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September 29, 1908

MUST BREAK UP "DOPE" SALES.

Humane and Juvenile Court Officers

Will Assist in Crusade.

Following the story told by Willie Smith, a cocaine victim at the tender age of 15, the prosecuting attorney is preparing to file information against the druggists who are said to have made sales to the boy. The humane officer and the juvenile court officers are assisting in the crusade to break up the sale of the drug to minors. The sales are largest in the poorer districts of the city.

Labels: children, Humane Society, juvenile court, narcotics

September 27, 1908

SAW A BOY BUY COCAINE.

Then Bert Stregel, Druggist, Was

Arrested and Arraigned in Court.

Bert Stregel, a druggist at Fifth and Central streets, and his clerk, E. C. Ellis, were arraigned in police court yesterday charged with selling cocaine to Willie Smith, a 15-year-old messenger boy who was tried before the juvenile court Friday. Both asked for continuances, and they were granted until Tuesday.

The boy testified that he has been addicted to the cocaine habit for the last four months. He named three places where he bought the drug, Charles Gidinski's, Nineteenth and Grand, Dudley & Hunter's, 1303 Grand, and Bert Stregel's, Fifth and Central. Edgar Warden, a probation officer, went with him to Stregel's and watched the boy buy a box of cocaine.

Labels: Central street, children, druggists, Fifth street, Grand avenue, juvenile court, narcotics, Nineteenth street

September 14, 1908

"I'LL KILL MYSELF," SAID HE.

But James N. Allen's Fellow Work-

men Laughed -- He Is Found Dead.

For three years James N. Allen had worked as a dishwasher at the Manhattan restaurant. Saturday night he packed up all of his clothes at the restaurant and bid his fellow workers goodby. He informed them that he would commit suicide that night. Believing that Allen was joking, the men suggested various methods of suicide and jested with him until he left the place.

Going to the Henry house, on Walnut street near Fifth, where he roomed, Allen passed through the office, went to his room and locked the door. Then he sat down and wrote a note to his only friend, Sam Grassberger, a cook at the Manhattan restaurant, 420 West Ninth street. The note said: "I am going to end it all by killing myself. God bless you."

Before going to his room, he had purchased a bottle of morphine and the supposition is that he took the contents before going to bed. A maid found his door locked at 10 o'clock yesterday morning and the manager broke it down and found Allen dead.

Labels: Fifth street, narcotics, Ninth street, restaurants, rooming house, Suicide, Walnut Street

July 13, 1908

FRIGHTENED TO DEATH

BY DOPE FIEND'S CRIES.

Mrs. Jennie Elmer Was Ill From

Heart Disease in Rooming House

With the Crazed Woman.

When Rosie O'Grady went on a wild rampage last night at 8:45 o'clock she only intended to throw a man named Thomas Miller out of the house but her actions were so violent and terrorising that she literally frightened Mrs. Jennie Elmer to death.

The O'Grady woman was drunk and insane from the use of morphine. She quarreled with Thomas Miler, on the third floor of the rooming house at 501 Walnut street, which is conducted by Mrs. Belle Wilson. Miller ran out of the room and started down the stairs to the second floor. He was urged to greater haste by flower pots and cooking utensils hurled at his head by the hysterical O'Grady woman. She was using profane language and yelling murder at the top of her voice. Mrs. Jennie Elmer was lying in a bed in the rear room on the third floor suffering from heart trouble. She became greatly excited and asked George Conine, a roomer in the house, to call a policeman.

The landlady entered her room to quiet her and said she would call an officer. She went down to the street and summoned Patrolman A. L. Boyd, who went into the house and arrested the O'Grady woman. He was told Mrs. Elmer very low from the shock and excitement. As the policeman was leaving the building with the woman, Mrs. Elmer sank back on the pillows and gasped for breath. Dr. W. L. Gist of the emergency hospital was called by Conine, but the woman was dead when he reached the house. He said Mrs. Elmer had died of heart disease, caused by the fright she had received during the quarrel in the hall just outside of her door.

