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ALABAMA
In Birmingham, Ala., a hot-tamale salesman had pushed his cart about town for five years, and for a large part of that time he had been peddling marijuana cigarettes to students of a downtown high school. His stock of the weed, he said, came from Texas and consisted, when he was captured, of enough marijuana to manufacture hundreds of cigarettes. -- American Magazine “Marijuana, assassin of youth” By H.J Anslinger - July 1937
----- [Museum Note: According to Reefer Madness folk lore (era 1930’s), Hot-Tamale salesman (who were also peddlers of Medical Marihuana to school children) were lurking around every school yard. Mothers beware.]
ARIZONA
1950 - Another example of the commission of a crime of violence while allegedly under the influence of marihuana is reported from Arizona, Gregory Sanchez Martinez was convicted at Phoenix, Ariz., of rape and assault with a deadly weapon and on April 19, 1950, was sentenced to a term of 20 to 25 years on the rape charge and 9 to 10 years on the assault charge, the sentences to run concurrently. The complaining witness, a young, 25-year-old mother, started that at the time of the attack Martinez held a sharp bladed knife at her throat and acted in the manner of a laughing maniac. At the time of Martinez arrest a half-smoked marihuana cigarette was found in his coat pocket. He admitted having smoked this cigarette, and a search of his automobile revealed 18 additional marihuana cigarettes. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1950)
CALIFORNIA
[PRE- Nov 1933] A big railroad official in San Francisco was astounded a short while ago when I told him he had eighty acres of Marihuana planted on his country estate in Telama county. A Mexican caretaker and confederates planted the “hempseed,” ostensible to supply food for wild ducks on the official’s hunting preserve. “The owner himself had no inkling of the true purpose, I am certain. It took fourteen men three days to uproot and burn the stuff, and cost the official $1,400 to get it out. “More chance gave us the tip. The Mexicans had boldly hoisted a white flag on the lodge, a signal that the Marihuana was ripe for harvest and sale to the weed addicts, and this caught the eye of one of my agents traveling along the river. -- San Francisco Examiner (Newspaper) Nov 14, 1933
----- [Museum Note: Account originated via William G. Walker: [Head of Calif. Narcotics Bureau] -- High probability of a fake gore file case that never happened]
September 1934 -- George Derrigan, 25, beat his wife at 834 Jones Street, San Francisco. Neighbors called the police. Inspectors Frank Ahem and Barney Reznik found Derrigan "hopped up" with marihuana. --1990- The PROTECTORS (Book) By John C. McWilliams
[Pre-Mar 1936] Sacramento, Calif.: A man was arrested, charged with cultivating narcotic habits in young boys to boost the demand for his marihuana cigarettes. His source of marihuana was found growing on railroad property near Galt, The plants were cleverly camouflaged by cornstalks. ----Arrest made between Jan, 1935 And Mar 31, 1936. -- Oakland Tribune (Newspaper) Oct. 11, 1936 “Don't be a MuggleHead”
[Pre-Mar 1936] Los Angeles, Calif.: A 74-year-old man was arrested for the possession of several thousand dollars worth of marihuana growing in a garden in Montebello Township. ----Arrest made between Jan. 1935 And Mar 31, 1936. -- Oakland Tribune (Newspaper) Oct. 11, 1936 Don't be a MuggleHead
June 7, 1935 California, San Quentin
The New York Times and other papers announce discovery of marihuana growing in San Quentin (Calif.) Prison yard. Some had been harvested and smoked by the convicts. -- The Literary Digest (Magazine) Oct 24, 1936
In San Quentin, Ca. and in Colorado State Reformatory, it was found growing within the prison walls, where it was harvested and smoked by some of the inmates. -- American Journal of the Medical Sciences - 1938 pg 351
On June 7, 1935 it was reported that Marihuana was found to be growing in the San Quentin prison yard. From some of this cigarettes had been made and smoked by some of the prisoners. As a result two prisoners were placed in the dungeon. -- Finger Print & Identification Magazine March 1938 pp3
San Quentin, Calif.: Prison authorities at San Quentin Prison learned of a drug addict who attempted to sell a tobacco sack filled with prepared marihuana for smoking to another prisoner. The addict was employed in the prison garden and when his work was inspected several flourishing marihuana plants were found growing on the prison grounds. -- Oakland Tribune (Newspaper) Oct. 11, 1936 Don't be a MuggleHead
Convicts at Joliet, Illinois, and San Quentin, California, were discovered growing it in prison garden patches. Cultivated plots have also been found-and destroyed-in such unexpected districts as Coney Island and the so-called "jungle" near Brooklyn bridge. -- Physical Culture Magazine - Feb. 1937
Prisoners in San Quentin were even cultivating a secret patch inside their high walls. -- True Story (Magazine) Dec. 1948
Hemp has been discovered concealed between rows of corn in the prison yards of San Quentin and Colorado State, in window-boxes of New York penthouses and in city lots in the Bronx. -- The American Scholar Vol.8. No.1 1938-1939
In California the plant was actually found growing in the yard of San Quentin prison; -- The Conspiracy of Silence (Book) 1938 - by Juanita Hansen and Preston Langley Hickey
Nearly every State has enacted legislation curbing production, and enforcement agents have discovered cultivated plots growing in Maryland, in Brooklyn, N.Y., and even in the San Quentin prison lot. -- Newsweek (Magazine) Aug 14, 1937
Mr. MCCORMACK: As a matter of fact, I understand they found that some were grown in one of our Federal prisons.
Mr.. Anslinger: They found some marihuana growing in one of the prisons. We heard of that. There was a seizure made in the Colorado State Reformatory for boys not long ago.
Mr. MCCORMACK: Was there not one made at San Quentin?
Mr.. Anslinger: Yes, sir. -- 1937 Congressional Testimony
[Between Jan 1935 -- Mar 1936] Sacramento Ca.
A sixteen-year-old boy in California was arrested for burglary. He had stolen a revolver and was on his way to stage a hold-up when he was arrested. He was under the influence of marihuana -- The Union Signal (WCTU) Jan. 30, 1937
"Here's a 16-year old boy in California, arrested for burglary," "He stole a revolver and was on his way to stage a hold-up when arrested. He was under the influence of marihuana. ----Arrest made between Jan. 1935 And Mar 31, 1936. -- Oakland Tribune (Newspaper) Oct. 11, 1936 “Don't be a MuggleHead”
"A sixteen-year-old boy, caught in a Sacramento burglary was 'high' on marihuana. -- MARIHUANA; The New Dangerous Drug (pamphlet) by Frederick T. Merrill 1950 version
CALIFORNIA---Sixteen-year-old boy, caught about to stage a holdup, found to be under the influence of marihuana. -- Survey Graphic (Magazine) April 1938
A 16-year-old boy in California was caught about to stage a holdup under the influence of marihuana. -- "Here's a 16-year old boy in California, arrested for burglary," he said, grabbing a sheath of reports from his desk and turning to the case cited. "He stole a revolver and was on his way to stage a hold-up when arrested. He was under the influence of marihuana. Article date between January, 1935 to march 31, 1936.
Then, there was another case of a 16-year-old how who was arrested in California for burglary. Under the influence of marihuana he had stolen a revolver and was on the way to stage a holdup when apprehended. -- INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL DIGEST - Sep, 1937
A sixteen-year-old boy was arrested in California for burglary. Under the influence of marijuana he had stolen a revolver and was on the way to stage a holdup when apprehended. -- American Magazine “Marijuana, Assassin of Youth” By H.J Anslinger - July 1937
[pre-1941] A sixteen-year-old in California thinks he is an oldtime road agent and tries to hold up a stage. -- Narcotic Agent: by Maurice Helbrant (book) 1941
California: Sept. 14, 1935
Police in Sacramento, Calif., arrested Tony Alvarez and confiscated 175 cannabis cigarettes and a supply of the plant in bulk form sufficient to produce 5,000 additional cigarettes.
[Museum Note: Sacramento Bee Sept 15, 1935 is mission from micro-film.]
California: Oct. 11, 1935
The state narcotic agents of California raided a ranch growth of Marihuana near Azusa, and found that the amount seized was enough to make some $25,000 worth of cigarettes. -- Finger Print & Identification Magazine March 1938 pp3
Oct. 11, 1935, State narcotic officers discovered one-half acre of cannabis (growing in a field near Azusa, Calif. A number of the plants had already been harvested. These weighed approximately 300 pounds. There were still about 309 flowering cannabis plants under cultivation. These, when uprooted, weighed approximately 150 pounds. The owners of the field, Pedro Lugo, Jesus Roigos, Antonio Figuerga, Frank Vasquez, Roque Vasquez, and Mrs. Polita Vasquez, were arrested together with Donald W. Ramsey, Edward Dobrilien, and Toby Whidden.
California: [Modesto]
1939 Modesta, California - Assaulted a housewife. Sentenced, 50 years -- Article by James C. Munch; "UN Bulletin on Narcotics"-1966 Issue 2
1939 - Modesta, Calif. - M - Assaulted a housewife. Sentence 50 years -- 6th conference report - INEOA 1965
California:
1939 California - Male 20 Raped 7-year old girl Life, San Quentin, no parole. -- Article by James C. Munch; "UN Bulletin on Narcotics"-1966 Issue 2
1939 - California - M - 20 - Raped 7-yr. girl. - Life, San Quentin, no parole. -- 6th conference report - INEOA 1965
California - [Pre-1939]
A SIREN, shrill and foreboding, pierced the air. Pedestrians scampered to the sidewalks and automobiles shied to the curbings as two ambulances, paced by two motorcycle officers, hurtled past, headed for the emergency hospital.Another physician, experimenting, said it seemed to take hours to walk to his desk, two steps away. A girl who had smoked a few reefers in Mexico became angry with her boyfriend as they were driving back. "If you're afraid to go any faster than this," she threatened, "I'm going to get out and walk." Pushing open the door she stepped out. The car was going 80 miles an hour, pursuing traffic officers reported. -- Fortnight Newsmagazine Aug 20, 1951 -- [Museum Note: Much of what was quoted in this magazine article was greatly Mis-Quoted!]
Soon the traffic resumed its dizzy pace, and the pedestrians, though momentarily startled, quickly regained their poise. Such occurrences were common in this large city; too common, in fact, to arouse comment beyond a casual cynical query, "Wonder who'll be next?" The people were hardened to such accidents, considered them a necessary evil - part of the warp and woof of city life, the price we pay for civilization.
This, however, was no ordinary accident; but they didn't know that. Neither did the orderlies who perfunctorily removed five mangled bodies from the ambulances upon their arrival at the hospital, and rolled them swiftly up the ramp into the building.
It was some time before anyone knew what was happening behind the closed doors of the emergency room. The two motorcycle police were in the corridor anxiously waiting for some word. Though calloused by witnessing frequent accidents, there were strange angles to this tragic wreck that aroused their suspicion.
Presently a doctor, young and alert, opened the door of the emergency room, stepped into the corridor, and in a crisp professional tone addressed the two waiting officers:
"Four are dead. The fifth, a girl, is still unconscious; but there is a good chance for her recovery despite broken arm, ribs, and internal injuries."
He paused, and then asked, "Do you know how it occurred?" "I saw the whole thing in the making," said Officer McFarland, tall and sun-browned; "but I can't quite figure it out. Lee and I were watching the intersection of Broad and Highway 30. About 3:15 P. M. a car with four high-school youngsters in it flashed by us, ignoring the stop sign. They didn't even slow or shift.
"We took after them, but couldn't seem to catch up. The faster we went the faster they went, till we were going eighty. We thought they were trying to get away from us. Suddenly the right front door of their car opened, and a girl was pushed out or she jumped out. She rolled over and over, and then lay still. The car, however, didn't even slow up.
"'You follow the car!' Lee shouted. 'I'll pick up the girl.' Seeing she was in a very bad condition, he hailed a passing car, and asked them to take her to the hospital. The girl, as you know, was dead when they got her here.
"In the meantime I stepped on it, and, at 85, I was barely creeping up on the speeding car. Suddenly it swerved into the left lane to pass a car ahead at the very moment that another car containing two persons was approaching. The road was straight for almost a mile, no fog, perfect visibility, but I saw that a head-on collision was inevitable if he didn't pull back instantly.
"I turned on my siren, but it did no good. As if bent on suicide and murder, the car ahead barged straight on at eighty. "The two cars came together with a terrific impact. They telescoped. The people in both cars didn't have a chance. It looked as if the kids deliberately steered into the other car." "H'm," exclaimed the doctor as he pondered the puzzling story. "Did you look for liquor?"
"That is the first thing we always do," replied the officer. "I searched both cars and occupants thoroughly, but could find no liquor, broken bottles, not even a smell of liquor anywhere."
