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SAN FRANCISCO DOPE RACKET
Name: - unknown - Location: - San Francisco Ca. - Date: - Nov. 1935
Many out there will say that this story (of and by itself) is of little actual importance. Dah-Ah, other than some shock effect (probably to sell newspapers), it simply deals with a runaway girl who ends up being taking back by her mother. Her story about the Marihuana might not even have been true. Thus why do we make mention of it here?
The answer is as follows: Granted, of and by itself (other to those involved) it indeed has not special interest. HOWEVER it now serves as a good example of what the public was being fed during the Reefer Madness Era. And there in lies it’s importance.
Pretend that this was ALL you were hearing during that time period. Pretend that you were only getting this one (very misleading) side of the story. Not just here, but in newspaper article after newspaper article. In magazine story after magazine story, and you quickly begin to see just how the anti-Medical Cannabis Laws came into being. --- REMEMBER during the Reefer Madness Era, there was no such thing as a “Fair and Balanced,” news media.
San Francisco Chronicle Nov. 18, 1935 p1
Police Close In on Dope Traffic Here
– Girl’s Story reveals big Marijuana Trade Among Children of City --By Curtice Clark
Amazing revelations of a 21-year old former San Francisco high school girl last night started the closing of a police net on the operations of a marijuana ring whose victims number hundreds of boys and girls of ----school age.
One arrest was made and several others were imminent last night as police prepared to seek revocation of permits of a number of taxicab drivers before the Police Commission. The man in custody, James Stevens, 23, was held on charges of possession and sale of marijuana cigarettes. Six other suspects were questioned.
ROUNDUP DUE
Identity of the girl whose statement to police, checked and confirmed in many details, drew aside a curtain hiding astounding vice conditions, was withheld pending a round up of two known "big shots" and their underlings.
Here are highlights-of the revelations of the girl, who three months ago became a marijuana addict after leaving her parents' home and obtaining employment in one of the city's "hot spot" night clubs:
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[1] Marijuana cigarettes are peddled from the sidewalks, in various hotels and beer taverns. Investigators purchased cigarettes from peddlers on Market street, between Fourth and Sixth streets. Peddlers ply a thriving trade also along Ellis and O'Farrell streets and in the tenderloin sections.
[2] Owner of a two-cab taxicab service is identified by the girl as having delivered the narcotic cigarettes to a hotel party. He denies his guilt but admits his employee driver of another cab and who has a police record, is a marijuana smoker. This man is being sought. He is declared to have shared a marijuana cigarette with the girl in his taxicab.
[3] Marijuana smoking parties are nightly occurrences in some half a dozen smaller down town hotels. To them, in response to a telephone call, are delivered the “weeds" or "sticks" as the cigarettes are called.
[4] "Recruits," or new addicts, are enlisted on sidewalks and in night, resorts. New victims are usually hardly more than children. Agents of the ring strike up acquaintance with likely looking subjects, an invitation to smoke a cigarette is innocently accepted and a new source of revenue is created. From marijuana the next step is generally to opium, morphine, cocaine.
[5] One enterprising marijuana dealer has organized boat rides for his patrons. The pursuers of mad pleasure, tour the bay in a cabin cruiser. The owner of the boat has hit upon this means of avoiding detection brought about by the heavy fumes that for days hang over rooms where smoking parties are held.
Inspectors Bernard Reichling and Alvin Corrassa delved into the girl’s story and this reporter personally bought marijuana cigarettes on down town corners and “raided” with the police spots where suspected smokers had gathered. The officers expressed amazement at what they found.
As for the girl— Three months of smoking the weed have not spoiled entirely her beauty. She is still attractive, but her glazed eyes, her deathly pale face and her restless fingers are visible aspects of her degradation. A few quickly sucked pulls at a marijuana weed, and her eyes sparkle, her tongue is unloosed and for a little while she is the vivacious girl her years entitle her to be.
TELLS STORY
To Inspectors Reichling and Corrassa, last night, in the presence of a Chronicle reporter, she told her story:
“I am a graduate of a San Francisco high school. My parents are separated. Until three months ago I lived with one of or the other of them. I began going out nights—to the nightclubs, to the beer parlors and in one of the nightclubs I got a job.
