The Washington times., 1923-02-11

whole there 10 no persistency In
the prosecution Of this type Of
criminal.
MARY" AND "CHARLIE.~
In many cities the police de.
partments receive poor co-opera-
ton from the courts, this in it
self is one Of the greatest OBJ
stacles In the path Of police 40
tivity. The influences Of these
drug rings" ramify through
many official departments Of city
government and this serves as ex-
ceIlent protection for the members
Of the drug cliques."
In the drug traffic. use Of 0rdi-
nary language would necessarily
lead to more exposure than is de-
sirable. Therefore, those concern
ed have gradually developed q
language which Is unique. Nor
phine is frequently referred to as
Mary" The addict may remark
that he has an appointment with
Mary" this of course implies
that he will either visit q place
where a morphine party" is to
be held, or else that he win seek
a peddler for the drug.
When cocaine is the object Of
conversation among these people
the name Charlie" is used. Sew
eral other expressions have been
coined by the addicts and ped
der to signify cocaine; happy
dust" SNOW" etc. Habitues to
cocaine are known as "snow BIRDS
by the police. Addicts and ped
dlers. kicking the bamboo" is q
convenient way Of expressing
opium smoking. ''Sleighing rid
ing" implies a cocaine jag or
party. Many other colloquial words
and expressions are in use among
! those Of the drug world.
HOW PEDDLERS WORK.
The favorite haunt Of the ped
der is the pool room, cheap cafe
or hotel. taxi rack, and railway
terminal, places which addicts are
prone to frequent. Even in the
fashionable hotels the pedd1er
seeking a select client win be
found. While bell boys rarely,
act as peddlers they sometimes
serve as. Intermediates between
addict and peddler. Hotel maids
are frequently employed to cater
to the female addict frequenting
such establishments. Fruit ven
ders and others whose work car
ries them into the street are fire.
quently employed to distribute
drugs.
In some parts of the United
States women are used quite ex-
tensively to peddle narcotics. In
one of our Southern cities several
years ago it was found that
women were peddling cocaine and
heroin to boys and girls of school
age.
Sometimes taxi cab drivers are
drug peddlers, and quite a few
Of those who do not handle drugs
can readily direct the addict to
some one who will sell supply.
Many apparently refined men
and women peddle drugs.
Recently a drug peddler was
arrested in. New York city car
rying a large quantity of mar
cotics concealed in the cavity of
an artificial arm, and many cases
are recorded Of traffickers carry
ing drugs in the hollow of a
wooden leg. Candy and fruit are
favorite places for the conceal
ment of drugs, and excite little,
If any, suspicion.
KNOW ADDICTS.
The professional Peddler knows
the addict instantly and vice
versa. Unless the drug addict is
known to the peddler, or pre-
sents the distinct earmarks of
the addict, he will experience diff
ficulty in securing drugs.
These people possess an in
sight, an intuition which is re-
A significant look,
wink or gesture is sufficient to
bring about a mutual understand
ing among these denizens Of the
world.
Direct sales Of drugs from
peddlers to unknown or unintro-
duced addicts are unusual.
Several methods of peddling are
in use, of which this is one Of
the most common. A peddler is
by the addict and
makes it appear, through signs
Or look, that he is not handling
drugs. The peddler may inform
the addict that he is not handling
1rugs now, even though the ad-
1ict has purchased drugs previous
", but that he may be able to
lirect the addict to someone who
may assist him in finding Q
supply.