"Accidents are tragically common these days, officer," observed the doctor; "but usually a cause can be found. Here, however, are two unexpected mysteries: Why did that girl jump from a car going eighty? Was it suicide, or murder, or an accident? And was the head-on collision deliberate or accidental?"
The door opened again, and a nurse beckoned the three men nearer. "I think the girl is regaining consciousness, doctor," she announced. "Come with me," the surgeon invited the two officers as he stepped into the room.
The doctor leaned over the girl. She was mumbling excitedly, incoherently, evidently trying to give a message. Her eyes rolled, terrified. He bent closer.
"Don't jump! Don't jump, Louise! Louise, don't jump! Jack, you are high! You are high! Stop the car!"
For several minutes she mumbled these words over and over with slight variation. Then she came to with a start, and asked almost hysterically, "Where am I, any way?"
"Calm yourself," said the doctor, with reassurance in his manner and voice. "You are in the hospital, my dear. There was an accident. You were riding in an automobile out on Highway 30 - remember?"
As memory crowded its scenes on her, she smothered a scream, and, turning frightened brown eyes on the doctor, asked, "The others? - and - and Russell, where is he?"
The doctors pressed her hand tenderly, and with steady eyes said, "They are in the other room." And then quickly to obviate further questioning, he asked, "Can you tell us about it - the wreck?" As the whole fantastic ride came back to her, the weird story was unfolded, sobbingly, in broken sentences. The suffering girl strove to attain a measure of calm.
"There were four of us. My boy friend, Russell, Louis and her boy friend, Jack, and I skipped last period class, and went over to Joe's Barbecue, where we had some tamales. Then Joe took us into a back room and sold us some reefers [marihuana cigarettes]. Nearly every afternoon we go over there to get a little bite to eat, and to smoke some of those special cigarettes. They make you feel very different. I was green at it, and was afraid to smoke too much because it made me feel so strange."
She paused and flushed as if there were secrets she wasn't going to tell. "This afternoon I took only two or three puffs on Russell's reefer after he kept coaxing and telling me it would help to make me a better pal, but the rest of the gang smoked several cigarettes apiece. Then someone suggested that we go for a ride to that tavern on the main highway. We got in Jack's car. Even before we were outside the city limits, he was going pretty fast, maybe fifty. He kept going faster and faster. I told him to slow down; but, instead, he stepped on the gas. I leaned over the front seat, and shouted: 'Jack, you are high on reefers! Stop the car!
"But he paid no attention, and began to complain that something must be wrong with the car because he couldn't get up any speed.
"Louise complained about going too slow too; and, even though we were hitting 80, she told Jack to step on it.
"'I can walk faster than this! I am going to get out and walk, and beat you there!' she hollered. Before I could grab her, she opened the front door and jumped out. It was terrible!
"When I looked back at Louise, I saw two cops following us. One stopped by Louise, but the other one kept right after us. I prayed that he would stop us before we had a wreck. Jack didn't even seem to notice that Louise had jumped out. I yelled to him to slow down because there was a cop right behind us.
"He only laughed, and said, 'You're crazy! Louise will beat us there if we don't hurry.'
"Then I saw him start to pass the car in front, while a car was coming toward us.
"'Jack, there's a car coming!' I screamed. 'Don't pass now!' But he went on like a madman, laughing: 'I can make it easy! That car is miles away,' he was saying just as we collided.
"That's all I remember," she said weakly. "Jack was always such a good driver, never reckless; I have ridden with him lots. But today he drove like a maniac. I guess he was high on refers.
"Will I live?" she asked, pathetic appeal in her voice and eyes. "You'll be all right; what you need right now is some rest," the doctor assured her. "You'd better go to sleep now."
A thorough search of the boy's clothes netted several hand-rolled marihuana cigarettes. The doctor fumbled them incredulously, looking at them quizzically as if unable to believe that such harmless-looking cigarettes could hold such tragedy.
Yes, in those cigarettes was the real story of the wreck, the story behind the story, - a story that for some strange reason seldom reaches the newspapers. If this were an isolated experience, it would not be told here. Actually it is typical of man y that are occurring every month throughout the nation. The sorry experience of these youths is a tragic echo of numerous accidents in the past, and a grisly harbinger of more to come. -- On the Trail of Marihuana the Weed of Madness (1939) By Earle Rowell
[Museum Note: To the best of our knowledge, there is No such intersection as "Broad and California Highway 30." In addition Mr. Rowell, while being a truthful individual, was known to embellish his stories with a little fiction.]
California - On June 22, 1958, about 2:30 A.M., two officers of the San Francisco Police Department noticed Joe Ross William Callegos, a Mexican, constantly blowing the horn of the automobile he was operating in downtown San Francisco. When the officers told Callegos that horn blowing at that hour was very annoying, Callegos sped away from them, on the wrong side of the street, completely disregarding traffic lights at two intersections. The officers pursued and finally overtook Callegos, who tried to throw away a marijuana cigarette. As one of the arresting officers picked up the cigarette, Callegos struck him and kicked the officer in the face and stomach as they handcuffed the defendant, who became so violent that the officers had to put cuffs on his feet to subdue him. During questioning Callegos appeared to be under the influence of a narcotic drug. Two marijuana seeds were found in one of his pockets.
How surprised and proud this Mexican Joe must have been if he ever learned that his horn-blowing and seed-carrying had been thus officially reported in such vivid detail by the U.S. Treasury department to Congress and by the U.S. Government to the United Nations. -- The Drug Hang Up, America's Fifty-Year Folly by Rufus King Quoting the TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS
DELAWARE:
Delaware - 1936---A man was killed in Wilmington, Del. by one Pettyjohn. When the police attempted to arrest Pettyjolin for the crime he attacked the police with a long knife. To protect their lives, the police officers shot and killed Pettyjohn. . . . .On the same date one Cleveland Hodge was arrested in Wilmington for possession of about 3 pounds of marihuana. Hodge said he had gathered the plant from a plot of ground used by Rhodes, the man who was murdered as above described, and further stated that Rhodes had told him about the weed, which he called "weaver weed"; that if a tea was made from it, it would cure rheumatism. Hodge said he used a cup of this tea three times a day and had done so for a long time; and both Rhodes and Pettyjohn were apparently under the influence of marihuana. This case was prosecuted in Delaware under the Uniform State Narcotic Act. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1936)
1936 - W. Pettijohn, - Wilmington, Del.-Killed J. Rhodes while under influence marihuana. - Arrested -- 6th conference report - INEOA 1965
In Wilmington, Delaware, a man was brutally murdered by a marihuana addict named Pettyjohn. When police attempted to arrest the murderer, he attacked them with a long knife. So murderous was his assault upon the officers that in order to protect themselves they were forced to shoot him dead. On that same day a man named Hodge was arrested in the same city for possession of marihuana. Hodge said he gathered the plants from a plot of ground owned by the man who was killed by Pettyjohn. Both Pettyjohn and his victim were under the influence of marihuana at the time the murder was committed, according to Hodge, who confessed that he himself had used the drug every day for a long time. -- “Assassin of Youth” (Book) 1954 By Robert Devine
In Wilmington, Delaware, a man was brutally murdered by a marihuana addict named Pettyjohn. When police attempted to arrest the murderer, he attacked them with a long knife. So murderous was his assault upon the officers that in order to protect themselves they were forced to shoot him dead. On that same day a man named Hodge was arrested in the same city for possession of marihuana. Hodge said he gathered the plants from a plot of ground owned by the man who was killed by Pettyjohn. Both Pettyjohn and his victim were under the influence of marihuana at the time the murder was committed, according to Hodge, who confessed that he himself had used the drug every day for a long time. -- The Moloch of Marihuana (1945) By Robert James Devine
1936 Wilmington, Delaware - M Killed J. Rhodes while under influence marihuana. Arrested -- Article by James C. Munch; "UN Bulletin on Narcotics"-1966 Issue 2
In Wilmington, Delaware, a man was brutally murdered by an addict. When the officers tried to arrest him, he attacked them with a knife. They were forced to shoot him dead. Both he and his victim were marihuana addicts. -- Book 1939- Enemies Of Youth
I have noticed that many of these violators have a record of assault. In Wilmington, Delaware, there was the case of John Rhodes, who attacked an officer with a knife and was shot and killed resisting arrest. --Marihuana Conference Held-- Dec. 5, 1938
GEORGIA
[Between Jan 1935 - Mar-1936] - Georgia
Columbus, Ga.; Federal agents, aided by the local police, raided the premises of a house in this city and found marihuana growing in a plot of ground 10 by 30 feet between two houses. Approximately fourteen pounds of marihuana was found in the house and in a building at the rear, in the process of being dried. The estimated weight of the growing marihuana was fixed at 125 pounds. ----Arrest made between Jan. 1935 And Mar 31, 1936. -- Oakland Tribune (Newspaper) Oct. 11, 1936 “Don't be a MuggleHead”
[Pre-1937] - Georgia
An eighteen-year-old boy in Georgia, which shows the ease with which reefers may be obtained and the early effects of smoking them. In the boy's own words the report reads: --- "While walking around the vegetable curb market in Atlanta, I passed the stand of the hot tamale man, who asked 'Do you want any hot tamales? I said, 'Don't you have anything stronger?' He said yes, and sold me two marijuana cigarettes for twenty-five cents. I had never seen this kind of cigarette before. I smoked one of them, and it gave me a headache. Then I smoked the other one, and began to feel it. My mind changed in a queer sort of way. I craved some more of the cigarettes, and, not having any money, I pawned my shoes for a dollar, and bought a bag of dried leaves to roll my own. After a couple more cigarettes, I began to feel as if I were on top of the world. I would walk up to anyone and ask for anything without hesitancy. Then I felt as if I would do something desperate. However, I was very tired, and fell asleep. I stayed asleep for two whole days and nights." -- Heath magazine Oct. 1938
What is the effect of this drug that has been the excuse offered for atrocious attacks, for robberies, thefts, and murder? Here we have the reaction of an eighteen-year-old boy: --- "While walking up around the curb market in Atlanta, Georgia, I passed the stand of the hot tomale man who asked me: 'Do you want any hot tomales?' I said, ‘Don't you have anything stronger?' He said, 'Yes,' and sold me two marihuana cigarettes for twenty-five cents. I had never seen this kind of cigarette before. I smoked one of them and it gave me a headache. Then I smoked the other one and began to feel it. My mind changed in a queer sort of way. I craved some more of the cigarettes, and, not having any money, I pawned my shoes for one dollar and bought a bag of dried leaves to roll my own. --- "After a couple more cigarettes, I began to feel like I was on top of the world. I would walk up to anyone and ask them for anything without any hesitancy. Then I felt like I would do something desperate. --- "However, I was very tired and fell asleep. I stayed asleep for two whole days and nights." -- National Parent-Teacher (PTA) - May, 1938
An Atlanta boy who robbed his father’s safe of thousands of dollars in jewelry and cash. Of high-school age, this boy apparently had been headed for an honest, successful career. Gradually, however, his father noticed a change in him. Spells of shakiness and nervousness would be succeeded by periods when the boy would assume a grandiose manner and engage in excessive, senseless laughter, extravagant conversation, and wildly impulsive actions. When these actions finally resulted in robbery the father went at his son’s problem in earnest - and found the cause of it a marijuana peddler who catered to school children. The peddler was arrested. -- American Magazine “Marijuana, Assassin of Youth” By H.J Anslinger - July 1937
"While walking u around the curb market in Atlanta, Georgia, I passed the stand of the hot tamale man who asked me, "Do you want any hot tamales?" I said, "Don't you have anything stronger? He said, "Yes" and sold me two Marihuana cigarettes for twenty-five cents. I had never seen this kind of cigarette before. I smoked one of them and it gave me a headache. Then I smoked the other one and began to feel it. My mind changed in a queer sort of way. I craved some more of the cigarettes and, not having any money, I pawned my shoes for one dollar and bought a bag of dried leaves to roll my own. After a couple more cigarettes, I began to feel like I was on top of the world. I would walk up to anyone and ask them for anything without hesitancy. Then I felt like I would do something desperate. However, I was very tired and fell asleep. I stayed asleep for two whole days and nights." (This statement was made by an 18-year old boy.) -- The Drug Demon (Pamphlet) 1940
The reactions of a beginner are shown in this stenographic copy of a report from the police of Atlanta, Georgia, who found a youth wandering about the streets, barefooted: “While walking up around the curb market in Atlanta. I passed the stand of the hot tamale man, who asked me: “Do you want any hot tamales? “DO said: Don’t you have anything stronger? He said: Yes, and sold me two marihuana cigarettes for twenty-five cents. I have never seen this kind of a cigarette before. I smoked one of them and it gave me a headache. Then I smoked the other one and began to feel it. My mind changed in a queer sort of way. I crave some more of the cigarettes, and, not having any money, I pawned my shoes for one dollar and bought a bag of dried leaves to roll my own. After a couple more cigarettes, I began to feel like I was on top of the world. I would walk up to anyone and ask them for anything without any hesitancy. Then I felt like I would do something desperate. However, I was very tired and fell asleep. I stayed asleep for two whole days and nights.” -- Inside detective Nov 1937
A high school boy in Atlanta, Georgia, stole thousands of dollars in cash and jewelry from his father's safe. Prior to this act of base ingratitude it had been noticed that the boy was subject to rapid and seemingly inexplicable changes in temperament and conduct. Periods when he manifested an exaggerated ego, characterized by a grandiose manner a extravagant conversation, were followed by spells of shakiness and despondency. When the robbery of his father's store finally climaxed his peculiar actions, an investigation traced the cause of the crime to a marihuana peddler who catered to school children. -- “Assassin of Youth” (Book) 1954 By Robert Devine
A high school boy in Atlanta, Georgia, stole thousands of dollars in cash and jewelry from his father's safe. Prior to this act of base ingratitude it had been noticed that the boy was subject to rapid and seemingly inexplicable changes in temperament and conduct. Periods when he manifested an exaggerated ego, characterized by a grandiose manner and extravagant conversation, were followed by spells of shakiness and despondency. When the robbery of his father's store finally climaxed his peculiar actions, an investigation traced the cause of the crime to a marihuana peddler who catered to school children. -- The Moloch of Marihuana (1945) By Robert James Devine
Georgia 1953 Camp Gordon, Georgia - Male 23 Indecent exposure 6 occasions to girls 10 to 12 years old; each time under influence marihuana; trumpet, musician; smoking marihuana over year. Arrested -- Article by James C. Munch; "UN Bulletin on Narcotics"-1966 Issue 2
1953 - L. Gluckin, - Camp Gordon, Georgia - M - 23 - Indecent exposure 6 occasions to girls 10 to 12 years old; Each time under influence marihuana; trumpet, musician; smoking marihuana over year. - Arrested -- 6th conference report - INEOA 1965
ILLINOIS
Chicago - Pre-Feb 1935
Keywords Lieutenant William Cusack, School Superintend William Joseph Bogan
In Chicago the press has said: -- "Shocked by disclosures of dope being; peddled to high school students, police and school officials of Chicago yesterday lunched a double-barreled drive against the traffic in habit-forming drugs ...."Informed that peddlers of marihuana, held by crime fighters to be as vicious as narcotics or opiates, are making their headquarters near high schools, Superintendent of Schools Bogan ordered his district superintendents to launch an investigation and submit reports. Lieutenant William Cusack, head of the narcotic squad, revealed the marihuana weed is being grown domestically-plots of ground being devoted to it within a few miles of Chicago. . . . He has sent 197 peddlers of it to jail, deported 50 persons to Mexico for selling the weed, seized 167 pounds of marihuana and 183,000 cigarets---within the past year. " -- The Union Signal (WCTU) Feb 1935
[Pre-Feb 1935] - Chicago
The marihuana, in cigaret form, had been procured in this case, from the man who kept a school supply store just around the corner from the school. (If any of my readers wish to locate any the source of supply of marihuana ciqarets in his or her city let him look first within a block of the high school! This storekeeper sold chocolate bars and gum; milk and school supplies. The children initiated into the "reefer" group pooled the candy and milk money given them by fond parents, and purchased a supply of "Mary Warners". The lower-than-skunk storekeeper in this case, supplied them with a basement room, which he had furnished with a couple of old mattresses and other needed pieces of furniture. Here he could guarantee them freedom from interference for hours at a time. He had even sent his wife and family away on an extended visit to make sure that his illicit operations would not be discovered.