The police placed Rosie O'Grady, who is about 40 years old, in a cell in the women's department of the holdover. She succeeded in collecting a crowd of curious people around the station by her maniacal cries. She was not told that she had caused the death of the Elmer woman. Mrs. Elmer has a brother living in Leavenworth, Will Darling, formerly proprietor of the Delmonico hotel. A married sister lives in Chicago. Only her first name, Josie, and her husband's name, Lee, are known to the occupants of the rooming house. Their address is 1270 Polk street. The coroner was notified of Mrs. Elmer's death and took charge of the body.

Labels: alcohol, Chicago, death, narcotics, police, rooming house, violence, Walnut Street

July 6, 1908

"COCAINE MARY" IS DEAD.

Picturesque North End Character

Falls From Second Story Widow.

Minnie Palmer, who was better known to the residents of the North end as "Cocaine Mary," died at the general hospital at 5:30 o'clock last night from concussion of the brain, received by falling from a second story window to the pavement twenty feet below, shortly after 1 o'clock Sunday morning. She was seen about 1 o'clock sitting on the window ledge, and told a woman who lived in the house that she was trying to get a little fresh air before going to bed. It is thought she went to sleep and lost her her balance.

The woman was found at 5 o'clock Sunday morning by Philip J. Welch, night jailer at police headquarters. He called an ambulance and had her taken to the emergency hospital. Later she was removed to the general hospital, where an operation was performed in an effort to relieve the pressure of bone against the brain. Minnie Palmer lived at the rooming house on the southwest corner of Third and Main street

Labels: accident, death, emergency hospital, general hospital, Main street, narcotics, North end, rooming house, Third street, women

May 28, 1908

ORDERS POLICE

TO SHOW BOOKS.

BOARD DECIDES RECORDS ARE

OPEN TO PUBLIC .

ALD. O'HEARN'S ACTIVITY.

ACCUSED OF CAUSING REMOVAL

OF VIGILANT OFFICER.

Remarkable Case of Lisiecki Broth-

er's Saloon, Where a Politician

Is Said to Have Called

Off Besieging Police.

After twenty-four hours deliberation the board of police commissioner came to the conclusion yesterday that records of arrests at the different stations in the city should be declared public, so long as the information desired was of past transactions. May Thomas T. Crittenden, Jr. declared that information of past transactions should be given to any citizen asking it, and the other members of the board concurred, after some discussion.

The board was told that a reporter for The Journal had asked on Tuesday to see the records and had been refused by the captain of No. 4 station and Chief of Police Daniel Ahern.

"What do you want to see the books for?" Mayor Crittenden asked.

"It has been charged that every man since the first of the year who has been active in arresting women who infest the streets in that district has been taken out of plain clothes, and all but the two who are now detailed for that duty, put into uniform and removed from the precinct," the mayor was told. "It is said that the records at the station will show this state of affairs. It is also charged that the removal of the men came after threats from well dressed vagrants and a certain saloonkeeper-politician in that district."

No comment was made upon this statement. Chief Daniel Ahern, who was present, was simply ordered to let the books be examined "in the presence of the officer in charge of the station," and that was all. No hint at an investigation by this board was made.

SIX HAVE BEEN MOVED.

The records show that since January 1 eight men have been detailed in plain clothes in No. 4 district. Their principal duty is to keep the streets clean of undesirable women at night. Six of those men have been removed already, and the two now there have been told that they are to go. One of the men who is said to have threatened policemen who did their duty is Alderman Michael J. O'Hearn, known in a political way as "Mickey" O'Hearn.

The records will show that Frank N. Hoover was removed from No. 4 precinct on March 1. It is well known that this district harbors criminals of all classes and a horde of women who support well dressed vagrants in idleness. The records show that during Hoover's short stay in plain clothes his "cases" included the capture of land fraud sharks, a murderer, one woman who attempted murder, shoplifters working Jones Bros.' department store, clothing thieves, typewriter thieves, "hop" fiends, opium jointists, vagrants -- and a long list of "lavender ladies" who called to men from their windows, and others who walked the streets by night. Scores of these lawbreakers were fined from $5 to $150 in police court on Patrolman Hoover's testimony.

