ANIMATED "DOPE" SHOP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7088, 2 May 1901, Page 2

ANIMATED "DOPE" SHOP.

MORPHINE MIKE SOLD OPIATES IN NEW YORK ! ON THE SLY.

"Morphine Mike," who is Michael M'Guire of Grand Street, ds wanted by the New York police on a charge of violating the laws governing the sale pf opiates and other narcotics. '

According t^ the police, Morphine Mike ig to animated "dope" shop. He Js a small manr, with a full blaok beard, and has rounded shoulders, eugges&ve of a hunchback. He earner to New York several; years ago. A short time ago M^Buire appealed in the Tenderloin as a pedlarof shoestrings and collar buttons. .

M'Guire had! not been in the district more than a week before he was doing a flourishing business. He had two sets of customers. One set, the wealthier of the two, he saw at their homes, where he sold his drugs at a slight increase over the regular prices. In this way men amd women— and there were many women among his customers — could obtain morphine or opium without the risk of exposure. The second and poorer, class were met in the dark alleys. They had not cash enough to buy a vial of morphine, ea Morphine Mike sold it at So much a dose. In meeting these customers M'Guire would walk slowly through one of the darkest cross Streets, until' he -saw some nerveracked "patient" dn the shadow of aii alley. At a 'signal he would approach, and hastily producing: the needle, would give a hypodermic injection in the arm oi? shoulder. The price of the injection- varied with the amount of morphine used 1 . Usually ten cents was the amount paid. M'Guire de nmndenj oash mi advance, and no amount of coaxing could make hnn bring out the needle until the sum had been pocketed. In administering cocaine^ M'Guire used jthe customary for which he had a fixed price. Two applicatachs, if taken within fiye mijuites, could be' procured at a reduction."

If the police are accurately informed M'Guire made enough money in two years to purchase several building lota and to maintain a comfortable home. Though he always .dressed shabbily when on his beat, he Wore good clothes when not around the Tenderloin or Grand! Street opium districts.