Here the youngsters played at being married. Rings stolen from the ten-cent stores served to bind the mock ceremonies which permitted unbridled lusts to have full sway. Probing by the juvenile judge resulted in shamefaced girls sobbing out sordid stories disclosing many nights of debauchery and degradation. Sometimes these young girls would be too drunk to leave the basement where they had staged their "parties" and so had to stay all night. Each party was a continuous round of dissipation, drunkenness and drugs.
The stories of the girls varied according to the number of marihuana parties they had attended. Some of them said they had started their wrongdoing because they lost control of themselves after smoking a few "Mary Warners". One said she had gone ahead even though she knew it was wrong, because she "loved" her boy friend and was afraid that some other girl would take him from her.
One boy, 16 years of age, just before he was called to testify, took his "girl" by the arm and said:
"Don't worry, kid. I've been in this mess before and I can tell whether it's serious or not. They won't do anything to us. All they'll do is tell us to be good."
But the little girl was really afraid. She had heard something said about a doctor and a physical examination. Poor child, the marks of her serious adventures were stamped upon her for life. All but one of her little girl friends were in her unfortunate class. The sole exception was found just in time to save her from the same fate as the others.
The story itself reads like many other records of almost any juvenile court. But no amount of repetition or callousness can take away the tragedy and misery of each individual case.
Detailed evidence in court describes such parties as are staged by young boys and girls who have learned to smoke marihuana cigarets. -- RELIGIOUS DIGEST - Dec. 1937 - “THE MENACE OF MARIHUANA” By Robert James Devine
"Investigation of the sale of drugs to, school children in the M----- school district was ordered last night after a boy of fifteen had attacked his father, a music teacher, with a knife while crazed with marihuana cigarets. Only the father's quick action in wresting the weapon from the youth saved the parent from death or serious injury. After hearing the boy's story the officers arrested the owner of the school store and the clerk from whom the boy said he bought the cigarets." -- The Union Signal (WCTU) Feb 1935
Let me tell of one case that the Rev. Mr. Devine tells about in his book called "The Moloch of Marihuana." "The marihuana in this case had been obtained in cigarette form from a man who kept a school store just around the corner from the school. He sold chocolate bars, gum, milk and school sup-plies. The children initiated into the "reefer" group pooled the candy and milk money given them by their parents and purchased a supply of "Mary Warners." The storekeeper provided the youngsters with a basement room which he furnished with a couple of old mattresses and other furniture. Here he could guarantee them freedom from interference for hours at a time. He had even sent his wife and family away on an extended visit to make sure that his illicit operations would not be discovered.
"HERE THE YOUNGSTERS PLAYED AT BEING MARRIED. Rings from the ten cent store served to bind the mock ceremonies which permitted unbridled lusts to have full sway. When the juvenile judge probed the girls, they sobbed out sordid stories disclosing many nights of debauchery and degradation. Shamefaced, they testified that sometimes they would be too drunk to leave the basement where they had staged their parties and so had to stay all night. Each party was a continuous round of dissipation, drunkenness and drugs. Some said they had started their wrongdoing because they lost control of themselves after taking a few puffs of a "Mary Warner." One said she had gone ahead even though she knew it was wrong because she loved her boy friend and was afraid some other girl would take him. One boy, sixteen, took his girl by the arm and said, 'Don't worry kid. I've been in this mess before and I can tell whether it is serious or not. They won't do anything to us. All they'll do is to tell us to be good!"
One girl in giving evidence in front of her parents said: "My father works nights and I knew I was safe if I got home by one-thirty on my mother's club nights." -- Book 1939- Enemies Of Youth
The marihuana, in cigarette form, had been procured in this instance from a man who kept a school supply store just around the corner from the school. This storekeeper sold chocolate bars and gum, milk and school supplies. The children initiated into the "reefer" group Pooled the candy and milk money given them by fond parents, and purchased a supply of "Mary Warners." The lower-than-skunk storekeeper in this case supplied the youngsters with a basement room, which he had furnished with a couple of old mattresses and other furniture. Here he could guarantee them freedom from interference for hours at a time. He had even sent his wife and family away on an extended visit to make sure that his illicit operations would not be discovered.
Here the youngsters played at being married. Rings stolen from the ten-cent stores served to bind the mock ceremonies which permitted unbridled lusts to have full sway. Probing by the juvenile judge resulted ,in shamefaced girls sobbing out sordid stories disclosing many nights of debauchery and degradation. Sometimes, so these young girls testified, they would be too drunk to leave the basement where they had staged their "parties" and so had to stay all night. Each party was a continuous round of dissipation, drunkenness and drugs.
The stories of the girls varied according to the number of marihuana parties they had attended. Some of them said they had started their wrongdoing because they lost control of themselves after taking a few "puffs" of a "Mary Warner." One said she had gone ahead even though she knew it was wrong, because she "loved" her boy friend and was afraid that some other girl would take him from her.
One boy, sixteen years of age, just before he was called to testify, took his "girl" by the arm and said: "Don't worry, kid. I've been in this mess before and I can tell whether it's serious or not. They won't do anything to us. All they'll do is tell us to be good."
But the little girl was really afraid. She had heard something said about a doctor and a physical examination. Poor child, the marks of her serious adventures were already stamped upon her for life. All but one of her little girl friends were in her unfortunate class. The sole exception was found in time to save her from the same fate as the others. -- Moloch Of Marihuana (1945) Robert James Devine
In Chicago a school supply store was discovered selling reefers to boys and girls, some of whom had become temporarily blinded by the weed. -- American Mercury - Dec 1935
The marihuana, in cigarette form, had been procured in this instance from a man who kept a school supply store at around the corner from the school. This storekeeper sold chocolate bars and gum, milk and school supplies. The children initiated into the "reefer" group pooled the candy and milk money given them by fond parents, and purchased a supply of "Mary Wamers." The lower-than-skunk storekeeper in this case supplied the youngsters with a basement room, which he had furnished with a couple of old mattresses and other furniture. Here he could guarantee them freedom from interference for hours at a time. He had even sent his wife and family away on an extended visit to make sure that his illicit operations would not be discovered. Here the youngsters played at being married. Rings stolen from the ten-cent stores served to bind the mock ceremonies which permitted unbridled lusts to have full sway. Probing by the juvenile judge resulted in shame-faced girls sobbing out sordid stories disclosing many nights of debauchery and degradation. Sometimes, so these young girls testified, they would be too drunk to leave the basement where they had staged their "parties" and so had to stay all night. Each party was a continuous round of dissipation, drunkenness and drugs. The stories of the girls varied according to the number of marihuana parties they had attended. Some of them said they had started their wrongdoing because they lost control of themselves after taking a few puffs" of a "Mary Warner." One said she had gone ahead even though she knew it was wrong, because she "loved" her boy friend and was afraid that some other girl would take him from her. One boy, sixteen years of age, just before he was called to testify, took his "girl" by the arm and said: "Don't worry, kid. I've been in this mess before and I can tell whether it's serious or not. They won't do anything to us. All they'll do is tell us to be good." But the little girl was really afraid. She had heard something said about a doctor and a ' physical examination. -- “Assassin of Youth” (Book) 1954 By Robert Devine
Illinois - [Between Jan 1935 - Mar 1936] Joliet, Ill.; Convicts in Northern Illinois Penitentiary were said to have been sold marihuana cigarettes by a notorious murderer---wanted in New York and Pennsylvania, but committed for life in Illinois. A convict became so obstreperous that an investigation was made of his cell, which led to the discovery of particles of marihuana, and later to a flourishing garden of the weed in an abandoned stone quarry, which was the source of supply. ----Arrest made between Jan. 1935 And Mar 31, 1936. -- Oakland Tribune (Newspaper) Oct. 11, 1936 “Don't be a MuggleHead”
Illinois - 1936 - William Barnett of Chicago, ILL., was arrested for the possession of marihuana. At the time of Barnett's arrest he was in possession of a letter from Pete Gurralo, alias Joseph Fierro, of Mankato, Minn., offering to furnish marihuana in any quantity from 1 pound up. On Sep. 22, 1936, Balli, alias Tom Gurrola, killed a man at Albert Lea, Minn. Following the murder he escaped from prison and fled to the farm of his father. He was identical with the man who offered to supply marihuana to Barnett. When the officer went to the farm to apprehend him, he found 6 or 7 bushels of marihuana contained in a sack and two cardboard boxes, and concealed under a haystack -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1936)
Chicago - Pre-Jan 1937 Key words two youths / policeman In Chicago, two marihuana-smoking boys murdered a policeman. -- Detective World - Dec. 1947
In Chicago recently two boys murdered a policeman while under the influence of marihuana. -- 1937 Congressional Testimony
In Chicago, two marijuana smoking boys murdered a policeman. -- American Magazine “Marijuana, Assassin of Youth” By H.J Anslinger - July 1937
In Chicago, Illinois, two boys murdered a policeman, and stated that they did it while under the influence of MARIHUANA. -- The Union Signal (WCTU) Jan. 30, 1937
[No mention of Medical Marihuana use] [This Must be the case, it is the only one that fits] Chicago Tribune: [ ]-Jun 26, 1936 pg 11 -- “Move to Indict 2 parolees in Police Slaying” Murder of Policeman Jerome McCauley on May 29, -- killed the policeman while being pursued after several holdups. Andrew Bogacki 25 years ; Paul Jenkot 26 yrs also Frank Korczykowski 27 [ ]- Aug 2, 1936 pg 1 -- “Two Killers to Die; Third Gets 199 Yrs.” [ ]-Aug 4, 1936 pg 15 “Three Deputies Discharged for Killers Break” [ ]- Aug 16, 1936 pg 17 -- “Policeman Wins Hero Award for Shooting Killer” [ ]- Sep 29, 1936 pg 11 -- “Police Slayer Sentenced to 199 Years in Prison” [ ]- Oct 21, 1936 pg 1 -- “Two Slayers of Policeman die in chair”
Chicago [Editorial NOTE - Extensive research of both the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Defender fail to turn up anything -- High probability that this incident did not happen ]
Pre-July 1937 Chicago Apartment building / 5th Floor / High School girl / 13-18 Then another suicide is chalked up. Actually this has occurred, as in the case of a young girl in Chicago, who hurled herself several stories from an apartment building where a reefer party was in full swing. The death of this youth was a poignant example of how fantasies, apparently harmless, have their tragic results -- On the Trail of Marihuana the Weed of Madness (1939) By Earle Rowell
THE sprawled body of a young girl lay crushed on the sidewalk the other day after a plunge from the fifth story of a Chicago apartment house. -- American Magazine “Marijuana, Assassin of Youth” By H.J Anslinger - July 1937
There was that little school-girl in Chicago, having hard work to pass her exams, in Algebra, etc., and told by "reefer" addicted school-mates that she could pass anything, and would be "out of her troubles in no time" if she would smoke "reefers." She was-so far as this world is concerned. Cannabis-crazed, she stepped out of a fifth-story window, and dashed her brains out on the pavement below! -- War With the Underworld 1946
A mother in the city of Chicago, sobbingly watching her once-lovely daughter dying as a result of the "reefer racket," told authorities that, to her knowledge, not less than fifty of her daughter's friends were virtual slaves to the power of marihuana. -- “Assassin of Youth” (Book) 1954 By Robert Devine
HIGH SCHOOL, youngsters who turn to banditry for thrills, girls who leap from skyscraper windows, striplings who chop their parents to death --THE CHRISTIAN CENTURY - June 29, 1938