It is alleged that one night when Hoover had arrested a well known vagrant, who for years has lived off the wages of sinful women, he was accosted by O'Hearn, who demanded to know why Hoover was aresting his "friends." One who heard the conversaion said that Hoover told the saloonkeeper that he knew nothing about his "friends"; in fact, that he was doing police duty. O'Hearn, according to report, then told Hoover with a snap of the finger: "We'll see about you later." And he was "seen to" March 1, when he was put into uniform and transferred to a beat in No. 6 district.

Labels: Jones Dry Goods, Kansas City council, Mayor Crittenden, narcotics, No 4 police station, No 6 police station, police, Police Chief Ahern, saloon, The Journal

May 3, 1908

SHE CHASED AUTOMOBILES.

Antics of Woman on Twelfth Street

Brought Many Police.

A deranged woman chasing automobiles in the neighborhood of Twelfth street and Tracy avenue last night about 10 o'clock brought police from three districts to that vicinity. Finally she ran into a party of three bluecoats at Thirteenth street and Forest avenue. When taken to No. 6 police station she was found to be the wife of a contractor. She was evidently under the influence of liquor and some drug. She was held for safekeeping.

Labels: alcohol, automobiles, Forest avenue, mental health, narcotics, Thirteenth street, Tracy avenue, Twelfth street

May 3, 1908

ENGINEER HAD BEEN DRUGGED.

Matt Gaffney Fell Into Bad Company

on Bluff Street.

Matt Gaffney, a Missouri Pacific engineer, whose home is at 739 Parallel avenue, Kansas City, Kas., was taken to police headquarters last night in an unconscious condition by Richard Miller, a hack driver for the Quinby Livery Company. Dr. George Dagg, who examined Gaffney, said that the man had evidently been "doped." Miller, the hack driver, said that he got a call at Twelfth and Main streets at 10:40 o'clock to go to a rooming house at 507 Bluff street. When he got there a woman gave him $4 and told him to take a man whom she brought out of the house to Seventh street and Parallel avenue, Kansas City, Kas.

Miller told the police that when he got to the address the man was unconscious and was unable to give him further directions. He then drove back to the police station. It was first thought that Gaffney was drunk, but the physician's diagnosis led the police to believe that he had been drugged. The woman who put Gaffney into the hack will be arrested if she can be found.

William Bedell, a traveling engineer friend of Gaffney's, called at police headquarters at an early hour this morning. He said that Gaffney has two daughters, Teresa and Julia. Teresa lives with Bedell, and Julia is a student at a convent in Paola, Kas.

Letters in Gaffney's pockets indicate that he had cashed recently a draft for $500. A later diagnosis by the emergency hospital physicians developed morphine poisoning.

The house at 507 Bluff street was closed early this morning when the police went to arrest the woman who placed Gaffney in the hack.

Labels: Bluff street, doctors, Kansas City Kas, Main street, narcotics, police headquarters, Twelfth street

December 21, 1907

POLICE GET HIS COCAINE BOX.

Many Men Had Been Drugged and

Robbed in North End Saloon.

The police have had many complaints of men being drugged and robbed in a Greek saloon near Sixth and Bluff streets recently. It was in and near this place that thirteen men have been arrested within the last two days and sent to the workhouse on fines of from $10 to $100.

A signwriter named Sellinger, who testified against some of the men in police court, told the police that he saw a man drugged, robbed and thrown into a hack and hauled away. At another time the clerk of the Metropolitan hotel was taken into a rear room, slugged and robbed.

Yesterday afternoon detectives arrested Chris Baptista, a Mexican bartender in the saloon complained of. They went behind the bar and confiscated two suspicious bottles and a box containing a chrystalline substance.

"The bottles do not smell like whiskey," said Inspector Ryan, "and the box looks like it contains cocaine."

The two bottles and the box were delivered to Dr. Walter M. Cross, city chemist, for analysis. Baptista is being held for investigation.

Labels: Bluff street, City Chemist Cross, crime, immigrants, narcotics, North end, saloon, Sixth street, workhouse

October 11, 1907

SAYS HE EATS POKE ROOT.

