The Washington times., 1923-01-31
MAD,
SHOOTS
SELF
Chicago High School Student
Took First "Shot" to
Cure Toothache.
BY JAMES L.. KILLGALLEN,
International News Service.

international News service.
CHICAGO, Jan. 81 Driven
desperate by "dope," George Roth,
eighteen years old, student at
Lane Technical High School, shot
himself today and is near death
at Passaval1t Hospital.
Roth told hin father, A j. Roth,
and the Pclica that he III The ySt;-.
tim Of d dope seller who has
been growing rich by selling
drugs to students at the high
school,"
Left Notes to Father.
The boy, who was to have gradu.
ated tomorrow, had left two notes
to his father, one of which ended
with this line:
PLEASE watch the other kids
The police Immediately began an
investigation. They were of the
opinion that many pupils at the
high school are victims of the
dope" peddler..
Lying in the hospital with the
police and his father bending over
MN, the youth told a pathetic story
or his drug experiences.
SnOC Tor TOOthache.
One day last October, he said. he
was suffering from a toothache. A
fellow student told him he could
get medicine to stop the pain. He
went to the man and was given
shot"
From then on it was one shot"
after another. 1t began to tell on
him, the boy said. He felt so shaky
and unnerved at times he was not
himself.
Graduation imminent he could
not hide his disgrace from his
parents any longer, he thought. 60
he left two notes, one of which
said:
"Well, Dad, / am at the end of
my rope. suppose YOU are
onto me by this time. You don't
have to blame me; blame the
dope. used to buy it from a
fellow who peddled it at school,"
The above note he left at his
home. To make sure his father
would know what he intended to
do, the boy sent the other note.
shortly before midnight, to his
father by a school chum. This
letter said:
Dear Dad: Tonight will be
the last.
II have bummed, lOafed, quit
school for the simple reason,
whether you believe it or not,
that l have been the victim of
dope.
II will tell you the facts. One
day l had tOOthache and a
man across the street comes up
to me and asks what is the mat
l. &4IL
some medicine that would cure
me; SO l was shot full of dope.
but 1 didn't know it until
craved it again and again.
"Three shots / took. Then the
sand had left me-came Out-and
stayed away from it at an
awful price.
FINALLY ] realized l was i'm an
awful fix so / found out at an
awful expense where these be
sakes' hung out.
II will go up there. They
have ruined me SO l don't care
what happens, but whether I get
mine from them or not, I'll take
my own life, as ! am no good to
you and never will be.
II am at the end of my rope.
I'll drop off.
During the spells Wnen my
mind went drug-craZed com
mitted all the Irregularities of
the house. Money had been
missed at the Roth hOme).
"PIease forgive me, but l know
that i am always your son.
GEORGE"
Superintendent of Schools John
Dill Robertson called special meet
ing of high school principals to de-
termine whether there has been
any dope peddling at other
schools. He also arranged for the
posting of bulletins in the schools
warning pupils against the habit.
Thousands of handbills, warning
Of the dangers of dope. will be
printed and distributed among stu
dents .------------. =.