REEFER MADNESS CALIFORNIA

Los Angeles Times:--April 7, 1938 Pg.2B
Nurse Seized in Stabbing
Waitress Near Death and Woman Held; Row Over marijuana
Near death in General Hospital from knife wounds suffered in a fight with another woman early yesterday, Mrs. Maureen O'Shannon, 33-year-old waitress, assuredly identified Miss Frances Woods, 25-year-old nurse, as her assailant.   She told police that the fight started during an argument over marijuana cigarettes.   Miss Woods, recently arrived in Los Angeles from Bakersfield, denied that she had attacked Mrs. O'Shannon.
Will Talk In Court
"I will do my talking in court," she told questioning officers.   According to Radio Officers Compton and Montgomery, Miss Woods was found standing near the form of the wounded woman at 640 East Twenty-eighth street.   She assuredly admitted cutting Mrs. O'Shannon and produced a blood-smeared pocket knife, the police said.   Later she denied the asserted confession, refused to explain the knife, the reason for her being at the scene or any details concerning the fracas.
Car Parked Near by
Miss Wood's expensive car was parked near the scene of the stabbing.   She had $180 in her purse.   Three knives were in her possession.   Miss. O'Shannon, who lived at 2108 South Maple avenue, was given slight chance for recovery.

204 Pacific Electric Bldg.
Los Angeles, California
April 30, 1938
In re: Billie Maureen O’Shannon
And Frances Woods

Mr. Joseph A. Manning,
District Supervisor
Bureau of Narcotics
San Francisco, California

Dear Sir:
Reference is had to your letter dated April 29, 1938, in which you quote a letter addressed to your office by the Commissioner.

Captain Chitwood, in charge of the City Narcotic Detail, who had followed this case closely, advises me that the only mention of marihuana insofar as the assault upon Miss O’Shannon was concerned was Miss O’Shannon’s Statement.   This statement briefly was that Frances Woods asked Miss O’Shannon if she would smoke a marihuana cigarette, to which Miss O’Shannon replied that she would not and followed her reply by an expression of her opinion of any person who would use narcotics in any form.   This angered Miss Woods and she stopped her car in which they were riding and committed the assault as reported in the papers.

Testimony at the preliminary hearing revealed that the two women had been drinking at a beer parlor located at 2900 So.   San Pedro Street in company with two men, who appeared as witnessed at the preliminary hearing.   The men testified that they had spent some little time with the women prior to their departure from the beer parlor; that they had laughingly asked the girls to smoke some “reefers” and invited then to smoke some Mexican cigarettes, which are wrapped in dark brown paper, and that no marihuana had been used.   Miss woods did not testify at the preliminary hearings.

Captain Chitwood stated that prior investigations had disclosed Miss Woods to be a prostitute and a Lesbian, and it was his opinion that the actual motive for the assault had not as yet been revealed.   Should the Commissioner desire a report of the actual facts surrounding this case, which will be revealed at the trial of Miss Woods, who is charged with murder.   I will personally see that such a report is submitted at that time.
Very truly yours,

Geo. Cyllenhammer
Narcotic Inspector

Treasury Department
Bureau of Narcotics
Federal Office Building
San Francisco, Calif.
April 12, 1938

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

Dear Sir:
I am transmitting herewith copy of a report submitted by Narcotic Inspector George Gyllenhammer, Los Angeles, California, under date of April 7, 1938, together with the newspaper clipping referred to therein.   From perusal of the newspaper article and the Inspector’s report, you will note that the stabbing of one woman by another while under the influence of marihuana is another example of what a person will do while under the influence of that drug.
Very truly yours,

Joseph A. Manning
District Supervisor
JAM:G

Memo-
From: Mr. Gaston’s Office
To: Mr. Anslinger
Are we keeping any sort of file of these instances of alleged Marihuana poisoning and checking them for veracity?
YES   H.J.A.

204 Pacific Electric Bldg.
Los Angeles, California
April 7, 1938

Mr. Joseph A. Manning,
District Supervisor
Bureau of Narcotics
San Francisco, California

Dear Sir:
Attached hereto find newspaper clipping which appeared in the Los Angeles Daily News on April 7, 1938.

According to the police reports, this woman, Frances Woods was under the influence of marihuana at the time of her brutal attack upon Mrs. O’Shannon.   From the report, it appears that an altercation ensured when Miss Woods attempted to induce Mr. O’Shannon to smoke a marihuana cigarette.   A charge of assault with a deadly weapon has been filed against Miss Wood in State Court.
Very truly yours,
(signed) Geo. Gyllenhammer
Narcotic Inspector
GC:mr

April 27, 1938
In re: Billie Maureen O’Shannon.
Mr. J.A. Manning,
District Supervisor,
San Francisco, California.

Dear Mr. Manning:
In accordance with instructions previously issued, please submit for my personal attention a report on the details surrounding the stabbing of one Billie Maureen O’Shannon by Frances Woods, in Los Angeles, reported in the Los Angeles Examiner under date of April 7, 1938, as being inspired by MARIHUANA.