Remarkable Habit of Man for Whom

Police are Caring.

Patrolman Hall found a man sitting on the sidewalk at Twenty-eighth street and Wabash avenue late Wednesday night. He was very weak and incoherent and the policeman sent him to headquarters for "safe keeping."

When the "safe keepers" were released early yesterday morning this man, who gave the name of Calvin A. Miller, 40 years old, was still unable to take care of himself. Dr. W. L. Gist examined him,, and Miller said he had been chewing poke root.

"I gathered the herb myself," said Miller feebly, "and became so fond of it that it became a necessity. It has undermined my constitution so that I can not work any more."

Miller had been acting as janitor of the flats near where he was found, but the eating of poke root had so incapacitated him that he could not work. Although only 40 years old, he looks and acts like an aged, broken down man. Dr. Gist sent him to the general hospital for treatment.

"I have seen and heard of many persons who use drugs," said the doctor, "but this is the first case of a person being addicted to poke root that I ever heard of."

The pokeberry plant is a common herb, of the genus phytolacca. It is non-poisonous, possessing emetic and diuretic properties. The tincture made from the root is is extensively used in the treatment of disease. Poke root may be found in profusion in all parts of Jackson county.

Labels: doctors, Dr. Gist, general hospital, health, narcotics, police, Twenty-eighth street, Wabash avenue

September 16, 1907

OPIUM USER TRIES SUICIDE.

Rivers Made Three Attempts on His

Life at the Workhouse.

Otto Rivers, an intimate of the city workhouse who is addicted to the opium habit, and who shot John Spangler, head guard at the workhouse a few days ago in an attempt to get the guard's revolver to commit suicide with, tried three times to take hos own life yesterday morning. First he set fire to his bunk. He did not have nerve enough to let the flames envelope his clothing and the fire was extinguished before any damage was done. Later he pounded up a two-ounce glass bottle and swallowed the broken glass. A police ambulance was called and he was started to the general hospital. On the way he seized a revolver which was protruding from the officer's hip pocket and attempted to shoot himself. He was overpowered and the weapon wrested from him before he was able to discharge it.. At the general hospital last night it was said Rivers would recover. He had been given opium, the first time in several weeks, and was said to be resting easily. Rivers' dementia is entirely due to his having been deprived of the drug while confined in the workhouse. He is only 27 years old, but has been using the drug several years. He says his life becomes torture without it and is worse than death.

Rivers was sentenced to the workhouse on a technical charge of vagrancy June 17. He had been seen prowling around a number of office buildings at the time the "office building firebug" was operating.

Spangler, who was shot in the tussle with Rivers several days ago, is still in the general hospital.

Labels: general hospital, narcotics, Suicide, vagrancy, workhouse

September 10, 1907

AN ACTOR SMOKING OPIUM.

Player Caught in a Police Raid at

Sixth and Wyandotte.

When Detectives Boyle, Orford, Ravenscamp and Lewis raided an opium den at Sixth and Wyandotte streets last night they found four men smoking opium. One of them was an actor and he pleaded the necessity of appearing on the stage last night. He was released in time to fill his engagement. The other men are being held for investigation.

Labels: arts, detectives, narcotics, Sixth street, Wyandotte street

August 30, 1907

UNDER POLICE BAN.

'THESE MEN ARE BEING JOBBED,'

SAID CITY ATTORNEY.

REARRESTED BY THE POLICE,

JUST THE SAME.

Men Who Had Once Transgressed the

Law Declare the Police Will

Not Permit Them to

Live Upright

Lives.

What appears to be a flagrant case of police oppression occurred in police court yesterday. Three young men, who, so far as the police know, have been leading correct lives of late, had been arrested on suspicion and were held on the indefinite charge of "investigation." The young men were Virgil Dale, Frank Smith and Thomas O' Neal.

When the men were arraigned before Judge Young, Detective Edward Boyle said:

These men are bad ones. They have all done time, they don't work and they are hop fiends."

"I never smoked hop in my life," said O'Neal, "and I am working now."

"I can prove that I am working, too," said Smith.