Someone gave me a marijuana cigarette. I went to marijuana parties. I went to opium smoking parties too, but I haven’t smoked opium—not yet. I’ve been high-that means under the influence—any number of times smoking marijuana.
50 CENTS PAID
I pay 50 cents for a marijuana cigarette delivered. I pay 15 cents for a cigarette bought from a peddler on the street. The girl rang up in the presence of the reporter, a number of dealers and arranged for the delivery of cigarettes. And the reporter, given the password, himself purchased cigarettes from loiterers on Market street. Her talk with a dealer over the phone was something like this; I am very miserable. I must have help, I’m going on a hay ride and can’t get the sticks.
There are a number of hotels in San Francisco where the management or clerks cater to persons holding marijuana parties—also opium parties.
This reporter was a witness to the delivery of marijuana cigarettes to the informant. Twenty minutes after she had phoned to the dealer, in his presence they were delivered to her.
MAN VANISHES
Under instructions he also bought some of the “sticks” himself. He spoke to a man standing on the sidewalk not far from Fifth and Market street. The man vanished and an instant later another man appeared. After he had walked a few feet he was told to hand him the money—15 cents for each cigarette. After taking the money the man walked on a few more steps, slipped the brown-paper roiled cigarettes into the writer’s hand and instantly vanished.
The marijuana ring has wide ramifications, according to the information given police and checked by this reporter.
San Francisco Chronicle – Nov. 19, 1935 p1
“Girl Guarded After Threat By Dope Ring”
Police, Protecting S.F. Informer, Push Drive on Marijuana Gang.
Earl Smith Nabbed by State Agents After Long Chase - By Curtice Clark
“You know squealers have no place in our racket. For your own good you’d better keep your mouth shut.”This threat, delivered by telephone to the 21-year-old girl graduate of a San Francisco high school whose amazing revelations of a marijuana ring’s operations appeared in The Chronicle, yesterday caused police to place a guard over the terrified informant.
TELLS OF THREAT
Despite the threat, however, the girl, who became a marijuana addict three months ago after obtaining employment in a night club, declared she would do her best to aid police in their drive against the narcotic dealers. Sickened by her experience her one wish she said, is to save other boys and girls from disaster, and to break clear from the tentacles dragging her down.
“The telephone threat came at 10 a.m. yesterday,” said the girl. “A man’s voice spoke roughly. He awaited no reply, but hung up quickly.”
Believing the girl’s life in danger Inspector Bernard Reiching and Alvin Corrassa of the police narcotics squad, immediately arranged for a constant police guard over her.
Meanwhile, with James Stevens, 23, marijuana peddler, in custody, William Walker, chief of the State Narcotics Bureau, was cooperating with police in running down the source of supply, which is believed centered near Sacrament.
PUSH INVESTIGATION
Further arrests were expected and among the persons sought was a woman, declared to be dealing not only in marijuana cigarettes but in opium.
One of six suspected small peddlers arrested and released, admitted his activities yesterday and offered his cooperation. Twenty-two years old, this man like the girl whose information started the police activity, expressed a desire to rid himself of the clutches of the ring, to cure himself of the marijuana smoking habit. . . . . [more]
San Francisco Chronicle – Nov. 20, 1935 p1
“Mother, Girl Dope Victim Are Reunited”
Parent Unknowingly Reads of Her Child’s Degradation in Press Story
Daughter Tearfully Bares Disgrace; Many May Face Court - By Curtice Clark
A San Francisco woman was struck yesterday, as she read her morning chronicle, with the inside operations of the dope traffic as revealed by a girl who had become one of its victims.
She tried to place herself in the position of the mother of that girl. She had a daughter of her own—a pretty, affectionate child who had been graduated with honors from high school not so long ago and then, restive under parental authority, had left home to make her own way in the world.
KNEW OF GRIEF
Feeling sorry for the girl, she could sympathize with the mother, knowing as she did the grief that comes to mothers of girls who sever home ties. And yet she couldn't conceive it might have been her own daughter.
