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REEFER MADNESS IN WASHINGTON STATE
. . . The Joseph Mines investigation
. . . What you were not told
Was Moses (or Joseph) Mines acting under the influence of Medical Cannabis at the time? Had he NOT BEEN a Marihuana addict, would he have murdered the man he believed to be Hitler?
As per the documents (below) located via the national Archives (College Park, Md), it is interesting to note that Harry Anslinger’s own narcotics agents believed the answer to be NO. In fact the only link between Marihuana and Mr. Mines was a long cigarette (that’s it, only one) found in his room.
At the present time (due to a lack of resources), the museum has not had a chance to conduct an in-depth investigation of its own into the case. Thus (at least for the present), we must leave it up to the reader to decide on the truth for themselves.
August 6, 1940
In re: Joseph Mines alias
Joseph Minus
Henry Jones
Wash-51-M
Mr. Patrick F. O’Leary
Bureau of Narcotics
Spokane, Washington
Dear Sir:
Yesterday the Seattle Daily Times newspaper carried an item under the Spokane date line of Monday, August 5th, to the effect that a Negro, John Mines, had been lodged in the Spokane City Jail on charges of murder in connection with the death of a Greek railroad pensioner. The newspaper also stated that Mines had been recently released from the County Jail after serving a nine months sentence on a conviction involving possession of marihuana and that a quantity of the drug was found in his possession when arrested in connection with the murder charge. The item also intimates that the murder was committed while he was under the influence of marihuana.
This undoubtedly refers to the Joseph Mines alias Joseph Minus reported by you on August 31st, 1939 in Wash-55-M.
Because of the newspaper comment that the murder was committed while under the influence of marihuana you are hereby directed to make an investigation of this angle and submit, in quadruplicate to this office, a report of your findings as soon as possible.
Very truly yours
A.M. Bangs
District Supervisor
Spokane, Washington
August 8, 1940
Wash-51-M
In re: Joseph Mines alias
Joseph Minus
Henry Jones
Mr. A, M. Banga
District Supervisor
Bureau of Narcotics
Spokane, Washington
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to letter dated August 6, 1940 relative to an item which appeared in the Seattle Daily times under a Spokane date line of Monday, august 5, 1940 in which the said newspaper, after setting forth the fact that that Joseph Mines was lodged in the city jail charged with murder and further that said crime was committed by him while he was under the influence of marihuana, goes on to state that a “Quantity of the drug was found in his possession when arrested”,
In reply to the statement as to the “Quantity” of the drug found in his possession I desire to state that the “quantity” consisted of one very loosely rolled cigarett and for my part I am very doubtful as to whether or not it was actually marihuana.
The substance in the cigarett consisted of a very black powder with very small particles of green, in fact, I was barely able to distinguish the green particles when I unfolded the cigarett.
I was unable to obtain the cigarett at this time because of the fact that the County Attorney desires to use it as evidence in the prosecution of the murder case against this man.
Upon being questioned by Mr. Carle Quaqckenbush, County Attorney for Spokane County and myself in the presence of Police Detective George Sexamith and Police Captain McDonnel, the prisoner, Joseph Mines stated that he met two colored men whose names he did not know and they
Invited him to go to their room and smoke “a weed and I says I just got out on one charge like that, and he says oh, come on, one wont hurt you any, and so I smoked one with them”. Mines stated further that he had never smoked marihuana before he smoked the two cigaretts on the evening of the 4th day of August, 1940, although he intended to smoke the marihuana that was found in his possession at the time of his arrest on August 26, 1939 and the only reason he did not do so was that he did not have time to get cigarett papers before he was apprehended.
Mines was unable to tell exactly which room in the Boston Hotel it was that he was supposed to have smoked with these two colored men but he did attempt to describe one of them by saying that at one time this Negro had made a living here in Spokane by singing in the different beer parlors and night clubs, this angle is being investigated by both the local Police and myself but without much success so far.
I have talked to several of the local Police Officers who have seen the cigarett that was found in Mines room and every one of them are doubtful as to whether or not it is actually marihuana.
As I stated above, there is only a very small amount of the substance whatever it is, however I will try to get some of it if there is any left over after the case is tried in State Court, so that I can submit it to the U.S. Chemist for analysis.
In the meantime, if the County Prosecutor submits the cigarett to either the city or state chemist for analysis, I shall let you know what their report is.
Respectfully submitted
Patrick F. O’Leary
Narcotic Agent
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Seattle, Washington, August 14. 1940
Mr. H.J. Anslinger,
Commissioner of narcotics,
Washington, D.C.
Two copies of foregoing report are forward herewith as self-explanatory.
A.M. Bangs,
District Supervisor.
September 18, 1940
E;MLH
Wash-51-M
In re: Joseph Mines alias
Joseph Minus
Henry Jones
Mr. A, M. Bangs
District Supervisor
Bureau of Narcotics
Spokane, Washington
Dear Mr. Bangs:
Reference is made to a letter dated August 8, 1940, addressed to you by Narcotic Agent Patrick F. O’Leary and transmitted by your endorsement under date of August 14th, regarding the above named person. This communication referred to an item in a Seattle paper of August 5, 1940, setting forth the fact that Mines was lodged in the city jail at Spokane charged with murder, this crime allegedly having been committed by him while he was under the influence of marihuana. It also stated that a “Quantity of the drug was found in his possession when arrested”.
Agent O’Leary says that the substance found in the possession of Mines was being held by the County Attorney until after Mines’ trial, and that he would either get some of it for submission to the U.S. chemist after the trial, or if the County Attorney forwarded it to a chemist for analysis he would inform you of the outcome.