"I have been here but eight days," said Dale. "When I was younger I mixed in bad company and committed a crime. I confessed it before a justice and was fined. My mother lives here. No matter what I have been I still desire to see my mother. On account of the crime I committed I am picked up and held for investigation every time I get in town. Ever since I have been here I have been at home putting down carpets, but last night I ventured out and was arrested. I have been jobbed here before, in this court. I have done nothing on earth to be arrested for."

Inspector Charles Ryan entered the court room at this moment and Detective Boyle said:

BUT RYAN PROVED NOTHING.

"Judge Young, this is Inspector Ryan. Listen to what he has to say."

"We haven't anything particularly against these men, except that they are bad ones," Ryan said. "We have pictures of the two of them and they are hop fiends."

Again came the denial from the men that there was no such evidence and they explained that their pictures had been taken on a similar occasion when they were arrested "for investigation" but were released.

"What do you want done with them?" asked Judge Young, who had listened with interest.

"Fine them $500 and give them a stay to leave town," suggested Boyle.

"I will go," said each man, "but I have done nothing and do not intend to break the law."

Believing that he was following the custom of the court, Judge Young assessed the $500 fines and ordered the men released so they could leave town.

Just as they started to leave the court room, however, they were all huddled together, rearrested before the judge and placed again in the holdover.

"What's all that for?" asked Judge Young. "I thought it was agreed that those men should go? One of those men has a mother here, and I don't blame him or any other man for wanting to see his mother."

"THEY ARE BEING JOBBED."

"It's the first time I have ever said so in this court," spoke up Fred Coon, city attorney, "but I have seen this same things many times, and said nothing. It strikes me that this is a straight 'job' on these men because, in years past, they have done nothing wrong. There is no charge now against them."

"I don't understand such proceedings" said Judge Young, "and I want to say that in this court it looks mighty shady. I don't like it at all. Instead of recording fines and stays against these men, I shall make a clean record of 'discharged' in each case."

That made no difference, however. Once they had sinned, and they must suffer for it. Dale, in particular, was very frank in his statement to the court about himself.

"When a man has once done wrong," said Dale, sadly, "the people might help him to live a better life, but the police won't let him. Once in my life I was convicted on my own confession. For that I have been made a roamer on the face of the earth, no place to lay my head, no place to call home -- though I have a home, and a mother here in this city. Is it right? Is it just?"

After court Inspector Charles Ryan was asked why the men had been rearrested when the court had released them on a fine suggested by a detective and concurred in by him.

"We are just holding them for investigation," he said.

NO CHARGE AGAINST THEM.

"Have you anything against them?" he was asked.

"No," he said, "we are just holding them for show up -- investigation is the only charge.

"Will any charge be placed against these men?" was the next question.

"We have none," he replied.

It is charged by a majority of the men who have sinned and fallen into the hands of the police that no matter how hard they try to reform and live upright lives, the police won't permit them to go in peace. The fact that a man has once done wrong damns him forever in the eyes of the police, even though he may have explated his crime by long hours of weary servitude. Ex-criminals declare that the greatest foes they have to right living are the police.

Labels: attorney, courtroom, detectives, Judges, narcotics, police

August 22, 1907

ONE WAY TO OBTAIN MORPHINE.

Headache Prescription That Contains

One-Seventh of a Grain.

A Troost avenue druggist was approached yesterday morning by a woman with a prescription for headache.

"I have had headache for many years, but not until I began taking these powders did I secure relief," the woman said. "O, they are just fine -- a dozen powders, please."

The clerk passed behind the prescription case with the slip of paper.

He read thereon among other ingredients a demand for one-seventh of a grain of morphine to each powder. His first impulse was to decline to fill the prescription, but then he happpened to think that she was an educated woman and could read as well as he.

"I am not surprised, madame, that your headaches are relieved by this remedy," almost tremulously rejoined the druggist as he handed the woman her package and took a coin.

"My husband sometimes takes them, too, but baby is scarcely old enough to have a headache. When she does, though, you bet she must take them like the rest of us," declared the woman.

"Poor baby," sighed the druggist.

Labels: druggists, narcotics, Troost avenue

August 21, 1907

GOT COCAINE AT STREIGLE'S.