She had just finished reading the story when the telephone rang. She answered it and heard her daughter's voice.
The girl gave her mother the address of a down town apartment. Calling a taxicab, the woman hastened to the place and there found her daughter waiting for her with a Chronicle representative and two police officers, who have been guarding the girl since she was warned anonymously over the phone early Monday to "keep your mouth shut."
REUNITED WITH KIN
And sc Peggy, which is the name by which the girl is known to her intimates of the nightlife, was reunited with her mother.
Confessing her degradation tearfully in the older woman's arms, she was taken home---away from the dreamy half-world created by marijuana smoking, into the mysteries of which she had been initiated three months ago after finding a job in a night club.
Her revelations, which had startled a city, now came as an almost overwhelming blow to her mother, whose tears mingled with those of the Pale-faced girl.
SURPRISED AT IDENTITY
"Why," faltered the mother, a woman of refinement, "I was just reading The Chronicle story about you when you phoned. And to think it was you I was reading about!"
But she took the blow bravely, and when she had control of herself she said:
"I had wondered what had become of you. You know I didn't want you to leave home. You know I opposed you in your wish to take that night club position. I should have insisted. I feel I am to blame.
"You are not, mother," said the girl. "I was headstrong, Oh, take me home!"
TAKES HER HOME
"I am going to take You home," said the mother, who holds a responsible position with a down town firm, "and I'm going to watch over (Continued on Page 13, Col. 4) you, guard you. After all you are only a child---girl of 18. You have your whole life ahead of you.”
Police Inspectors Alvin corrassa and Bernard Reichling of the narcotics squad picked up their ears at this. Corrassa interjected: “You say she is 18. She said she was 21.” “She is 18.”
FIBBED ABOUT AGE
"I told People I was 21," said Peggy. I thought I would do better by making myself out older."
The girl, adding to her previous told statements, painted a picture which interested juvenile court authorities and threatened to involve proprietors of several night clubs where girls under 21 are said to be employed, in violation of the law Delinquency charges may be faced by numerous persons who furnished the girl with marijuana cigarettes.
Proprietors of the night club where Peggy found employment were said to be in a jittery state last night.
EATS WITH RELISH
But Peggy, once she was home with her mother, appeared not have a care in the world. She tackled a steak with relish.
"I haven't been able to eat much for weeks," she said. "You know when you smoke ----“
"Put all that out of your mind," admonished her mother.
So Peggy talked of other things, while in another part of the city R. R. Miller, chief of the juvenile department, and Assistant District Attorney Edward Leonard held a council they hoped would save other young people from Peggv's fate.
TWO WOMEN IN COURT
While the sun shone again for Peggy after gloomy nights of horror, two other women who had hit the trail of dope made pathetic appearances before Superior Judge Robinson.
Mrs. Louise Lawrence, 32, 1110 Gough street, mother of two daughters, aged 15 and 12, pleaded guilty of violating the narcotic law and told a story that moved the Judge to grant probation so she may attempt rehabilitation with her father and children in Fresno.
The Chinese who furnished the woman with narcotics recently was sentenced to prison.
DENY CHARGES
Before the same Judge came Marie Wilson, 24, and Jimmie Soo Ho, 28, a Chinese, and pleaded not guilty of possessing narcotics. They are declared to be both peddlers and addicts. Their case was continued to November 24.
Assistant District Attorney Harmon Skillin said the girl's mother had told him a heart-wringing story of the young woman's downfall.
"She told me," he said, "He had tried repeatedly to persuade her daughter to leave Jimmie Soo Ho, but the influence he wielded over her through narcotics was too Much."
NOTE: 1 – It is not our place to go around saying that the girl in question was not telling the truth. We are not there and (as a museum) have not done a proper investigation into the matter. Thus we must leave it up to the reader to determine if the story has any credibility or not.
NOTE: 2 – We know little about Curtice Clark the reporter who wrote the articles other than he seems to have written a lot of articles for various San Francisco area newspapers back in the 1920’s. We assume that he actually believed what he was writing to be true.
NOTE: 3 -- Some editing has taken place but nothing has been taken out of context. If needed feel free to contact the museum for the complete articles.
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