THE ANTIQUE CANNABIS BOOK
Chapter 3 - (2nd Edition)
CENSORED MEDICAL STUDIES

CENSORSHIP
The Eureka Axe Murderer
Anslinger's Great Cover Up!

PART 3
THE GREAT EUREKA AXE MURDERER COVERUP!
As the very logic behind the creation of the anti-Medical Cannabis laws was that Cannabis caused its users to go out and commit deadly acts of violence.   It can thus be said that Harry Anslinger’s Gore-File (consisting of very lurid examples of crimes committed while under the influence of Marihuana) and the origin of the anti-Medical Marihuana laws are literally intertwined together.   Thus in Anslinger’s mind, anything that challenge his Gore-File, would challenges the very existence of the anti-Medical Marihuana laws.

Thus one can imagine the Horror that Anslinger must have felt upon being asked to prove that his Gore-File Cases actually existed.

AS AN ASIDE
Although here we limit ourselves solely to the Eureka Axe Murderer, it is interesting to note Mr. Ansligner’s Gore-File can actually be sub-classified as BEFORE and AFTER Holiday’s letter.   Before Sept. 1936 the Gore-File seems to have consisted mostly of ‘here-say’ with little or no fact checking. ---- Which as we have seen allowed for very lurid if somewhat fictional stories to make their way in.   However, AFTER Holiday, Anslinger (no fool he) probably began to worry that he might called to account for them.   Thus all new Gore-File cases (while still a bunch of lies) seem to at least have some bases in the truth.


ANSLINGER’S INTERNAL INVESTIGATION
Holiday’s letter [4] in effect forced Anslinger to launch an internal investigation into the sources of his Gore File cases.   As odd as this sounds, it seems that even Anslinger himself DID NOT KNOW the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, or WHEN of his own gore file cases that he had been talking about from one press conference to another.   Here we will deal solely with the Eureka Axe Murderer case.

The following Internal Memo [Most likely dated --- Oct. 30, 1936 ] was sent out by Anslinger to his California field office:

Bureau Memo
Internal Bureau Memo

The following Internal Memo [Most likely dated --- Oct. 30, 1936 ] was sent out by Anslinger to his California field office:
District Supervisor,
San Francisco, California.

Dear Sir:
Please endeavor to ascertain and advise this Bureau the name and date of the newspaper carrying the story relating to the following incident which occurred in California:

“A man under the influence of Marihuana actually decapitated his best friend; and then, coming out of the effects of the drug, was as horrified as anyone over what he had done.” Very truly yours,

(signed) H.J. Anslinger,
Commissioner.
To which the following replay letter came back.
Bureau Memo
Bureau Memo
Internal Bureau Memo

TREASURY DEPARTMENT
Bureau of Narcotics
Federal Office building
San Francisco, Calif.
November 25, 1936

Mr. H.J. Anslinger,
Commissioner of Narcotics,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:
Reference is had to your letter of October 30, 1936 in which you direct that I endeavor to ascertain and advise your office of the name and date of the newspaper carrying the story relating to the following event which occurred in California:
“A man under the influence of Marihuana actually decapitated his best friend; and then, coming out of the effects of the drug, was as horrified as anyone over what he had done.”
None of the agents of this office have any recollection of this newspaper story.   I addressed a letter to Sergeant E.J. Cox of the Sacramento Police Department and Mr. W.G. Walker, chief of the Division of State Narcotic Enforcement, requesting information, if they had any, which might lead to the identification of the paper in which this story appeared. Sergeant Cox, under date of November 20, 1936, writes me as follows:
“In reference to your letter of November 6th, relative to Commissioner Anslinger being anxious to ascertain the name and date of the newspaper that carried the story of the decapitation of a man by another that was under the influence of marihuana, I regret to inform you that the following is the only information that I can furnish you regarding this murder.

“My recollection is that this murder occurred in Humboldt County, California, and probably near the city of Eureka.

“However I do not remember how long ago it occurred, nor the names of the parties involved.   “I suggest that you get in touch with Mr. Wm. Walker, Chief of the California State Narcotic Division, and he might possibly be able to furnish you with the information desired.

“I visited the California State Library and made a careful check in the California Division which contains newspaper clippings of narcotic cases, but was unable to find what you request, and also, I consulted the Librarian of the Sacramento Bee newspaper, but they did not have anything under their indexing of ‘narcotics’.

“It is quite possible that some of the older agents in the service of the State Narcotic Division might recollect this murder to the extent of being able to furnish the names or date or locality, and if so it would be a simple matter to locate it in the files of the California State Library.

“Expressing my regrets for being unable to assist you in this matter, I remain”.
Sergeant Cox’s foregoing quoted letter is self-explanatory. You will note that he suggests that I contact agents of the State Narcotic division. This, of course, I had already done. Mr. Walker informs me verbally that he has no recollection of the story, nor do any of his men.

You will be advised if, at any time in the future, this newspaper story is identified.

Very truly yours,
(signed) Joseph A. Manning
District Supervisor
NOTE the following: “ Mr. Walker informs me verbally that he has no recollection of the story, nor do any of his men.”   Yet was it not he who made the whole thing up in the first place.   SOILD PROOF that not only the Eureka Axe Murderer DID NOT EXIST, but also ---recalling that a vast quantity of newspaper clippings to this effect, we found (via the National Archives) within the Bureau’s own records, that ANSLINGER himself knew that it was all a falsehood.

ANSLINGER’S COVER-UP
Remembering that in 1936 the Federal Anti-Medical Marijuana laws had not yet been passed into law.   Harry Anslinger must have now found himself now facing a major dilemma.   What to do about the Eureka Axe Murderer case?

The very reason (the very logic) behind the creation of the anti-Medical Marihuana laws laid (according to him) in his assertion that its use led to violent crime.   That the most bestial acts of violence were occurring as a direct effect of its evil influence.   As one Federal Judge would (less than a year later) state:
"I consider marijuana the worst of all narcotics, far worse than the use of morphine or cocaine.   Under its influence men become beasts.   Marijuana destroys life itself.   I have no sympathy with those who sell this weed.   The government is going to enforce this new law to the letter."
Anslinger’s Gore File, consisting of specific examples of such bestial acts, was being touted at the time as solid proof that this was the case.   Thus anything that would cast doubt on his Gore-File, ---- well, let’s just say, FOR HIM (or for his co-conspirators), the exposure of even one of his Gore-File cases as a fraud would not be a good thing.   Anslinger needed a cover-up.


THE COVER-UP



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FOOTNOTES:
[4]-
Again, a whole future web-site is to be devoted to Mr. Holiday – and you're not going to believe what happened.



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