Be sure to state in the report whether or not the Woods woman was under the influence of Marihuana when the crime was committed; details as to her past history as related to crime; etc.

Very truly yours,
H.J. Anslinger
Commissioner.

May 3, 1938
PERSONAL
In re: Billie Maureen O’Shannon.

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

Dear Sir:
Reference is had to your letter of April 27, 1938 in which you direct that, in accordance with instructions previously issued, I submit a report in detail surrounding the stabbing of one Billie Maureen O’Shannon by Frances Woods in Los Angeles, reported in the Los Angeles Examiner under date of April 7, 1938 as being inspired by Marihuana, and to be sure to state in the report whether or not the Woods woman was under the influence of marihuana when the crime was committed; details as to her past history as related to crime; etc.

Your request was referred to Narcotic Inspector George Gyllenhammer and as a result I am in receipt of a report from him, dated April 30, 1938, copy of which I am attaching hereto.   You will note from the Inspector’s report that there now appears to be some doubt as to whether this woman was under the influence of marihuana but that, if desired, he will follow the case through to the trial of Frances Woods who is charged with murder and reported as to the facts brought out at the trial.   I am instructing him to do that.

Your letter does not mention it but I presume you have received the letter I wrote you under date of April 12, 1938 transmitting another report from Inspector Gyllenhammer on the same subject.
Very truly yours,
(signed) Joseph a. Manning
District Supervisor
JAM:G

Treasury Department
Bureau of Narcotics
Federal Office Building
San Francisco. Calif.

December 13, 1938
PERSONAL
In re: Billie Maureen O’Shannon,
Los Angeles, Calif.

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

Dear Sir:
Reference is made to correspondence had regarding the above subject who, according to a newspaper article, was stabbed by one Frances Woods while under the influence of marihuana, and to my letter of May 3, 1938 transmitting report of Narcotic Inspector George Gyllenhammer.   As stated in Inspector Gyllenhammer’s report, he followed the case through to the trial and copy of his final report, dated December 9, 1938, is transmitted herewith and self-explanatory.
Very truly yours,
(signed) Joseph A. Manning
District Supervisor
G.

204 Pacific Electric Bldg.
Los Angeles, California
December 9, 1938
In re: Billie Maureen O’Shannon
And Frances Woods

Mr. Joseph A. Manning,
District supervisor
Bureau of Narcotics
San Francisco, California

Dear Sir:
Reference is had to letter addressed this office December 6, 1938, calling attention to previous correspondence relating to the above subject.

You are advised that Frances Marie Woods was arraigned May 11, 1938 and entered a plea of not guilty to an indictment charging the defendant with murder.   On July 12, 1938, the case went to trial before a jury and on July 14, 1938, a mistrial was declared, the jury being unable to arrive at a verdict.   On September 13, 1938, the defendant again went to trial before a jury, who on September 15, 1938 returned a verdict of not guilty.

Examination of the records fails to disclose any evidence of the use of marihuana prior to the alleged slaying.   The only evidence referring to the drug marihuana was introduced in the deathbed statement made by the victim to investigating officers.   This statement in substance was to the effect that the defendant was attempting to induce the victim, Billie Maureen O’Shannon, to use marihuana.   The victim made known her aversion to the use of drugs and an altercation ensued during which the fatal stabbing occurred.

Evidence was introduced by the defense that cigarettes of Mexican origin had been smoked in a tavern where the persons involved had been drinking shortly before the slaying occurred and these cigarettes had been referred to as Mexican cigarettes, and whether true or false, refuted the testimony that the defendant might have been under the influence of marihuana.
Very truly yours,

(signed) Geo. Gyllenhammer
Narcotic Inspector
CG:mr

“1938 - F 28 Prostitute stabbed Mrs. M. O'Shannon for not cooperating Lesbian activities. -- Article by James C. Munch; "UN Bulletin on Narcotics"-1966 Issue 2 “

•   Ms. Woods was NOT a prostitute.   She was a Nurse. *
  
  
•   There is NO evidence of any Marihuana use.   This assumes of course that one believes that Marihuana makes its users commit those sort of crimes, but still there simply in no evidence to the effect that Marihuana was ever in use.
  
  
•   There is no evidence that Ms. Woods was even a Lesbian. *
  
  
•   That the stabbing victim (on her deathbed) swore that she would get Ms. Woods.
  
  
•   Ms. Woods was eventually (in court) found innocent of the whole event.

One of the places where marihuana is prevalent is Los Angeles, with its huge Mexican population, where there are numerous of robbery, holdup, suicide and murder directly traceable to the weed; one woman recently slashed another to death with a pocketknife merely because the victim had expressed disapproval of her friend's interest in marihuana. -- DESIGNS IN SCARLET By Courtney Ryley Cooper 1939

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