Please advise if there have been any developments in this matter.
Very truly yours,
H.J. Ansligner
Commissioner
Spoken, Washington
October 3, 1940
E;MLH
Wash-51-M
In re: Joseph Mines alias Joseph Minus
alias Henry Jones
Mr. A, M. Bangs
District Supervisor
Bureau of Narcotics
Seattle, Washington
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to letter dated September 18, 1940, addressed to you by Mr. H.J. Anslinger, commissioner of Narcotics a copy of which the Commissioner requests information relative to the disposition of the murder case pending against Joseph Mines aliases, in the Superior Court of Spokane county, Washington.
Enclosed herewith you will find the one and only cigarette that was found in the room occupied by Mines at the time of his arrest. This is what was referred to as a “QUANTITY of the drug was found in his possession when arrested”. Mines had none on his person.
Mines was arraigned before the Hon. Ralph Foley, Judge of the Superior Court for Spokane County, Washington on the 1st day of October, 1940, entered a plea of Guilty to the charge of Manslaughter in the first degree and was forthwith sentenced to serve a term in the State Penitentiary at Walla Walla, Washington of 0 to 20 years.
In as much as the County Attorney of Spokane County did not see fit to submit this cigarette to either the City of County Chemist for analysis, I am forwarding same to you for whatever disposition you see fit to make of it.
Mines himself does not seem to be clear as to the party who sold him the suspected marihuana cigarettes but the officers who arrested him and who searched his room, state that at the time they entered the hotel, both Freeman Boyce --- Wash – 62 --- M and Boots Alfred Andrews – Wash—60—M were in the hotel although Mines is not able to identify any one of them.
Very Truly Yours
Patrick F. O’Leary
Narcotic Agent
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
Internal Revenue Service
Alcohol Tax Unit
Seattle, Washington
October 19, 1940
Laboratory Division
Field Chemist
District Supervisor,
Alcohol Tax Unit,
Federal Office Bldg.,
Seattle, Washington,
Sir:
I have the honor to report that an examination has been made of one sample sent in by District Supervisor, Narcotics, with letter of transmittal dated Samples recd. October 7, 1940.
Delivered by Inspector Graben.
Description of product submitted:
Lab, No. 14139 – One suspected Marihuana cigarette seized from Joseph Mines, Boston Hotel, Spokane, Washington, by Police Officer Johnson and Narcotic Agent O’Leary.
Analysis: One Marihuana Cigarette
Count after analysis – one marihuana Cigarette.
Respectfully,
Hugo Ringstorm,
Chemist.
Treasury Department
Bureau of Narcotics
Seattle, Wash.
Office of District Supervisor
District No. 15
States of Washington, Oregon Idaho, Montana, and Territory of Alaska
E:MLH
Wash-51-M
October 21, 1940.
In re: Joseph Mines, alias Henry Jones.
Mr. H.J. Anslinger,
Commissioner of Narcotics,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
Reference is had to Bureau Letter dated September 18, 1940, identified as above, regarding a quantity of marihuana found in possession of Joseph Mines at the time of his arrest by police officers in Spokane, Washington on or about August 4, 1940, in connection with a murder charge.
There are enclosed herewith two copies of a letter submitted by narcotics Agent O’Leary under date of October 3, 1940, in connection with this seizure of marihuana, and advising that the quantity seized consisted of only one cigarette. The cigarette was forwarded to this office and has since been analyzed by the Government chemist, Mr. Hugo Ringstrom, and two copies of his analysis report, indicating marihuana, are transmitted herewith.
As the defendant, Joseph Mines, was sentenced on October 1, 1940, to serve a maximum term of 20 years in the Washington State Penitentiary, for manslaughter, the investigation so far as the marihuana is concerned will be considered closed by this office, unless otherwise instructed by the Bureau. The marihuana cigarette will be included in the next drug shipment from this office, as surrendered drugs. A copy of Form 142 is attached hereto.
Yours very truly,
A.M. Bangs,
District Supervisor.
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REGISTRANT’S INVENTORY OF DRUGS SURRENDERED OR DESTROYED
Oct. 21, 1940
October 26, 1940
E:MLH
Mr. A.M. Bangs,
District Supervisor,
Seattle, Wash.
Dear Mr. Bangs:
Reference is made to your letter of October 21, 1940, in the above case which appears to be significant from the standpoint of marihuana and crime of violence.
Please have Agent O’Leary submit clippings of newspaper stories which appeared at the time of the arrest of Joseph Mines for manslaughter as well as at the entire of his conviction on this charge.
Very truly yours,
Will S. Wood
Acting Commissioner
Treasury Department
Bureau of Narcotics
Seattle, Wash.
November 7, 1940
E:MLH
Wash-51-M
In re: Joseph Mines.
Mr. H.J. Anslinger,
Commissioner of Narcotics,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
Referring to Bureau letter dated October 26, 1940, in the above identified case, there are forwarded herewith five clippings from Spokane, Washington, newspapers, relating to the arrest of Joseph Mines for manslaughter, committed while under the influence of marihuana.
Yours very truly,
A.M. Bangs,
District Supervisor
November 14, 1940.
Mr. A.M. Bangs,
District Supervisor,
Seattle, Washington.
Dear Mr. Bangs:
I have to refer to your letter dated November 7, 1940, and to other correspondence from the Bureau regarding the arrest of Joseph MINES.
In all crime cases wherein marihuana appears to be involved, please be sure to see to it in the future that the Bureau is furnished with all the details in accordance with Circular Letter No. 458, dated September 29, 1937, and also that a Marihuana Questionnaire is submitted on all such cases.
Very truly yours,
H.J. Anslinger
Commissioner.
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