Omaha daily bee., 1919-01-26


Society stood agnast! We opened
our eyes and our mouths at the
same time, but no words adequate
to express our surprise relieved US
and we all, in chorus, said! Now,
what do you think of that? Irene
Castle dope fendl We wonder
| if Messrs. Burgess and Kountze-
well, anyway, a-hem-suppose they
did or did notl a.
Yet, there is quite circle Of ar
fists, writer's and professional peo-
pie in New York who knew, or said
they knew, or believed, or had eyi-
dence of the fact, and could have
told us that Irene Castle resorted
to stimulants and narcotics. And
this reminds us OF a story told fire.
quently at gatherings in THE VIII
lage" when the writer's and actors
gossip over tea 1t is usuallys re-
lated with little variation, which
leads US to believe that it is either
a "well-made" story or else it is
| 1t seems that certain dancing
couple believed themselves quite as
4 good as, if not better, than The
Castles. So strong did this con-
viction grow in the ego of the dam
sci vieing with Irene that she APP
preached az veteran manager who
employed The Castles and said
Irene is a dope fend-it's dope
that makes them so light, etc" But
before she had concluded her
boost" for Irene the manager
broke in: Find out what kind she
uses and get some"
To those of Us who live in the
past, or have good memories for
notables in scandal, will be re-
freshed ~ by what Lady Mary
has to say of the mysterious death
of Billie Carleton:
while the drug habit that
| has recently been responsible
for a terrible tragedy in the
midst of pleasure-going society
has provided subject for dis
cussion and grave considera-
ton that cannot have its inn
portance overestimated, the
drug habit had had a very de-
cided impetus given to it since
the war. Without a doubt the
most awful dramas. are con-
stantiy being hushed up in our
! midst, and one feels that soon
err or later there is going to be
denouement that will bring
forth revelations involving
people whose names are well
know and whose addiction TO
drugs are matters of half-public
knowledge throughout a certain
set
The death Of the very pretty
22-year-oid actress called Bill
lie" Carleton, which has been
engaging the attention of the
authorities ever since her tragic
end after the victory ball at the
Albert Hall few weeks ago,
has given considerable impetus
to official Investigations. | am
interested in noticing theSname
of certain man who has been
the most severely questioned
witness in this case, for it has
brought back to my memory
another drug-taking case with
which he was connected.
cannot mention the name Of
this individual because at the
time of writing the investiga-
tions concerning Miss Billie
Cartoons death have. not been
concluded, but ] think he is
very well known in New York
as we'll as in London. At any
rate, my memory goes back to
the time when poor Anna Rob-
inson (who married the earl
of Rosslyn, from whom she OBJ
tanned divorce about eight
years ago), was friend of this
same man, who is now being
questioned in connection with
drugs and the Sale Of drugs in
London.
1t was well known about five
years ago that Lady Rosslyn
was addicted to- drugs, and her
special dope" was veronal,
which at that time could be OBJ
tanned at druggists shops for
an indefinite period if a doctors
prescription could be produced.
This poor, pretty woman, who
died SO tragically in New York
about 18 months ago, would alb
sorb veronal in large quantities
and then she evidently requiTed
some stronger stinulant, and
ness in the present drug case,
used to take heroin and other
poisonous compounds. When
Lady Rosslyn went back TO
New York about three years@
ago the man who was her part
ner in this drug-taking duet re-
NAMED If London, where he is
now one of the best known de-
signers of dresses for stage and
society. / saw him in the street
with his lawyer a couple of
days after the first hearing of
the case relative to the death
IF poor little Billie Carleton,
and / must say / have never
seen a more terribly nerve-
shattered looking creature. His
appearance gave one to sup
pose that no amount of dope"
could silence the fears that be-
set him; and his face was posi-
lively ashen-hued and his eyes,
with their large, distended pu-
pills, looked as if he were haunt
ed. And yet he is going about
London in the same old way,
and/I saw him recently being
spoken to by quite reputable
people at a first performance at
fashionable theater.
Il suppose every great city
has its quota of these people.
.tyho f.ARess s,~ox ttr ,,,. 1, L.. -.