HARRY ANSLINGER'S GORE FILE OHIO CASE FILES

CRACKDOWN - OHIO'S DRAMATIC STORY OF REEFER MADNESS

OHIO - April 1937.   Henry Barnes, on the witness stand for first degree murder, testified that before he and a companion killed a man in a holdup, the pair had smoked three marihuana cigarettes each, and therefore did not know what they were doing.   They were both sentenced to life imprisonment. -- MARIHUANA; The New Dangerous Drug (pamphlet) by Frederick T. Merrill 1950/1938 version

1937 - H. Barnes, - Ohio - M - First degree murder, blamed on smoking marihuana. - Arrested   -- 6th conference report - INEOA 1965

COLUMBUS, OHIO - On April 24, 1938, William Bronston was observed by narcotic and police officers as he was about to make a sale of marihuana from his automobile parked at the rear of 387 Charles Street, Columbus.   Seeing the officers he leaped from the car, ran down the alley and escaped.   The marihuana concealed in his car, consisting of about 227 gm. was seized.   Officers entered the premises and arrested Thomas Claridy who was in possession of marihuana cigarettes. William Bronston was subsequently arrested after a hard fight and gun battle, he being under the influence of marihuana at the time.   He was tried and convicted on June 7, 1938, and received a sentence of 5 years and $1,000 fine.   -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1938)

In December 1936, two Mansfield, Ohio, musicians aged 20 and 23 years, were arrested for unlawful possession of MARIHUANA following an investigation into the distribution of MARIHUANA and its use by high-school students in Mansfield.   ---The Union Signal (WCTU) Jan. 30, 1937

Oct. 18, 1935, police officers at Lorain, Ohio, arrested Florentino Garcia and Jesus Fierro and seized two truck loads of cannabis plants, stalks, and leaves, weighing approximately 1 1/2 tons, net.   The defendants were committed to the county jail until fines.   --- The Traffic In Opium and Other Dangerous Drugs 1935

Oct. 1 and 10, 1935, Toledo police officers searched the premises occupied by Louis Gonzales and Antonio Navarro and found approximately 740 pounds of cannabis concealed therein.   Both persons were arrested. On October 10, 1935, police made a further search of the premises and discovered 200 pounds of cannabis concealed beneath the floor boards.   The defendants were each sentenced to 1 year in prison.   --- The Traffic In Opium and Other Dangerous Drugs 1935

Sept.18, 1935, State enforcement officers arrested Teofilo Chavez. Fred Chavez, Frank Chavez, Marjorie Chavez, Emmez Guzman, and Joe Garza at a farm near Cooney, Ohio, and approximately 3 acres of cannabis were seized and destroyed.   Eighty-five pounds of cannabis ready for smoking, 300 pounds (gross weight) of the flowering tops, and 75 pounds of cannabis seeds were seized.   While investigating the above-mentioned case, the officers learned that one Sylvestro Gonzales was growing and cultivating cannabis on a farm near Fremont, Ohio.   There they discovered a field of cannabis surrounded by growing corn.   Part of the field had already been cut for the purpose of curing.   The officers seized and destroyed 2 acres of growing plants, 3 tons of cannabis racked for curing, and 16 bushels of flowering tops from which the resin had not yet been extracted.   --- The Traffic In Opium and Other Dangerous Drugs - 1935

• Sept. 17, 19, and 20, and October 2, 1935, State officers arrested Pedro Mandez, Pedro Nieto, Salvador Capetilla, Harry Horlendez and Rafael Tolento at Elgin, Paulding, and Fremont, Ohio, and seized approximately 2,500 pounds of growing cannabis and 810 pounds of cured tops.   --- The Traffic In Opium and Other Dangerous Drugs – 1935
  
  
• A newspaper item from Columbus, Ohio, under date of March 20, 1937, stated that the Police vice squad that day intensified the war against the sale and use of Marihuana after a 70-year-old woman was terrorized in her apartment by a man whom police accused of being a user of the weed. This man, 28 years of age, was arrested the following day for the sale and possession of Marihuana. Police said that he kicked the door in, rushed into the room and yelled "Stick ‘em up.” Then he apparently went crazy, throwing pots and pans at the woman and forcing her to leave the apartment. He threw lamps and glass jars out of the window and completely wrecked the apartment.   --- PenState University - Harry J. Anslinger Papers - Box 9, File 30 - Insanity Due to Marihuana(ca. 1937)
  
  
• 1937 Cleveland, Ohio
  OHIO - 1937 Cleveland, Ohio - M With R. B. robbery and assault; guilty .Arrested   -- Article by James C. Munch; "UN Bulletin on Narcotics"-1966 Issue 2
  
  1937 - D. Welty, - Cleveland, Ohio - M - With R. Blaney, robbery and assault; guilty. - Arrested   --- 6th conference report - INEOA 1965
  
  
• Ollie Ceglarski was arrested January 31, 1938, at Toledo, Ohio.   Information was received from Mr. Wallace Hoffman of Juvenile court who asked that police interview John Andrzejewski, (Andrew) age 17, Walter Lorenski, age 16, Eugene Kindzeirski, (Kinds) age 15, and Eddie Korznlewski, (Root) age 16, as these boys were charged with robbery of a grocery store, and a bakery, stating that they did not remember all their actions because they smoked marihuana cigarettes just before the robbery.   John Andrzejewski was used to make a purchase from the defendant in this case.   Held for action of the federal grand jury.   --- PenState University - Harry J. Anslinger Papers - Box 9, File 23 - Reports of Crime Due to Marijuana (ca. 1937)
  
  
• OHIO - [Pre-1940] When a young lad cruelly and criminally attacks a four-year-old girlie who has all her life been entrusted to his care, and then buries her little body in a shallow pit in the cellar of his home, there's something behind it.   -- “Assassin of Youth” (Book) 1954 By Robert Devine
  
  
• OHIO - 1949 Cleveland, Ohio - M Negro, long criminal record Kentucky, narcotics and manslaughter, murdered barracks mate J. MacElroth at marihuana-cocaine party. Arrested   -- Article by James C. Munch; "UN Bulletin on Narcotics"-1966 Issue 2
  
  1949 - C. Callaway, - Cleveland, Ohio - M - Negro, long criminal record Ky., narcotics and manslaughter; murdered J. MacElroth at marihuana-cocaine party (barrack mate). - Arrested   - 6th conference report - INEOA 1965
  
  
• OHIO - 1957 Cincinnati, Ohio - M 28 Negro waiter, with C. J. 30; S. R. and G. G. all smoked marihuana cigarettes over 2 years; 5 counts armed robbery Cincinnati grocery stores. Arrested   -- Article by James C. Munch; "UN Bulletin on Narcotics"-1966 Issue 2
  
  1957 - R. Lewis, - Cincinnati, Ohio - M - 28 - Negro waiter, with C. Jones, 30; S. Raymo and G. Gauze, all smoked marihuana cigarettes over 2 years; 5 counts armed robbery Cincinnati grocery stores.   -- 6th conference report - INEOA 1965
  
  
• OHIO - Canton, Ohio, Dec. 18, 1963---Canton police arrested six male subjects involved in armed robberies of private homes and 30 breaking and enterings of business places.   Investigation showed that three of the culprits Used marihuana before committing these crimes.   -- Congressional Record -- April 4, 1968
  
  
• OHIO - Covington, Ohio, May 1, 1967----An Armed bandit robbed a pharmacy of its narcotic drug stock. Without further reason he killed the pharmacist and clerk.   The murderer was known to always fortify himself with marihuana prior to committing a robbery.   -- Congressional Record -- April 4, 1968

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