The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-10

sufferings made me realize why it
nit even murder to secure possession
of the drug. To every demand for
cocaine he was met with
Eyes, you may have some when
you tell us where you have been get
ting the snow"
Then a sly, crafty look would
come into his eyes and he would
laugh at us and curse US me more,
telling us we would never find out
through him.
1t was a terrible strain upon us all
and a question in my mind as to who
was suffering the more: the addict,
crying and cursng for his drug, or
the few of us gathered around that
bed, who with pity in our hearts.
yet had to steel ourselves to his cries,
holding to the thought that it was
only through the suffering of this
our boys might be saved from like
fate. We fought him three days be-
fore he gave up the unequal strug
gle. Then, exhausted from his last
spasm, he cried out:
Dam you fcN hard-hearted
I will put you wise as to where /
have been getting it."
Lieutenant Murphy with alp the
kindness of woman, eased his
cravings. After the cocaine had time
to get in it's work, the sufferer told
us what we had been struggling for
three days to find out:
81 have been user of cocaine for
three years" h9 said, land have had
treatment for the habit twice. But
short time age the old craving
came over me, l tried several drug
stores for a supply. Not one would
sell me any. So L next resorted to
an old trick of mine, and when in
front of a doctors office l pretended
to have a fit and staggered up the
steps. By playing On this doctors
sympathy 1 succeeded in persuading
him to give me a prescription and to
tell me where l could have it filled.
This 1 at once took to the drug store
named by the doctor and had no
trouble in securing small supply.
when that was gone j tried to
get more at the same place; but the
druggist refused to sell me any more
unless 1 got another prescription.
While I was pleading with the man
l noticed that a FrenchmGn seemed
to be listening. and when l went out
he followed me. In English he asked
me if he could help me in any way;
and, knowing that he had heard me
talking to the druggist, told him
the truth.
He Is Led To 4 Drug Source.
He offered to show me place
where / could obtain all the cocaine
wanted if 1 had enough money.
told him I had plenty. Then he
took me down to Spanish Town and
introduced me to a man by the name
of Manuel Ferez, who claimed to be
a Spaniard. Short and thickset,
with a swarthy skin, he appeared
more like an East Indian. Deep-set
black eyes peered forth from under
bushy eyebrows and, with scar
across his left cheek, he looked eX-
actly what he was. a white-slaver.
"Ferez demanded tC' see my money
and when 1 displayed it he seized the
50-franc note with all the greed of
Shylock, giving me in exchange
the snow 1 craved. Ever since that
day | have been a good customer of
this mans and have been sending my
buddes to the same source of sup
ply"
AS soon as possible this soldier
was placed in motor car and, with
one of cur men driving, the two of
them went to Spanish Town" and
found where Ferez lived
Realizing that a case of this ma
ture required very cautious men to
handle it, Rich and Reilly were de-
tailed to run down the source of
supply and arrest the sellers. 1t had
been said that success in the detec-
ton OF crime depends not upon the
big things, but rather upon the mi
mute attention in detail. 1t would not
do to send two men on a case of this
kind until they were thoroughly
posted on what might be called local
atmosphere. So Rich and Reilly were
placed in the hospital among the
users of the drug. Here they were to
thort ughly familiarize themselves
with the ling of the cocaine addicts
and also study the mannerisms of the
poor unfortunates. Those who are
familiar with the cocaine drug
users kAow the tell-tale pallor of a
confirmed user. So after these two
mastered the lingo of the addicts,
Lieutenant Murphy came to the res
cue and changed the healthy glow
of our mems skins to the pallor Of
the drug user Murphy was quite
equal to the task and soon announced
that if he didn't know otherwise he
would condemn them both as drug
users by their looks alone. An art
full Job with grease paint and wax
defied the closest scrutiny.
In the detection of crime one
must avail himself of the instruments
at hand. In the underworld of Bor-
deaux was a man (for his own safety
he must go unnamed) who. although
engaged in business that decent
men condemn, was nevertheless
very great help to us in numerous in
stances Always willing to use all