Evening star., 1951-06-14
Narcotics Easy to Get in D. c.,
Addicts Tell Investigators
CONTINUED From First Page. )

in the country In regard to drug
traffic.
''It is possible that the persons
who mentioned Washington in
the Crime Committee report were
able to buy the drugs or attend
parties here year or two ago.
Since then, however, we have
made many arrests and gotten
many convictions.
Case Histories Revealed.
Although the committee took
its testimony on May 20 and
June Z, it did not specify in every
case how long the witnesses had
been confined. There were sew
eral references, however, to the
habit starting year ago and
comments on arrests last January
and March.
The individual case histories as
made public by the Crime Com
mittee follow:
One addict. a musician who had
played with some of the big name
bands, stated that he had realized
a combined income of 5000 weekly
from playing and composing
music and spent it all on drugs.
He started using marijuana at
the age of II. in high school.
switching to heroin at % and ul-
tirnately spending every nickel he
could earn to buy the dope.
More than 100 boys he knew in
high school were smoking REFERS,
he said. After the first few shots
of heroin he began to feel the need
so that he was taking it every day
and, after a time, every few hours.
The peddlers, he pointed out, seek
out entertainers. race track fol-
lowers, ETC., particularly.
He had no police record before
using drugs. He was arrested in
1889 for violating the Narcotics
Act, in 1910 for auto theft, in
1941 for violating the Narcotics
Act; again in 1943, 1914 and 1916
for using drugs, and in 1916 for
receiving stolen goods. In 1916
he went to the United States
facility at Lexington, KY. He ex-
planned the very painful procedure
Of going through the withdrawal
period. While he has been off the
drugs each time he has been in
earcerated, he has always gone
back again, but hopes that he
can give it up for good this time.
He claimed that a number of
the addicts he knew had to steal
to get money for drugs. Most of
his acquaintances went to Wash
ington for the drugs as it was
cheaper there. They usually paid
dollar for it in Washington and
50 in Baltimore. He has bought
as much as $50 worth at time
IN Washington. He feels that
each addict converts others. He
never had any trouble picking up
a supply wherever he went with
an entertainment group to an
other city. 1t was as easy to
buy as a soft drink, he said. Dur
ing his 27 months in the irStitu-
tion at Lexington he met a lot
of peddlers, but admitted that he
is afraid to divulge the sources
of supply.
- -
A 22-year- inmate stated that
he had acquired the habit about
a year ago and that his brother,
who also was an addict. had been
killed last fall in fight over
drugs. Feeling that this was a
good time to get of the habit, he
gave himself up to the police. He
had previously served a term for
manslaughter. Never used "reef-
ers." Started first by "snorting"
and then turned to the needle.
At first he used it about every
two days, but his addiction in
creased so that he was using up
to about three shots a day by
the time he was jailed. He never
had any trouble getting the drug
In Baltimore, but could get it
cheaper and as easily in Wash
ington. Stated that he really
wants to get off the drug habit.
Another prisoner who had lived
In Baltimore all his life and for
20 years at the same address told
Of his activities as peddler, but
claimed he does not use drugs in
any form. He was in the Army
during World War II. Said that
many of the people he grew up
with were addicts and that he just
started in selling to them. Profit
on the drug was over 100 per
cent, he said, adding that most
of it comes from Washington.
Used to buy $3.50 worth each week
and sell it. Was making as high
as $3.50 q day at times. Claims
that there are more "snorters" in
Washington than shooters. In
the business he used an addict as
q faster" to test the drug and
always dealt with a "go-between"
In Washington.
y Il II x
A native of South Carolina, who
came to Baltimore several years
ago, declared he was about 18
when he became an addict. He
started with REFERS and then went
to heroin. He secured the drug
first from some of the fellows he
knew. At the time of his arrest,
was using about IA or Is capsules
a day and was buying his in big
lots. Said that "you don't lose the
habit in a place this this" Just
off it while in Jail because you
can't get it. Bought most of his
drugs in Washington. Since he
has been incafcerated, his wife
has been arrested Tor selling drugs,
although she does not have the
habit. He was in the Army in