A high-school girl had heard some whisperings concerning the “kick” offered by the new kind of cigarette; after smoking a reefer, she was able to dance long without fatigue; time became elastic and in her state of exhilaration all else seemed inconsequential; studies were entirely neglected, she became despondent, but a few puffs of her faithful cigarette brought relief; finally, coming to full realization of her school problem, she deliberately walked to an open window and leaped to her death. -- American Journal of the Medical Sciences - 1938 pg 351
There are numerous cases on record like that of the young girl who heard about a new thrill, a cigarette with a "real kick" which gave wonderful reactions and "no" harmful after-effects. With some friends she experimented at an evening smoking, party. Other parties followed and then, when she was behind with her studies and greatly worried about her grades, suddenly, under the influence of this deadly drug, she walked to and through an open window. -- DETECTIVE WORLD (Magazine) - Dec. 1947
Illinois - 1938 Chicago - Male Broke nose J. N. by striking with gallon clay jug and pulled knife. Police officer then destroyed growing crop nearby. Was Arrested. -- Article by James C. Munch; "UN Bulletin on Narcotics"-1966 Issue 2
1938 - J. Arrga, - Chicago - m -Broke nose J.N. by striking with gallon clay jug; Pulled knife. Police officers then destroyed growing crop nearby. - Arrested -- 6th conference report - INEOA 1965
Illinois - On the night of November 4, 1947, at Chicago, M., a narcotic agent, after negotiating with an intermediary, Ralph Hicks, for the purchase of five pounds (2 kilograms, 268 grams) of marijuana or a total of $500 was taken to a point near the intersection of Loomis and Polk Streets where AGREDANO appeared with the marijuana. When the agent attempted to place him under arrest, AGREDANO drew a pistol and the agent was compelled to shoot him, the bullet going through his left arm and penetrating the chest cavity. AGREDANO died of these wounds on November 5, 1947 -- The Drug Hang Up, America's Fifty-Year Folly by Rufus King Quoting the TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS
ILLINOIS - [Pre- 1954] - Chicago Another Chicago paper stated: "Dope peddlers lurk near Chicago high schools with abundant supplies of narcotics for gullible teen-age students, school principals complain. At one school, students have told their principal they can purchase 'reefers' from push-cart peddlers who ostensibly sell luncheon frankfurters. Purchases are also made from agents in alleys, parks, hallways, hotel rooms, and even, in at least one case, from the head usher in a theater. The school principals are alarmed by the increasing addiction to narcotics. They agree that the ironclad rule of 'no-smoking' discourages the 'reefer' smoker until classes are dismissed. After that, the peddlers take over. We've had the police chase them away, but they always come back." -- “Assassin of Youth” (Book) 1954 By Robert Devine
[pre-Oct 1936] The Chicago Daily News tells of seizure by cops of 40,000 marihuana cigarettes . . . intended for sale to schoolchildren, a fine trade having been worked up among these striplings. -- The Literary Digest (Magazine) Oct 24, 1936
INDIANA
Indiana - 1936 A fifty-year-old dope peddler was murdered in July 1936, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. His police record included sentences for crimes ranging from petit larceny to murder, and he was killed by an assailant who cracked the peddler's head with a table leg, during an argument which developed when he accused two acquaintances of cutting into his dope racket. He had been convicted twice for selling narcotics. Approximately 4 pounds of MARIHUANA were seized from him and another man previous to his murder. -- The Union Signal (WCTU) Jan. 30, 1937
Madison State Hospital [initially called the Southeastern Hospital for the Insane] Madison, Indiana superintendent Dr. James W. Milligan (1915-1944)
Indiana - Pre-July 1938 Another high school boy is in the insane asylum at Madison, Indiana, a raving maniac never more to breathe the fresh air and feel the sunshine of the farm, just because he joined a smoking party and got into the "habit." -- KIWANIS MAGAZINE - Oct. 1938
A young man in Fayette county, Indiana, has gone insane from the use of marijuana or "dope" cigarettes. He is now a crazed, wild boy gazing out of the windows of Madison Insane Hospital, his mind destroyed. But for the coaxing of a vicious marijuana peddler, this boy would be working in the sunshine and the green fields of the home farm. His life is broken, and he is only one of thousands being ruined in Indiana, Illinois and the Middle West by heartless, money-grabbing "dope" rings. -- The Prairie Farmer - July 30, 1938
IDAHO
The Mayor of Boise, Idaho, is quoted as follows: "The Mexican beet-field workers have introduced a new problem-the smoking in cigarettes and pipes, of Marihuana or Grifo. Its use is as demoralizing as the use of other narcotics, and Idaho has no law to cope with the use and spread of this dangerous drug". -- JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CRIMINAL LAW AND CRIMINOLOGY- May-June 1932/Mar.-Apr., 1933
KANSAS
Kansas - Aug 24, 1929 -- Kansas
August 24, 1929 KANSAS CITY KANSAN:- (dispatch concerning the discovery by Wichita Police of the prevalence of Marihuana parties held by young boys and girls at roadhouses near this city)
The Kansas City Star charges that marihuana is being smoked by students in the Kansas City high schools, and in the University of Kansas. -- The Literary Digest (Magazine) Oct 24, 1936
Kansas - [1933] 1933 Wichita, Kansas - Male Killed in fight over marihuana. -- Article by James C. Munch; "UN Bulletin on Narcotics"-1966 Issue 2
1933 - J. Perez, - Wichita, Kan. - Killed in fight over marihuana. - Dead -- 6th conference report - INEOA 1965
KENTUCKY
NEWPORT, KY. On Feb. 24, 1938, police officers of Newport, Ky., arrested Ralph Bridowell for the possession of stolen property. While searching his premises they found a total of 8 kg. 306 gm. of marihuana, to which he acknowledged ownership and claimed to have purchased it from a man whose name he did not know. On February 25, 1938, his brother, Harry Bridewell, was arrested for the sale of marihuana cigarettes. Both pleaded guilty and each was sentenced to serve a term of 5 years in the Penitentiary. Each had previously served a penitentiary term for violations of the liquor laws.
LOUISIANA
Louisiana - 1935- New Orleans, La. - M Violently attacked officers with knife and revolver while being arrested for possession of marihuana. Arrested -- Article by James C. Munch; "UN Bulletin on Narcotics"-1966 Issue 2
1935 - M. Henriquez, - New Orleans, La. - m - Violently attacked officers with knife and revolver while being arrested for possession marihuana. - Arrested -- 6th conference report - INEOA 1965
Violently attacked officers with knife and revolver while under influence of marijuana. -- The Truth about Marijuana - STEPPING STONE to DESTRUCTION June 1967
A seizure of 115 marihuana cigarettes was made in New Orleans, La., at which time the owner, foiled by officers in an attempt to shoot himself, grabbed a butcher knife and stabbed himself three times above the heart. He escaped, and was later found, and had in his possession an ice pick, with which he attempted to destroy himself when placed under arrest. He made a second escape. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1936)
“ . . another stabs himself with an icepick when police approach. --Cosmopolitan (Magazine) May 1938
Sept. 27, 1935, police at New Orleans, La., raided a cannabis cigarette "factory" in that city and arrested Anthony Fazzio, Alice Fazzio, and Henry Denapolis. Only a small quantity of loose cannabis was discovered, but one person, subsequently ascertained to be one Mary Rodriguez, escaped with a package, which one of the defendants stated contained 4,000 marihuana cigarettes. On November 24, 1935, the same police raided the premises occupied by Robert Williams and William Cayce, Jr., and seized 10 tin bread boxes containing 10,000 cannabis cigarettes. The defendants were held for prosecution. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1935)
New Orleans.-During Feb. 1936 Federal narcotic agent and local police officers raided the premises of Ampton Stanno an found their entrance to a rear downstairs door obstructed by strongly reinforced door, in the center of which was a small slot through which purchasers of marihuana cigarettes would insert the money and in turn receive cigarettes. When the officers gained admission through the barred door they found 400 marihuana cigarette contained in a tin box lying on a table, and near to the cigarette box small case containing a sum of money and marihuana ready for cigarette wrapping. Ampton Stanno and Jane Williams, who were found in this house, were placed under arrest. Robert Williams, alias Jimmie Smith, was sought as another member of this illicit marihuana ring but could not be found. A warrant was issued for his arrest. In a house to the rear of Stanno's, the police officers found a large pasteboard box enclosing one bundle which contained about 3 pounds of marihuana, 25 pounds of marihuana seed and dried marihuana leaves. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1936)
Louisiana - Bourg and Houma.-On April 24, 1936, 2,500 marihuana plants growing on an area of about 3 acres, 12 pounds in bulk marihuana, and 67 marihuana cigarettes were seized and confiscated on a farm near Bourg, La., and five persons were arrested on charges of violation of the marihuana law. Ralph Savoise, Mrs. Ralph Savoise, Felix Blanchard, "Cookie" Lanaud, and David North were growing and selling marihuana cigarettes to oil-field workers and to school children. Complaints were made by parents of some of the children to Federal narcotic and local officers. Extensive investigations were made until all participants in this illicit traffic at Houma and Bourg were arrested. A prosecution was instituted in the parish district court. Conviction, which is expected, would carry a mandatory penalty of from 20 months to 5 years each. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1936)
August 22, 1936 - LOUISIANA - William L. Rousseau was arrested by local officers under the provisions of the Louisiana State narcotic act on August 22, 1936, for growing and possessing marihuana. Reports had been received that marihuana cigarettes were being sold at Rousseau's home. While officers waited outside in automobiles, they observed several addicts approach Rousseau's door to purchase marihuana cigarettes. Police found in the kitchen two 1-pound coffee cans full of marihuana cigarettes and two packages of the narcotic in drying form. In the yard among four branching trees and growing vegetables were 100 growing marihuana plants about 12 feet tall. The police destroyed the plants. William L. Rousseau, father of William A. Rousseau, said that the marihuana had been planted by his son for the purpose of obtaining seed to feed a pet redbird belonging to the younger Rousseau. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1936)
LOUISIANA Sep. 19, 1936 English Turn, Plaquemines Parish.---Officers of the Louisiana State police seized and destroyed large quantities of harvested and dried marihuana on two adjoining farms at English Turn, Plaquemines Parish, on September 19, 1936. At the first farm they raided they found about 5,000 stalks lying in a field and stored in a barn, and also 300 pounds of dried marihuana ready for smoking. Later, while continuing their investigations of the farm, the officers discovered 800 pounds of marihuana stalks which had been harvested from an adjacent tract of land about 7 acres in area. Felix Caserta, about 30 years old, was the owner and occupant of the second farm, which consisted of about 40 acres. Caserta resided on the farm with his wife and children. He admitted that he knew that the plants were marihuana and that he had cut them down the day previous to the officers raid on his place. He was arrested on charges of violation of the State uniform narcotic law. Later Luke Cutrera, farmer, and Dominic Richarda, who lived on and operated adjacent farms, were arrested for possession of illicit marihuana. Cutrera was reported to have been hired by marihuana peddlers to drive quantities of the narcotic into New Orleans. Stalks, seeds, and dried marihuana were found in a truck on Cutrera's farm. Officers destroyed all of the plants in the area in which the marihuana crop had been harvested. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1936)
Louisiana - [1937] An evidence of how large the traffic may be came to light last year near La Fitte, La. Neighbors of an Italian family had become amazed by wild stories told by the children of the family. They, it seemed, had suddenly become millionaires. They talked of owning inconceivable amounts of money, of automobiles they did not possess, of living in a palatial home. At last their absurd lies were reported to the police, who discovered that their parents were allowing them to smoke something that came from the tops of tall plants which their father grew on his farm. There was a raid, in which more than 500,000 marijuana plants were destroyed. This discovery led next day to another raid on a farm at Bourg, La. Here a crop of some 2,000 plants was found to be growing between rows of vegetables. The eight persons arrested confessed that their main source of income from this crop was in sales to boys and girls of high-school age. -- American Magazine “Marijuana, Assassin of Youth” By H.J Anslinger - July 1937
