Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-07
USERS OF NARCOTICS
PLEASED AT DECISION
OF SUPREME COURI
Interpretation Of Section 8 Of
Harrison Act Bars Arrest
for Possession of
Drugs
DISCUSSED IN TENDERLoIN

Ewes wInked and unnatural smiles an.
peared on the faces Of n dozen or rnos.
persons who today dropped into the aAt
senal," at 10th and Winter streets Saw.
| eral of them had just returned from 4
"Snowball' party.
once seated around small square table.
the new arrivals turned their attention n,
ward a hatless light-haired youth who IN.
sisted that he received grammar schno,
education before he went to work as an
errand hoy. In his hand was orumpled
newspaper He was reading the newspapef
headlines of the United States Suprems
COURTS Interpretation Of the Harrison anti.
narcotic act. The decision as handed down
nv tho highest court means that II isn't I'm.
lawful TO have dope" in possession.
Fists came down on the coffee-stalned
tabIes with a thud and strange screams ana
wells followed when the former grammar
scboolboy read the following headline.
Tbe youth didn't get chance to finish
reading the story. The headline was
enough.
WHAT RULING MEANS.
rbose present clearly understood wha,
tho interpretation means. So the pounding
OF fists on the tables continues. At inter.
walls there was some more strange yes
Drug users are jubilant over the de.
cision Heretofore, they were ARRESTED
when found to have dope in their possession
often they were fined. on other occasions
thew were committed to some hospital. Nov
they can walk about the streets with dope
in their pockets and are not liable 10
arrest unless found using Ii.
The United States Supreme Courts de-
cision today created as much discussion
in the Tenderloin as n decision would In
wall street IL il had any bearing relating
to stocks or some other investment.
81 should worry" said "Biggy" Donovan.
n native of Allentown, who found himself
oh
van once was a choir boy In n church In !
I,ehigh County Since coming here he has
been addicted to drugs.
81 had n hunch all the time that the law
would be changed" said Donovan. 80 z
should worry -A
important issues are discussed often In
the Tenderloin. Days ago before the de-
cIsion was handed down some of its resi-
dents talked about the Harrison antl-nar
cotic act They had been closely watching
the columns of the newspapers. In many
instances bets were made that Section
of the Harrison act would be reversed II i.
is this section which was reversed by tie
United States Supreme Court. l
wAGERs ON REVERSE.
Judge" Thomas Isen, former lawyer
of Providence. r. l., and a regular user
of cocaine. was one of the bettors He
placed wager that Section would be
reversed He won his bet. He bet S5
worth of cocaine against the same quantity
OF drugs. He cashed his bet and walked
away winking at the former grammar school
graduate. .-.
There was talk today in the Tenderloin
of holding several "snow BALI festivals in
the near future. 1t is at these parties that
invited guests are given cocaine to sniff
But from the present outlook, the yellow
haired youth who read the newspaper head. Il
lines will probably not have an Opportunity
TO attend these "snow ball" parties as an \,
invited guest. He is accused by some cf
The cocaine users of being "squeaer.a 1t
Is said that he acted on many occasions as
a stool" for the vice squad and the Fed, q
sral officials. f-st-.5 ,,e-|
In the meantime, persons addicted TO ~.
cocaine and other drugs are walking about .
he Tenderloin with drugs on their persons :
more bravely today. They no longer fear ,4
lrrest Their ray of hope lies in the fact
hat Section has been overruled.