So Reported the Police and a Drug-

gist's Arrest Followed.

On account of the testimony of a cocaine user in police court recently an order was made to see how easily cocaine could be bought from a drug store owned by Bert Streigle, at 125 West Fifth street. A policeman in plain clothes reported that he had bought some of the drug there and the following day in inspctor from the license inspector's office reported taht he, too, had no trouble in getting any quantity of "coke."

Judge Kyle yesterday ordered a warrant for Streigle's arrest and required a cash bond of $500. Streigle has been in police court before on similar charges, at one time receiving a fine of $500.

Labels: druggists, Fifth street, Judge Kyle, narcotics, police court

August 17, 1907

SHE IS ON THE BLACKLIST.

Negress Who Peached on a Druggist

Shunned by Her Race.

There was war among the cocaine users of the North end last night. Yesterday morning in police court Mamie Jones, a negress, admitted she uses the drug and took a policeman to a drug store conducted by G. G. Cowhick, at 547 Walnut street. Cowhick admitted selling the woman the drug on one occasion only. He was fined $500.

Last night Mamie Jones went to police headquarters crying. She told the desk sergeant that she has been blacklisted among the negroes. She can't get any more "coke," she said.

"They all blame me for getting that druggist in trouble," Mamie explained. "They have been abusing me all evening and what's worse than all I can't buy any 'coke.' Two big men just jumped on me for 'peachin' and said I can't never get any more 'coke' from nobody."

The sergeant advised Mamie to go to her room and remain there and she left the station.

Labels: narcotics, North end, police court, police headquarters, race, Walnut Street

August 6, 1907

FATAL OVERDOSE OF MORPHINE.

E. B. French, in an Effort to Cure

Neuralgia, Kills Himself.

E. B. French, 72 years old, manager of the Pressed Steel Feed Box Company, 914 Minnesota avenue, Kansas City, Kas., died at 11 o'clock last night from the effects of an overdose of morphine.

Mr. French suffered from an attack of neuralgia at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon. He refused to summon a physician, stating that he could cure himself. He chose morphine as the remedy and took an overdose with fatal results. Mr. French was prominent in Kansas City, Kas., having been connected with the Pressed Steel Feed Box Company for some time past.

Labels: death, Kansas City Kas, Minnesota avenue, narcotics

July 30, 1907

COCAINE MADE HIM STEAL?

Horsetheif Says He Can Find No

Other Reason.

Everett Ware, who was arraigned and bound over to the criminal court at Independence for stealing a horse belonging to Albert Marty, stated yesterday that he did not know what caused him to steal, but that he was addicted to the use of cocaine. He also confessed to the stealing of another horse a year ago from Mr. Marty.

Labels: crime, Independence, narcotics

July 25, 1907

DRUGGISTS OPPOSE IT

SAY LAPP'S ORDINANCE IS TO

GIVE DOCTORS JOBS.

Import of the Measure Is to Require

Prescriptions for Sale of Opium,

Cocaine or Any of Its

Preparations.

"That ordinance is evidently intended to make business for young doctors who have but little practice under the guise of making it impossible for people to buy opium, cocaine or any of its preparations," declared a delegation of druggists that visited the city hall yesterday to protest against the passage of Dr. J. G. Lapp's ordinance regulating the sale of these drugs.

Alderman Lapp, the author of the ordinance, is a physician and in defense of his measure says it is the only way that the sale of opium and cocaine can be checked.

The ordinance provides that no druggist nor pharmacist or any other person shall offer for sale opium or any of its preparations, except upon the written prescription of a regularly licensed practicing physician.

"Should the ordinance become effective," declared a druggist, "it would be impossible for a person in an emergency to get a little laudanum for a sick person without first hunting up a doctor and paying him a dollar to write a prescription. If this isn't an imposition I do not know what else it can be termed. There are other preparations from opium that are a family medicinal necessity, and to ask its users to pay $1 to a doctor every time they want a prescription filled is an outrage."

The ordinance stipulates that no prescriptions for opium or any of its preparations, excepting Dover's powder or paregoric, shall be refilled.