LOUISIANA La Fitte.--May 23, 1936, one Machesto Pazini was arrested for possession of a large quantity of cannabis cigarettes and for owning 3,000 cannabis plants. Pazini had been permitting his children to smoke these cigarettes, and their consequent delusions of grandeur led to the discovery of the cannabis cache. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1936)
Louisiana - Pre-1938 I could stand here for hours quoting individual examples of tragic results of the use of marijuana cigarettes. I myself was present in an exclusive country club in Louisiana when a young man, after using marijuana cigarettes and while in resultant fit of jealousy, shot his small girl companion. -- New York Herald Tribune Forum 1938
Louisiana - 1938---NEW ORLEANS, LA. Investigations conducted in New Orleans during the months of April to July 1938, resulted in a series of purchases of marihuana cigarettes from 13 members of the Albano gang and the securing of evidence against another member of the gang. On August 18, 1938, the grand jury returned indictments against 14 of these individuals, 12 of whom either were convicted or pleaded guilty, and received sentences ranging from 17 months to 3 years. Two of the defendants have not been apprehended. -- After having made purchases of marihuana cigarettes from all four members of a ring of marihuana traffickers during the period from May 10 to July 7, 1938, narcotic officers arrested Russel Saia, Anthony Cangimilla, and Ralph LaCoste. Saia and Canogimilla were tried, convicted, and each sentenced to 30 months in the penitentiary. LaCoste pleaded guilty and received a sentence of 17 months. Roy Saia, the fourth member of the ring, is under indictment but has not yet been apprehended. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1938)
According to press reports from New Orleans, Louisiana, several murders and an alarming increase in large and small thief's, were attributed to MARIHUANA. -- The Union Signal (WCTU) Jan. 30, 1937
In forty-four New Orleans high schools students were smoking marijuana. Out of 450 Louisiana criminals 150 were marijuana smokers. Hundreds of peddlers were working around the schools and factories of Detroit. Cleveland was infested with "pushers." Hundreds of pounds of the stuff was coming over the Mexican border and through the southern ports. Sailors were buying it for ten dollars a kilo in Mexico and selling it for fifty dollars a kilo in the United States. Prisoners in San Quentin were even cultivating a secret patch inside their high walls. -- True Story (Magazine) Dec. 1948
The role of the latter as a crime instigator is suggested by the report of the public prosecutor in New Orleans who in 1930 found that of 450 prisoners he dealt with, 125 were marihuana addicts. Slightly less than half of the murderers, about twenty percent of the larceny men and about eighteen per cent of the robbery prisoners smoked what they called Merry Wonder. -- The American Mercury - Dec 1935
MARYLAND
Maryland - October 1936, the chief engineer of a vessel arriving at Baltimore complained to the Federal narcotic office that the crew of his vessel were using some unknown narcotic that was so virulent in its effects on the men that the officers were obliged to protect themselves by carrying blackjacks to ward off attacks. The narcotic agent made an extensive investigation and ascertained that a fireman, aged 22, was a marihuana user, and that two of the seamen on the ship had purchased a bag of dried marihuana while ashore in the Canal Zone and smuggled it aboard the ship where it was consumed by members of the crew. Officers of the steamer said these men were “under the influence of this narcotic throughout the trip to Baltimore and that their conduct bordered on the mutinous." -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1936)
Baltimore, Md. 1936. The chief engineer of a vessel arriving at Baltimore complained to the Federal narcotic office that the crew of his vessel were using some unknown narcotic that was so virulent in its effects on the men that the officers were obliged to protect themselves by carrying blackjacks to ward off attacks. The narcotic agent ascertained that a fireman, aged twenty-two, was a marihuana user, and that two of the seamen on the ship had purchased a bag of dried marihuana while ashore in the Canal Zone and smuggled it aboard ship, where it was consumed by members of the crew. Officers of the steamship said these men were "under the influence of this narcotic throughout the trip to Baltimore and that their conduct bordered on the mutinous." -- The Traffic In Narcotics By H.J. Anslinger 1953
Oct 1936 chief engineer of a vessel arriving at Baltimore complained to the Federal narcotic officer that the crew of his vessel were using some unknown narcotic. Officers were obliged to protect themselves by carrying black jacks. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1936)
MICHIGAN
Michigan - [Pre-1937]
A fifteen-year-old girl was arrested in a marihuana "den" in Detroit to which she had been lured by her male companions. -- Survey Graphic (Magazine) April 1938
A fifteen-year-old girl who has disappeared is discovered in a marihuana hangout of young toughs in Detroit. -- Narcotic Agent: by Maurice Helbrant (book) 1941
Not long ago a fifteen-year-old girl ran away from her home in Muskegon, Mich., to be arrested later in company with five young men in a Detroit marijuana den. A man and his wife ran the place. -- American Magazine “Marijuana, Assassin of Youth” By H.J Anslinger - July 1937
In Detroit, Michigan, a fifteen-year-old girl was picked up with five men in a marihuana den. 'This pretty and attractive youngster had run away from her home in a near-by small town, where she had first learned to use "Mary Warners" while attending school. -- “Assassin of Youth” (Book) 1954 By Robert Devine
In Detroit, Michigan, a fifteen-year-old girl was picked up with five men in a marihuana den. This pretty and attractive youngster had run away from her home in a near-by small town, where she had first learned to use "Mary Warners" while attending school. Had I space in these pages to give in detail the incredibly sordid stories describing the experiences of girls who run away from home to co-habit with the most debauched and degraded scum of black, white and yellow humanity, my readers would be shocked beyond measure. -- Moloch Of Marihuana (1945) Robert James Devine
A 15-year-old Michigan girl ran away from home and was later arrested in a “marihuana den" in Detroit, where she had been lured by her male companions. -- MARIHUANA; The New Dangerous Drug (pamphlet) by Frederick T. Merrill 1950 version
MICHIGAN - Detroit.- On September 17 1936, 2,500 pounds of marihuana found growing in the backyards of various houses were confiscated under the Michigan State narcotic law. The marihuana was burned on an order from the prosecuting attorney of Flint County.
Michigan - GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. - On September 23, 1937, narcotic and police officers destroyed about 2,000 marihuana plants growing, on a vacant lot. It was alleged that a person whose name was unknown was obtaining the drug from this lot and selling cigarettes, but since the lot was being used as a playground by children of the neighborhood it was deemed advisable to destroy the plants immediately rather than leave them and attempt to apprehend the person responsible for their growth. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1937)
Michigan - 1937 - M and 6 others, M. and F., age 21-23, arrested Detroit, Michigan for rape, theft, grand larceny. Arrested -- Article by James C. Munch; "UN Bulletin on Narcotics"-1966 Issue 2
1937 - H. Thatcher / A. Gates - M - And 6 others, M and F, ages 21-23, arrested Detroit, Mich. for rape, theft, grand larceny. - Arrested -- 6th conference report - INEOA 1965
Michigan - 1938, March 18 John Sienkiewicz Detroit In Detroit, a twenty-three-year-old boy was arrested on a robbery charge and possession of a gun. He confessed to a dozen holdups but claimed they were all committed when he was "high" on marihuana, but some he did not remember, the time and place for he was "too high" from smoking marihuana. -- Book 1939 - Enemies Of Youth
John Sienkiewicz, a 23-year-old Detroit, Michigan, lad, was arrested on a charge of robbery, armed. The young man confessed to half a dozen holdups and burglaries, but claimed they were all committed while he was under the influence of marihuana. "I always smoked the weed before I pulled a job because it kept me from being nervous," he said to police investigators. John stated that he could not remember when or where some of his holdups were committed, because he was "too high" from smoking marihuana. He was able to give descriptions of other crimes, committed when he was not under influence of the drug. -- “Assassin of Youth” (Book) 1954 By Robert Devine
On March 18, 1938, John Sienkiewiscz, a 23-year old Detroit, Michigan, lad, was arrested on a charge of robbery, armed. The young man confessed to half a dozen holdups and burglaries, but claimed they were all committed while he was under the influence of marihuana. "I always smoked the weed before I pulled a job because it kept me from being nervous," he said to police investigators. John stated that he could not remember when or where some of his holdups were committed, because he was "too high" from smoking marihuana. He was able to give descriptions of other crimes, committed when he was not under the influence of the drug. -- Moloch Of Marihuana (1945) Robert James Devine
1938, Feb 11 Michigan, Highland Park Another in Michigan. Three boys confessed to a criminal attack on a woman. The elder confessed other attacks, and gave as the reason that he was "high" on marihuana. This is one more proof that sex passion is aroused by marihuana. But more of that in another chapter. -- Book 1939- Enemies Of Youth
Three youths confessed to Highland Park, Michigan, police that they had criminally attacked a 26-year-old girl after forcing her escort from the car in which they were parked. The three lads were 20, 18 and 16 years of age. The elder of the trio confessed, attacks upon two other women whom he forced into an alley at 3 a. m. a few days before his arrest. This lad had been arrested four times previously and had served a prison term for disturbing the peace. He stated that marihuana cigarettes were responsible for his criminal career. His confession of marihuana addiction is one more proof of the fact that sex passion aroused by the use of marihuana is uncontrollable. But it does not erase from the minds of his victims the horror of their experiences, nor rid them of the results of his marihuana madness. -- “Assassin of Youth” (Book) 1954 By Robert Devine
On Monday, April 4, 1938, three youths confessed to Highland Park, Michigan, police that they had criminally attacked a 26-year-old girl on February 11. after forcing her escort from the car in which they were parked. The three lads were 20, 18 and 16 years of age. The elder of the trio confessed attacks upon two other women whom he forced into an alley at 3 a. m. a few days before his arrest. This lad had been arrested four times previously and had served a prison term for disturbing the peace. He stated that marihuana cigarettes were responsible for his criminal career. His confession of marihuana addiction is one more proof of the fact that sex passion aroused by the use of marihuana is uncontrollable. But it does not erase from the minds of his victims the horror of them experiences, nor rid them of the results of his marihuana madness. -- Moloch Of Marihuana (1945) Robert James Devine
Michigan - [Pre-Dec 1938] A college graduate, allegedly crazed by the continued use of marihuana cigarettes, brutally murdered her closest friend by pumping five bullets into her breast. Voluntarily giving herself up, she would offer no reason for her premeditated, cold-blooded act. Psychiatrists sought in vain to pierce her sullen silence by repeated interviews with her in her cell. To a schoolgirl friend she is alleged to have given the clue which science failed to secure. "Leave cigarettes alone, kiddo, and, whatever you do, never, never smoke 'reefers'; see what they have done for me? Nobody will ever know how often I have wanted to kill my Dad. I've got the best Dad in all the world, girlie, but I've had to fight myself for months to keep from killing him." Two days later she committed suicide in her cell! -- “Assassin of Youth” (Book) 1954 By Robert Devine
One University girl, in Michigan, under the influence of this dire drug killed her chum, another girl, with a knife and later committed suicide. -- 1938 Marihuana: weed of madness/Killer Weed
In Michigan, a college girl stabbed her dearest friend to death and then killed herself. -- On the Trail of Marihuana the Weed of Madness (1939) By Earle Rowell
Passers-by gasped in horror as a scream drew their attention to the body of a boy hurtling downward from an upstairs window of his home. Those who reached him almost as soon as he crashed upon the ground expected to find a corpse. He was not dead, however. Willing hands tenderly lifted him and an older sister, evidently the only other occupant of the house at the time, took charge of him until the arrival of a physician.
