100 years ago in The Saratogian
Tuesday, June 19, 1917
Three Saratoga Springs physicians and one local druggist have been indicted for violating federal law by prescribing narcotics to addicts, The Saratogian reports.
“Just what steps led to the Federal investigation is unknown,” a reporter notes, but the indictiments follow the arrests earlier this year of admitted drug addicts from Albany and Schenectady who came to the Spa City to have prescriptions for narcotics written and filled. The four men indicted are accused of violating Section 2 of the Harrison Anti-Narcotic Act of 1914.
Dr. John F. Humphrey was identified earlier this year as the doctor who wrote prescriptions for the out-of-town addicts. The other two physicians indicted today are Dr. George H. Fish and Dr. William J. Green. Frederic Menges is the indicted druggist.
Warrants were delivered to Saratoga Springs this morning by a deputy marshal. Rather than subject the defendants to a humiliating perp walk, authorities notify the four men by telephone to appear before U.S. Commissioner Charles M. Davison.
Represented by Saratoga Springs mayor Walter P. Butler, the four defendants put up $500 bail apiece before leaving for Syracuse, where they’ll appear before a federal judge this afternoon.
RED CROSS CAMPAIGN
Saratoga Springs has a goal of $13,000, or $100 for every city resident currently in military service, in the national drive to raise $100,000,000 for the American Red Cross this week.
“The American Red Cross is filling the minds of Saratogians as completely today as the Liberty Loan was a week ago today,” The Saratogian reports as the campaign kicks off officially this morning.
“One cannot look in any direction without catching sight of a poster bearing an appeal in cartoon form for the Red Cross. Legends warning the citizen of his duty toward the American Red Cross, the officially recognized relief agency that will follow our troops in France, silently speak from every window. In store windows along Broadway today, Red Cross displays began to blossom.”
The Spa City’s $13,000 goal is roughly equivalent in buying power to $244,000 in 2017.
PATRIOTIC SEWING
“When Dr. Arthur W. Elting’s Red Cross unit of physicians and nurses reaches the battle front in norther France and begins its work of relief, then will Saratoga Springs have its first direct part in the world war,” tonight’s paper reports.
Dr. Elting’s unit will take with it thousands of surgical dressings produced by volunteers working at Convention Hall. Volunteers take a four-week course to learn how to make nineteen different kinds of cloth bandage. A reporter hails the volunteers as “an energetic and patriotic band of Saratoga women.”