The penalty for a violation of the ordinance is a fine of not less than $1 nor more than $500.

Alderman Lap says that he has been induced to present this ordinance on account of the many evils growing out of the unrestricted sale of opium and its preparations by druggists. He claims that it is not a shaft at the better class of pharmacists, but at those whose principal stock in trade is opium and cocaine, and who make a pretense of conducting drug stores. He feels, he says, that no legitimate druggist would be in any wise injured by the enforcement of the ordinance. The doctor may yet amend the ordinance so as not to prohibit the sale of laudanum in small quantities without a written prescription.

The druggists also call attention to the fact that there are many patent medicines that contain opium or the preparations thereof, and they represent that if the Lapp ordinance becomes a law they will be prevented from selling these medicines without a prescription.

Labels: doctors, druggists, health, narcotics

May 19, 1907

HAPPY FOR ONLY A DAY.

Bride Asks Probate Judge to Nullify

Her Second Venture.

Alvin Thorp, 49 years old, and America Mallat, 5 years his junior, called at the office of the probate judge in Kansas City, Kas., last tuesday and were united in the holy bonds of wedlock by Judge Van prather. It was their second venture upon the sea of matrimony and they left the court house as happy as if it was their first flirtation with Cupid.

Yesterday Mrs. Thorpe, the bride of just four days, reappeared before the probate judge and with tears in her eyes begged Judge Prather to undo what he had done Tuesday. She declared that she was greatly disappointed in the man she had chosen for her second husband and desired to be separated from him just as soon as possible.

"He is not my kind of man," said Mrs. Thorpe. "My! I was certainly deceived in him. The next night after our marriage he came home under the influence of liquor and grossly abused me. He brought home with him a small vial containing some kind of dope and when I saw him take some of it I made up my mind right there and then we severed our companionship."

Judge Prather stated taht he was very sorry, but while he had tied the knot it was up to a court of higher jurisdiction to untie it. He referred her to the district court and a divorce suit is promised in the immediate future.

Labels: alcohol, Divorce, Judge Prather, Kansas City Kas, narcotics, romance

May 16, 1907

HAD VIOLATED HIS PROMISE.

Druggist Who Sold Cocaine Fined

$250 in Police Court

When the "Black Maria" was being loaded at police headquarters yesterday with its daily load of prisoners for the workhouse there was one figure among the rollicking, happy-go-lucky crowd that attracted more than usual attention. It was that of a tall and aged man, his hair as white as the snow. He used a cane to feel his way up the steps and his high power glasses signified bad eyesight. Attendants had to assist the man into the wagon.

The unusual figure was that of H. B. Sargent, 70 years old, druggist at 1901 Grand avenue. He had pleaded guilty in police court to selling cocaine to J. M. Watkins, a user of the drug, living at 2127 Terrace street, and had been fined $250. Watkins, who was fined $100 on a vagrancy charge and sent to the general hospital for treatment, testified against Sargent. Mr. Sargent has a wife living at 3021 Oak street. There are no children. He said he was not able to give a $500 appeal bond.

Not many months ago the same aged white-haired man stood in police court charged with the same offense -- selling cocaine. The case was a clear one, but the court was lenient on account of the man's age and the oath he took. Raising his right hand high above his head he said in a trembling voice:

"Judge, I swear as I hope for mercy from my God that I will sell no more cocaine so long as I may live. I will not even keep it in my store. If there is any found there on my return I will cast it in the street."

Mr. Sargent was asked of that oath yesterday before he was taken away. "I made such an oath," he said, "and it was my intention to keep it. But there are two ways of looking at this thing. Here come a man and or a woman into my store. The eyes are wild and sunken, the face wan, drawn, and dreadfully pale. The form trembles as a leaf in a storm. They are too weak almost to stand. Cocaine is the only thing that will relieve them. Death might follow if they did not get it. I never put them in that shape, I know I didn't, but what am I to do?"

On account of Sargent's age efforts will be made to secure his release from the workhouse.

Labels: druggists, Grand avenue, narcotics, police court, Seniors, Terrace street, vagrancy, workhouse