Little hope was held out for his recovery. For months he survived the terrible fall, though so broken in body as to be a helpless invalid. But apparently something more, than his body was affected. Those nearest him noticed a marked change in his demeanor. He seemed possessed of a terrible fear. He dreaded being left alone, even with his sister in the house.
Months after his death that sister, allegedly crazed by the continued use of marihuana cigarettes, brutally murdered her closest friend. It began then to be whispered about that her brother had not fallen from the window by accident but that, in one of her moments of marihuana madness, she had pushed him to his death. "Only that," said the gossips, "could explain his fear of being left alone in the house with her from the time of his 'accident' to the day of his death."
His sister, following the shocking and cold-blooded murder of her friend, would give authorities no reason for her premeditated act. Psychiatrists sought in vain to pierce the problem by repeated interviews with her in her cell. To a schoolgirl friend she is alleged to have given the clue which science failed to secure.
"Leave cigarettes alone, kiddo, and, whatever you do, never, never smoke 'reefers'; see what they have done for me. Nobody will ever know how often I have wanted to kill my Dad. I've got the best Dad in all the world, girlie, but I've had to fight myself for months to keep from killing him." Next day she committed suicide in her cell! -- Moloch Of Marihuana (1945) Robert James Devine
Michigan - Pre-Dec 1938[between 1935-1938]
In Grand Rapids, Michigan, Sheriff Blacklock, an ardent crusader against the weed, told us of a boy who, after school hours, drove a truck as a part-time job. One afternoon, while intoxicated with marihuana, he started after a group of his high-school friends, trying to run them down with his truck. They ran frantically for the sidewalks; he followed them, jumping the truck over the curb. As they ran through the gate and up on the porch of a house, he followed just behind and crashed through the fence into the porch, narrowly missing them. -- On the Trail of Marihuana the Weed of Madness (1939) By Earle Rowell
In Grand Rapids, Michigan, I learned of a high school boy who was a truck driver. He smoked marihuana and suddenly had an over-powering urge to kill his high school friends who were then walking on the sidewalk. He ran his truck onto the sidewalk in pursuit of them. They run screaming into nearby stores. The police took the boy to jail. -- Marihuana - The Weed of Madness/Killer Weed (1938) by Earle Rowell
Michigan - [Pre-1939]
In Flint, Michigan, we learned of a farmer who had a tall hedge about his large chicken yard. So may young people were plucking branches from his hedge that it was in a fair way to be destroyed. So he called the police. They were amazed to find that his hedge was worth several times the value of his farm. It was marihuana! The farmer didn't know what it was. He was forced to destroy it all, with a stern admonition not to let it grow again. -- On the Trail of Marihuana the Weed of Madness (1939) By Earle Rowell
Michigan - Pre- Dec 1939
The sheriff in Flint, Michigan, told us of a businessman there who, after smoking marihuana for only three days, thought he was a millionaire. He started passing out five- and ten-dollar bills to everybody on the street. The newsboy on the street got a five-dollar greenback for his three-cent paper; the bootblack, ten dollars for his ten-cent shoeshine; and so on, until, in three days, the man had passed out $2,700 - every cent he had. He had to be committed to the state asylum, for he had become completely deranged by marihuana. -- On the Trail of Marihuana the Weed of Madness (1939) By Earle Rowell
Michigan - In October 1943 in Detroit, Mich., Prison sentence given for claiming use of marihuana to evade military service Gad Sam Holland was sentenced in Federal Court to 5 years' imprisonment on a charge of attempting to evade induction into the Armed Services by smoking marihuana cigarettes to make him physically unfit before appearing for his examination, and by giving false statements that he was addicted to the use of marihuana. - After Holland was rejected by his Selective Service Board because he informed them of his use of marihuana, narcotic agents investigated his case which resulted in the conviction. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1943)
Michigan - Pre-1945 A Michigan publication dealing with juvenile crime printed a story to the effect that two high school football teams had been "pepped up" for their final games by the use of marihuana cigarettes smoked by the members of the teams. It has been impossible to obtain confirmation of this startling statement, though the publication carrying it is considered dependable and authoritative. -- “Assassin of Youth” (Book) 1954 By Robert Devine
A Michigan publication dealing with juvenile crime printed a story to the effect that two high school football teams had been "Pepped up" for their final games by the use of marihuana cigarettes smoked by the members of the teams. It has been impossible to obtain confirmation of this startling statement, though the publication carrying it is considered dependable and authoritative. -- Moloch Of Marihuana (1945) Robert James Devine
Detroit, Mich.-A 19-year-old man was arrested for murdering his 3 month-old daughter. His wife told homicide detectives her husband was a constant marihuana user and had been under its influence when he beat their infant daughter to death using his hands. --- FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Nov 1968
MINNESOTA
Minnesota - 1938---Minnesota - 1938 Winona, Minn. - Male - Smoked marihuana for years; held up 3 taxi-cabs. Sentenced, 10 years -- Article by James C. Munch; "UN Bulletin on Narcotics"-1966 Issue 2
1938 - E. Guthman, Winona, Minn. - m - Smoked marihuana for years; held up 3 taxi-cabs. Convicted sentenced 10 years. -- 6th conference report - INEOA 1965
Minnesota - In St. Paul, Minn., in February, 1950, a young 16-year-old lad was shot and killed and his father seriously wounded at the hands of a bandit who attempted to rob them. The father was able to identify the bandit, who, when arrested, readily admitted himself to be a marihuana addict. He had smoked a "reefer" just prior to the killing, to bolster his courage for the hold-up. The murderer was "out on parole" from a previous sentence for marihuana addiction! -- “Assassin of Youth” (Book) 1954 By Robert Devine
Minnesota - [Pre-1962] a man in Minnesota puts a bullet thru the head of a stranger on the road; ----Chicago Tribune Jan 17, 1962 pg 5 -- “Reefers: A Fast Road Downhill” by Harry J. Anslinger; Will Oursler
MISSISSIPPI
Clarksdale, Miss.; Following the arrest of a man in this town in possession of five and one-half pounds of marihuana prepared for smoking a number of growing marihuana plants were found and destroyed. dating from January, 1935 to march 31, 1936.
MISSOURI
For example, a few years ago the startling discovery was made in St. Louis scores of youngsters of high school age had become victims of the weed. A St. Louis paper at the time quoted one gentleman of the byways as saying, "The worst thing about that loco weed is the way these kids go for them. Most of them, boys and girls, are just punks and when they get high on the stuff you can write your own ticket." ----- The story is told by the same newspaper of a young man who became an addict and had eventually to be confined in an institution for the mentally diseased. In referring to him, one of his friends told an investigating reporter that "he was a swell fellow until marihuana got him. Like the rest of us, he thought the weed wasn't habit-forming and had no idea of the possible consequences of smoking it. He smoked so many he couldn't quit. Finally he went crazy and his folks put him in a sanitarium." Further quotations from the St. Louis paper, which illustrate what occurred among the young people who became victim of this weed through the encouragement of the peddlers, who made claims of the weed's value as a "love potion" and as the means by which they could easily become "the life of the party", follow: Among these is the story of a girl student, still in her teens, who told a reporter she had seen some of her friends under the influence, and named a boy and a girl who had lost their senses so completely after smoking marihuana that they eloped and were married. --- "’Another boy I know, 'this same girl continued,' got the habit so bad he didn't have enough money to buy all the cigarettes he craved. To get the money, he stole jewelry from his mother while under the influence of marihuana and pawned it. He was arrested, but when his mother found out who the thief was she naturally dropped her complaint. I know at least 20 boys, some of them in school, whom I have seen smoking marihuana cigarettes. Sometimes three or -four of them crowd into a telephone booth and puff on a single cigarette. Several girls I know have smoked marihuana and I smoked with them, but I've decided it's bad business and haven't smoked lately. Frequently, several of us would get into a parked automobile belonging to one of the boys and dose all the windows so that none of the smoke would escape." -- INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL DIGEST - Sep, 1937
The Kansas City Star charges that marihuana is being smoked by students in the Kansas City high schools, and in the University of Kansas. -- The Literary Digest (Magazine) Oct 24, 1936
A newspaper in St. Louis reported after an investigation this year that it had discovered marijuana “dens,” all frequented by children of high-school age. The same sort of story came from Missouri, Ohio, Louisiana, Colorado -- American Magazine “Marijuana, Assassin of Youth” By H.J Anslinger - July 1937
For example, a few years ago the startling discovery was made in St. Louis scores of youngsters of high school age had become victims of the weed. A St. Louis paper at the time quoted one gentleman of the byways as saying, "The worst thing about that loco weed is the way these kids go for them. Most of them, boys and girls, are just punks and when they get high on the stuff you can write your own ticket." ----- The story is told by the same newspaper of a young man who became an addict and had eventually to be confined in an institution for the mentally diseased. In referring to him, one of his friends told an investigating reporter that "he was a swell fellow until marihuana got him. Like the rest of us, he thought the weed wasn't habit-forming and had no idea of the possible consequences of smoking it. He smoked so many he couldn't quit. Finally he went crazy and his folks put him in a sanitarium." Further quotations from the St. Louis paper, which illustrate what occurred among the young people who became victim of this weed through the encouragement of the peddlers, who made claims of the weed's value as a "love potion" and as the means by which they could easily become "the life of the party", follow: Among these is the story of a girl student, still in her teens, who told a reporter she had seen some of her friends under the influence, and named a boy and a girl who had lost their senses so completely after smoking marihuana that they eloped and were married. -- INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL DIGEST - Sep, 1937
Nevada - At a Reno party a girl thrust a pistol in the waistband of her slacks and called to another teen-ager: "Go ahead and have a good time. If a cop comes to that door, I'll blast him." -- Fortnight Newsmagazine Aug 20, 1951
NEW JERSEY
[1936] In New Jersey, a similar, but ineffectual excuse was made by a young man sentenced to a long prison term for killing another youth and smashing his head and face to a pulp. -- THE CHRISTIAN CENTURY - June 29, 1938
a young man in New Jersey beats his 'friend's face to a pulp in a marihuana rage; -- Cosmopolitan - May 1938
In New Jersey a murder characterized by exceptional brutality occurred, in which one young man killed another, literally smashing his face and head to a pulp. His attorney's defense was that the young man's intellect was so prostrated from smoking marihuana cigarettes that he did not know what he was doing. The prosecutor was quite convinced that marihuana smoking had been indulged in and that the extreme brutality of the murder was accounted for by the use of the drug, though the intellect of the defendant was held to be not entirely continuously prostrate. -- “Assassin of Youth” (Book) 1954 By Robert Devine
1936 - M Charged with murder; offered defense he was under influence marihuana at time. -- Article by James C. Munch; "UN Bulletin on Narcotics"-1966 Issue 2
1936 - A. Ferrell, - Newark, N.J.- M - Charged with murder; offered defense he was under influence marihuana at time. - Arrested -- 6th conference report - INEOA 1965
In New Jersey a murder characterized by exceptional brutality occurred, in which one young man killed another, literally smashing his face and head to a pulp. His attorney's defense was that the young man's intellect was so prostrated from smoking marihuana cigarettes that he did not know what he was doing. The prosecutor was quite convinced that marihuana smoking had been indulged in and that the extreme brutality of the murder was accounted for by the use of the drug, though the intellect of the defendant was held to be not entirely nor continuously prostrate. -- Moloch Of Marihuana (1945) Robert James Devine
In New Jersey a particularly brutal murder occurred, in which case one young man killed another, literally smashing his face and head to a pulp. One of the defenses was that the defendant's intellect was so prostrated from his smoking marihuana cigarettes that he did not know what he was doing. The defendant was found guilty and sentenced to a long term of years. The, prosecutor was convinced that marihuana had been indulged in; that the smoking had occurred; and that the brutality of the murder was accounted for by the narcotic, though the defendant's intellect had not been totally prostrate. -- Murder victim = Thomas Crook. see picture TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS-1936
MR. ANSLINGER: I have another letter from the prosecutor at a place in New Jersey.
