ hciehpors
four years ago Leo Rooney of Schenectady N V
"ao ah aleft' bright, rosy.cheeked, normal bow He
vas Industrious, o6edient, and of help to his widowed
Hiothel' ne was employed by the General Electric
Sonpahy'.ol schenectady, at salary OF $50 month
u was regarded by his superiors as one of the most
t.uumiSlhg young men in their employ In addition
~ ~ ms salary he OFTEN earned from $40 to SIS a week
'' ai at entertainments and in theatres
ne cAahge mat took place this youth within two
a'e was as startling and sinister as the transformo
non OF Dr JekyH into .Nr. Hyde From q healthy
.oeS cHeeked BOY OF eighteen, young Rooney became
pi.' sica wreck From happy dispositioned bow AL
"ye Eager 10 hep his mother and TO be of service
~ H!s employers, he developed into a yagabond n
~ refusing 10 work, stealing whatever he conld
~ odei C. secure the drug He became physically ,e
iueu; ms character became insolent ugly morose
auu suNeh. His health ruined to the degree that no
r uLaolc 70 perform any labor, his mind desttovcd
si.e po.' IN whom mother once took tender pride
S ea sone aiohg a road TO ruin leading through the
,nssneneciady County JAIL the Albany Penitcntary
~ e ohoh jan to the Emira Reformatory where he
~ al present confined ~ N
Week By week while the dorenerat,ya nroo.ss ,,o.