It is as follows:
The Interstate Commission on Crime
March 18, 1937
Charles Schwarz, Washington, DC
My Dear Mr. Schwarz:
That I fully appreciate the need for action, you may judge from the fact that last January I tried a murder case for several days, of a particularly brutal character in which one colored young man killed another, literally smashing his face and head to a pulp, as the enclosed photograph demonstrates. One of the defenses was that the defendant's intellect was so prostrated from his smoking marihuana cigarettes that he did not know what he was doing. The defendant was found guilty and sentenced to a long term of years. I am convinced that marihuana had been indulged in, that the smoking had occurred, and the brutality of the murder was accounted for by the narcotic, though the defendant's intellect had not been totally prostrate, so the verdict was legally correct. It seems to me that this instance might be of value to you in your campaign.
Sincerely yours,
Richard Hartshorne
Mr. Hartshorne is a member of the Interstate Commission on Crime. We have many cases of this kind. That is one of the worst cases that has come to my attention, and it is to show you its relation to crime that I am putting those two letters in the record. --- Mr. Anslinger 1937 Congressional Testimony
New Jersey - Camden, N.J., January 1968----Three men heldup a toy store in Camden. All three suspects left the store, got into their car and smoked marihuana. They then returned to the store and killed the store attendant with a revolver. -- Congressional Record -- April 4, 1968
Asbury Park, N.J.; Police arrested a man having 100 of the dope cigarettes. He stated he had gathered a number of growing marihuana plants in a field near Tuckerton, N.J. and had had the proprietoress of the boarding house in which he lived dry them in the oven, telling her that cigarettes made from the leaves were good for a head cold. The field of growing marihuana was destroyed. dating from January, 1935 to march 31, 1936.
Atlantic City.--Federal, State, and city detectives had received reports that marihuana cigarettes in varying quantities were being peddled in this vicinity. On Sep. 5, 1936, they watched an informer make contact with Floyd Peters, Atlantic City, and purchase two marihuana cigarettes which the informer turned over to .them. The officers then raided the premises and found Harry Smith, Joseph Morgano, Elizabeth Bailey, and Clarence Henry smoking a Turkish water pipe, the bowl of which was filled with marihuana, John Harper had two marihuana cigarettes on his person and Floyd Peters attempted to conceal a match box containing marihuana cigarettes. The officers continued their search of the premises and found a trunk in which was a bag containing bulk marihuana. There was also discovered a glass tube containing pantopon. One of the officers reported that he had received reports of opium smoking at this address and was pressing his search for Opium when the marihuana and pantopon were found. The defendants were immediately given a hearing in the State court. Elizabeth Bailey, Clarence Henry, Joseph Morgano, and Harry Smith were held on $500 bond. Peters was held without bond and later was sentence to State prison from 4 to 7 years on one count. Peters stated late that he had been addicted to the use of marihuana for more than a year and that he had purchased 2 pounds of the dried marihuana for $35 from a resident of New York City.
Jersey City.-Oct. 14, 1936, pursuant to information received by the police department of Jersey City, N. J., narcotic agents discovered a patch of growing marihuana in Newark extending from a few feet to a city block in width and running a distance of about 1 mile. This patch contained about 65 tons of the marihuana plant, all of which were destroyed.
NEW MEXICO
New Mexico - Feb 10, 1936---A report from New Mexico states that after long and careful investigation the district attorney of Santa Fe, New Mexico, with an, investigator for the New Mexico State Police, seized 15 pounds of dried marihuana. just the day before, a murder had been committed by two men known to be addicted to the use of marihuana. One of these murderers attacked the arresting officers with a gun at the time of arrest. It was afterward found that the perpetrators of these and many other crimes had been securing their marihuana from the one source of supply. Seven arrests resulted from the murder and marihuana cases, and five convictions were obtained. -- “Assassin of Youth” (Book) 1954 By Robert Devine
A report from New Mexico states that after long and careful investigation the district attorney of Santa Fe, New Mexico, with an investigator for the New Mexico State Police, seized 15 pounds of dried marihuana on February 10, 1936. Just the day before, a murder had been committed by two men known to be addicted to, the use of marihuana. One of these murderers attacked the arresting officers with a gun at the time of arrest. It was afterward found that the perpetrators of these and many other crimes had been securing their marihuana from the one source of supply. Seven arrests resulted from the murder and marihuana cases, and five convictions were obtained. -- Moloch Of Marihuana (1945) Robert James Devine
New Mexico The, district attorney of Santa Fe, N. Mex., and an investigator for the New Mexico State police seized 1.5 pounds of dried marihuana on February 10, 1936. On February 9 a murder was committed by two men addicted to the use of marihuana. One of these assaulted the arresting officers with a gain at the time of arrest. From this source of supply represented by the foregoing seizure it was believed that the perpetrators of these crimes secured the illicit marihuana. Seven arrests resulted from the murder and marihuana cases, and five convictions were obtained, the other two being released on bail of $1,500 each. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1936)
From New Mexico comes another case of murder traced directly to marihuana. -- Book 1939- Enemies Of Youth
Santa Fe, N. Mex., an investigator for the New Mexico State police seized 15 pounds of dried marihuana on Feb 10, 1936. addicted shots, etc.
The, district attorney of Santa Fe, N. Mex., and an investigator for the New Mexico State police seized 1.5 pounds of dried marihuana on February 10, 1936. On February 9 a murder was committed by two men addicted to the use of marihuana. One of these assaulted the arresting officers with a gain at the time of arrest. From this source of supply represented by the foregoing seizure it was believed that the perpetrators of these crimes secured the illicit marihuana. Seven arrests resulted from the murder and marihuana cases, and five convictions were obtained, the other two being released on bail of $1,500 each.
NEW YORK
New York: - June 17, 1935, in the backyard of a deserted house in Brooklyn, N. Y., police came across a large growth of Marihuana, and destroyed it. -- Finger Print & Identification Magazine March 1938 pp3
New York: [Pre-1935]
Of the youthful smokers in New York a representative example was afforded by a boy of sixteen, a novice in the Hudson Dusters gang. He said that while smoking reefers he felt happy and light as if he were running or walking on air; but his family on bringing him to a hospital, revealed that for two months he had been apprehensive, scratching his hands nervously, praying constantly, complaining that somebody was reading his thoughts. Psychologists may well suggest that these youths take to marihuana because there is a certain vacuum in their lives which the present-day family and school cannot fill. The same paucity of aims made marihuana popular in the south. -- The American Mercury - Dec 1935
New York City; A large patch of marihuana weed was found growing in the grounds of the Welfare Island Penitentiary, where the plants were rated by prisoners assigned to grounds duty. dating from January, 1935 to march 31, 1936.
Rochester, N.Y.; In a vacant lot on Lake Avenue, a quantity of marihuana sufficient to make 5000 cigarettes was found and destroyed. Three hundred pounds of cut, dried and bundled marihuana weeds was found in the rear on a River Street house, enough to "spike" 15,000 marihuana cigarettes. Another patch was found growing on Hincher Street. dating from January, 1935 to march 31, 1936.
Buffalo The local police destroyed a patch of marihuana approximately twenty by forth feet in size, growing behind a garage. The woman arrested, when arraigned in court the following day, charged with possession of the drug, told the Court she had planted the seed herself. dating from January, 1935 to march 31, 1936.
Barren Island, Brooklyn.-On September 2, 1936, police uprooted a large number of marihuana plants growing on a 5-acre field on which milk goats belonging to squatters in the vicinity were grazing.. The members of the New York narcotic squad in charge of workers from the department of health destroyed the plants which appeared to thrive on the sandy soil. This was said to have been the largest area, of the growing plant ever found in Brooklyn. On the same date there were destroyed by local officers 35 pounds of the dried plant which had been found in a vacant building in Brooklyn.
The New York Daily News says that twenty-three-year-old R D----, socially prominent, arrested on a Harlem corner acquired the marihuana habit at Amherst College. -- The Literary Digest (Magazine) Oct 24, 1936
New York: [Pre-1938]
MR. SMITH: We did have in White Plains [New York] this additional situation: The fact appeared there that with children of high school age with good financial and social background, that two of those individuals, who were in difficulties there, stated that the smoking of reefers had become a part of the initiation in certain clubs or school fraternities. That probably is a little bit unusual, as an incident, but that has been definitely reported in that vicinity.
COMMISSIONER ANSLINGER: Did you not arrest a youngster sixteen years old for selling?
Mr.. SMITH: Yes, sir. There were two youngsters of excellent background, and fine social connections. That was probably a larger factor, as compared to anything else, I think, and that was that they probably had too much financial and social backing. That may be more true in that particular county than in other counties in that State. -- Marihuana Conference -Held Dec. 5, 1938
1938 NEW YORK, N. Y. Among important cases developed during the year concerning interstate distribution was that against one Jose Samaniego and others. The principals were residents of New York City. They learned that large supplies of marihuana were available in southern Minnesota and sent to that territory. Marihuana prepared for smoking was subsequently shipped from Minnesota to New York and to Chicago, ILL., where it was distributed in the illicit traffic. Records obtained in the investigation indicated that approximately 294 kg. 835 gm. of marihuana prepared for smoking had been distributed in New York by this organization. As a result of the investigation, two persons were convicted in Minnesota, two in Chicago, and six were convicted at New York City.
New York - [Pre-1946]
And that other little school-girl, in a city of our Empire State. Brilliant student; graduated from Junior High at 13. I took the broken-hearted mother of that child to the County Jail where, at 14, she was behind prison bars for a sex-crime. "Sweet, lovable, disposition, until she got Marijuana and it 'got' her and changed her whole nature," so two High School teachers who had known her from babyhood told me. But before they took her to prison she attempted to set fire to their home and tried to kill her mother with a kitchen-knife. Sex-criminal, pyromaniac and would be murderess at 14! And Marijuana did it. -- War With the Underworld 1946
New York - [Pre-1946] A policeman in my audience at Silver Creek, N. Y., told me: "I am in close touch with the Narcotic Squad of the Buffalo police force, and I know that, with the exception of a few adults, the entire traffic in Marijuana there is among Grade and High School children." -- War With the Underworld 1946
New York: - [Pre-1946] Late last Summer a member of the official board of a church in Hornell, N. Y., told me, in the presence of his pastor and others: "Just recently a stranger in town gave my boy a cigarette. He only smoked half of it But he told me, 'Dad, that half cigarette made me as crazy as a loon. I tried to fight the man who gave it to me, and another man standing by. They had to hold me by main strength to keep me from assaulting both of them! . . . Had that Homell boy had access to an axe, butcher-knife---anything to kill with---there probably would have been a bloody murder in Hornell. -- War With the Underworld 1946
New York: 1953 - M Negro, shot and killed while attempting holdup grocer in Harlem; plea guilty. Arrested -- Article by James C. Munch; "UN Bulletin on Narcotics"-1966 Issue 2
1953 - A. Callaway - M - Negro, shot and killed while attempting holdup grocer in Harlem; plea guilty. - Arrested -- 6th conference report - INEOA 1965
New York - [Pre-1946] A former pastor at Endicott, N. Y., now pastor at Eden, Erie County, tells me of an attempt on his life, at Endicott, by a friend, wielding a big knife while under the influence of this "killer-weed." -- War With the Underworld 1946
New York: Asbury Park, N.J., May, 1965----Two men boxed playfully together in the street. One participant was knocked to the ground. He came to his feet with a knife in his hand. His opponent started to retreat. The angered man chased and caught his companion. He slashed the frightened man's throat and, in a frenzied state, repeatedly stabbed the helpless man. The murderer then calmly folded his knife and walked away. He is still a fugitive. Just prior to the Incident, the two men had smoked marihuana together. -- Congressional Record -- April 4, 1968
New York: - Roosevelt, N.Y., March 9, 1966----While smoking marihuana at home a man became violent. He brutally assaulted his wife and terrorized his two children, continuing to smoke marihuana throughout the Incident. -- Congressional Record -- April 4, 1968
New York: This was the craziest business you ever saw. Every one of these so-called marijuana insanity defenses were successful. The one in New York was just outlandish. Two police officers were shot and killed in cold blood. The defendant puts on the marijuana insanity defense and, in that case, there was never even any testimony that the defendant had even used marijuana. The testimony in the New York case was that, from the time the bag of marijuana came into his room it gave off "homicidal vibrations", so he started killing dogs, cats, and ultimately two police officers. -- A Speech to the California Judges Association 1995 annual conference by Charles Whitebread
OHIO
OHIO - Dec 1936 - Feb 1937
A gang of seven young lads, all under twenty years of age, had terrorized central Ohio for more than two months. During that time they carried out 38 "stick-ups." Finally arrested in Columbus, Ohio, they confessed that they operated while "high" on marlhuana.
Listen to the testimony of one of these boys, the youngest lad in the group:
"Me? Sure I smoke 'reefers'. All us guys do. I been usin' 'em maybe two-three years. A guy has t 0 have somethin' like that ta be good at this game. Th' rest o' th' guys in th' gang call me 'Th' Kid,' see, 'cause I'm the youngest in the bunch. But they ain't got nothin' on me, see? Maybe I ain't as tough yet as some o' them. So what? I just smokes me a coupla reefers' before we pull a job and boy, am I rarin' to go? And how! Listen copper, I ain't pullin' no fast one when I tell ya I could tear any guy apart and get a kick outta doin' it when I'm high on reefers. Did I lay down on any o' them 38 stick-ups? Not me! Say, that ain't a bad record fer kids, is it? 38 stickups in a coupla months! Chee, did some of them guys get scared when we told 'em to 'stick 'em up'! Boy, if they'd a known we wuz high on reefers they'd a-been scareder than they wuz.
"Sure the other guys in the gang smoked 'em, too. They been loadin' up on 'muggles' for about four-five years. It was them brung me in on the racket. Lissen ---I ain't squawkin' on the gang. I ain't no squealer. Us guys stick together, get me? Boy, was it funny to see them gas station guys and th' others reach for the sky when we hollered at 'em: 'This is a stick-up'! Good thing for them mugs to reach high plenty quick, too, told ya, a guy ain't really 'sponsible when he’s loaded himself with a coupla reefers. Like I said, I anin’t a tough guy, usual-like, but chee, if any of them mugs we ntuck up tried to pull anythin’ when we wuz high on Mary Warners, we’d sure have give ‘em the works.
“0h, yeh, ya wanta know about the gang. I ain't squealin', get me? But ya ast me about them startin' ta smoke. Well, they told me they got started in high school, same as I did. Ya can always get 'reefers,' or mebbe 'tea' from some of the 'peds' around school if ya know what to ast for. Them 'peds' make big dough, b'lieve me. The tough part comes when a guy, lets hisself get low on reefers and then has to go out an' pull a job without 'em so as ta get dough to buy some more, if ya know what I mean. A guy has ta watch hisself, too, 'cause if ya gets too 'high' on. muggles before ya pulls a stick-up ya could do somethin' without knowin' it.
Honest, sarge, a guy could kill some mug and never know it. Look at that gas station guy, there, f'r'nstance. Him tellin' ya that I tried to bust his brains out with the butt of my gat. Says I told him I would. Maybe I did, at that, but chee! I sure don't remember nothin' about it. Reefers is like that, though, if ya get too, high on 'em. A guy has to be careful. "Ya, ast me why we don't quit smokin' them reefers? Say Mister. ya never smoked 'em, didja? Well, let me tell ya somethin'! Ya just can't quit, that's all. When ya try to quit ya gets jumpy, if ya know what I mean. And how? Boy, yer hands starts ta shake all the time, and ya hear the least little noise. Try it some time, Mister. I'm tellin' ya, when ya begins ta get low in reefers ya get an awful dopey feelin' like ya was sinkin'. Gee, ya gets just gotta get some more, quick, or ya gets mopey and yer folks notice ya ain’t just right, and a guy just has to pull himself outta it by startin’ in again. Ya gets so ya smoke a ‘stick’ a day, and ya can't stop. I know, sarge, 'cause I've tried ta snap out of it, but it ain't no use once ya get started.
"Ya ast me about them 'peds' sarge, but honest, I can't tell ya nothin' nohow. Them guys is tough, Mister. They told us they'd bump us off if we squealed. They give us the names of some kids they bumped off for squealin'. I ain't hankerin' for no tortures like they tell us they'll do. No sir, not me!"
And so the marihuana menace marches on! -- Moloch Of Marihuana (1945) Robert James Devine
The following cases taken from the files of the United States Bureau of Narcotics illustrate the disastrous effect upon many of its users: --- A gang of seven young men, all under 20 years of age, were arrested in Columbus, Ohio, on robbery charges. They confessed that they operated while "high" on marihuana. --- One of the youths admitted that he had smoked "reefers" on and off for at least two years, and said that when he went with the others on stick-ups he was "ready to tear anybody apart" who opposed him. He claimed the practice of smoking marihuana first started among his friends about four or five years previously, while most of them were still in high school. In describing his crime he said: "If I had killed somebody on a job, I'd never have known it." This was verified by the officer obtaining the confessions, who explained that the hardest problem was to get these youths to remember who committed the stick-ups, or when or where they happened. -- National Parent-Teacher (PTA) - May, 1938
In Ohio, a gang of seven youngsters who learned to smoke reefers in high school terrorized a town by making 'thirty-eight holdups. Because they were drugged at the time, they had trouble in recalling their crimes. “If I had killed somebody on a job,” said one, "I'd never have known it." -- The CHRISTIAN CENTURY - June 29, 1938
A gang of seven young lads, all under twenty years of age, had terrorized central Ohio for more than two months. During that time they carried out 38 "stick-ups." Finally arrested in Columbus, Ohio, they confessed that they operated while "high" on marihuana. Police officers who checked upon the stories of this youthful gang found them to be correct. They testified that the hardest problem was to get the youngsters to remember, which one of them committed the stick-ups, or where they took place. Even when they could remember the robberies they could not recall the details, or what they said or did, though they seemed to be able to remember and gloat over the reaction of fear in the faces of their victims. -- “Assassin of Youth” (Book) 1954 By Robert Devine
In Ohio a gang of seven young men, all less than twenty years old, had been caught after a series of 38 holdups. An officer asked them where they got their incentive.
“We only work when we’re high on ‘tea,’” one explained. “On what?” “On tea. Oh, there are lots of names for it. Some people call it ‘mu’ or ‘muggles’ or ‘Mary Weaver’ or ‘moocah’ or ‘weed’ or ‘reefers’ - there’s a million names for it.” “All of which mean marijuana?” “Sure. Us kids got on to it in high school three or four years ago; there must have been twenty-five or thirty of us who started smoking it. -- “But after you get the habit,” the boy added, “you don’t bother much about finding a place to smoke. I’ve seen as many as three or four high-school kids jam into a telephone booth and take a few drags.” The officer questioned him about the gang’s crimes: “Remember that filling-station attendant you robbed - how you threatened to beat his brains out?” - The youth thought hard. “I’ve got a sort of hazy recollection,” he answered. “I’m not trying to say I wasn’t there, you understand. The trouble is, with all my gang, we can’t remember exactly what we’ve done or said. When you get to ‘floating,’ it’s hard to keep track of things.” From the other youthful members of the gang the officer could get little information. They confessed the robberies as one would vaguely remember bad dreams. “If I had killed somebody on one of those jobs, I’d never have known it,” explained one youth. “Sometimes it was over before I realized that I’d even been out of my room. -- American Magazine “Marijuana, Assassin of Youth” By H.J Anslinger - July 1937
Ohio - A gang of seven young men, all under 20 years of age, who for more than 2 months terrorized central Ohio with a series of about 38 stick-ups, were arrested in Columbus, Ohio, on robbery charges. They confessed that they operated while "high" on marihuana. One of the youths admitted that he had smoked "reefers" on and off for at least 2 years, and said that when he went with the others on stick-ups he was "ready to tear anybody apart" who opposed him. He claimed the practice of smoking marihuana first started among his friends about 4 or 5 years previously, while most of them were still in high school. In describing his crimes he said: "If I had killed somebody on a job, I'd never have known it." This was verified by the officer obtaining the confessions, who explained that the hardest problem was to get these youths to remember who committed the stick-ups, or when or where they, happened. When police told them how a filling-station attendant reported a robber threatened to beat his brains out with a revolved butt, one admitted he was the robber, but had forgotten his own words. It was almost impossible for them to break off the habit when they could still get "tea" so easily, they claimed. "When you try to break off you get jumpy, your hands shake, and you hear the least little noise. A dopey feeling comes when you're going down, and you get money. You get so you smoke a 'stick' a day, and you can't stop. -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1936)
A gang of seven young men, all under 20 years of age, who for more than two months terrorized central Ohio with a series of about thirty-eight stick-ups, were arrested in March 1937 in Columbus, Ohio, on robbery charges. They confessed that they operated while “high” on Marihuana. (sic some info)
A gang of boys, all under twenty, carried out thirty-eight "stickups." They operated while "high" on marihuana. -- Book 1939- Enemies Of Youth
In Ohio, a gang of seven youths under twenty recently perpetrated thirty-eight stick-ups while operating "high" on marijuana. -- FORUM AND CENTURY - Jan. 1939
Seven youths, all under 20 and all under influence of marijuana, terrorized area with 38 stickups in two months before capture. -- The Truth about Marijuana - STEPPING STONE to DESTRUCTION June 1967
In Ohio, a gang of seven young men, all less than 20 years old, had been caught after a series of 38 holdups. An officer asked them where they got their incentive.
"We only work when we're high on 'tea,' " one explained. "On what?"
"On tea. Oh, there are lots of names for it. Some people call it ‘mu’ or smuggles' or 'Mary Weavers' or 'moocah' or 'weed' or 'reefers' there's a million names for it." "All of which mean marihuana?" "Sure. Us kids got on to it in high school three or four years ago; there must have been 25 or 30 of us who started smoking it. The stuff was cheaper then; you could buy a whole tobacco tin of it for 50 cents. Now these peddlers will charge you all they can get, depending on how shaky you are. Usually though, it's two cigarettes for a quarter." -- INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL DIGEST - Sep, 1937
COLUMBUS, 0hio. 1936. A gang of seven young men, all under 20 years of age, who for more than 2 months terrorized central Ohio with a series of about 38 stick-ups, were arrested in Columbus, Ohio, on robbery charges. They confessed that they operated while "high" on marihuana. One admitted that he had smoked "reefers" for at least 2 years, and said that when he went with the others on stick-ups he was "ready to tear anybody apart" who opposed him. In describing his crimes he said: "If I had killed somebody on a job, I'd never have known it." This was verified by the officer obtaining the confessions, who explained that the hardest problem was to get these youths to remember who committed the stick-ups, or when or where they happened. When police told them how a filling-station attendant reported a robber threatened to beat his brains out with a revolver butt, one admitted he was the robber, but had forgotten his own words. It was almost impossible for them to break off the habit when they could get "tea," they claimed. "When you try to break off your hands shake, and you get jumpy, you hear the least little noise. A dopey feeling comes when you're going down, and you get money. You get so you smoke a 'stick' a day, and you can't stop." -- The Traffic in Opium and Other Dangers Drugs (1936) (mention is made of the tax of the Oct. 1, 1937.)
1937 - M. 7 men, all under 20, terrorized and robbed Central Ohio area. 38 stickups in 2 months while under influence marihuana -- Article by James C. Munch; "UN Bulletin on Narcotics"-1966 Issue 2
1937 - M - 7 men, all under 20, terrorized and robbed Arrested Central Ohio area, 38 stickups in 2 months while under influence marihuana. - Arrested -- 6th conference report - INEOA 1965
Mr. Anslinger: Here is a gang of seven young men, all seven of them, young men under 21 years of age. They terrorized central Ohio for more than two months, and they were responsible for 38 stick-ups. They all boast they did those crimes while under the influence of marihuana.
Mr. Lewis: Was that as an excuse, or a defense?
Mr. Anslinger: No, sir. I think it makes them irresponsible. A man does not know what he is doing. It has not been recognized as a defense by the courts, although it has been used as a defense. As to these young men I was telling you about, one of them said if he had killed somebody on the spot he would not have known it. -- Harry Anslinger 1937 Congressional Testimony
Recently, in Ohio, there was a gang of very young men, all under 20 years of age, every one of whom had confessed that they had committed some 38 holdups while under the influence of the drug.. . . . That was demonstrated by these seven boys, who said they did not know what they were doing after they smoked marihuana. They conceived the series of crimes while in a state of marihuana intoxication. -- Mr. Anslinger 1937 Congressional Testimony
[MUSEUM NOTE:] Looking over WPA Newspaper Indexes for that era shows only One gas-station robbery was reported during that time period. This article reads as follows:
Ohio State Journal [Newspaper]Article -- Norbert Muscalski, filling station held up [Feb 22, 1937 pg 11 column 1]
“Robbers obtained $10 from Norbert Muscalski 1246 Seventeenth Ave, Attendant of the filling station at 1640 Cleveland Ave. he told police.“ --- No other info was given.
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 version
1937 - H. Barnes, - Ohio - M - First degree murder, blamed on smoking marihuana. - Arrested -- 6th conference report - INEOA 1965
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
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
These are not pleasant thoughts. Neither is it a pleasant thought that just recently a fourteen-year-old boy in Ohio murdered a six-year-old girl after a criminal attack, and explained his act by saying that a man had induced him to "try" a dope ciga