Vol 25-1 Fall 2014
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Florida Keys Sea Heritage Journal VOL. 25 NO. 1 FALL 2014 USS SHARK OFFICIAL QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE KEY WEST MARITIME HISTORICAL SOCIETY Dope Den on Duval Street. Following letters are from the Scott De Wolfe collection and were transcribed by Mary Haffenreffer. They include letters from Mrs. Gray L. O’Brien, also known as Mrs. W.D. Cantrell, writing to her husband in jail in Dade County in June 1921. One or more of the letters containing morphine were confiscated by law enforcement Mrs. O’Brien appears to have been a player in a major drug operation in Key West. The article incudes correspondences when the letters were confiscated by federal officials who forwarded them to the appropriate agency for investigation. Local law enforcement agencies were not included in any of the correspondences because the lack of trust. As often happens in history research, the whole story could not be found. A search of local records and of Miami newspapers failed to find any reference to this incident. The Jefferson Hotel in the 100 block of Duval Street. Photo credit: Monroe County Library. Special Agent in Charge dope charge. His time will be up in DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE a few days, and there is now a check Bureau of Investigation Dear Sir: here to pay his fine. I have asked Miami, Fla. Enclosed are letters which were Moritz to delay collecting the fine intercepted this date by Deputy until day after tomorrow. June 4, 1921 Marshall Moritz. They were written As the thick letter indicates, Mrs. by Mrs. Gray L. O’Brien to her O’Brien is on the inside of a dope Howard P. Wright, Esq., husband, who is now in the county ring at Key West. The Manuel A. Box 32, Jacksonville, Fla. jail serving time on a possession of (Continued on page 3) SocietyNews by Tom Hambright of the war. The G.A.R. promoted voting rights for then called “Negro”/”Colored” black veterans, as many white veterans recognized their demonstrated patriotism and sacrifices, providing one of the first racially integrated social/fraternal organizations in America. Key West remained in the Union The Florida Keys Sea Heritage during the Civil War and after the Journal is published quarterly. war local veterans formed a unit of Subscription is available through the G.A.R. post named Major B.C. membership. Copyright 2014 by Lincoln Post No. 13, which in the the Key West Maritime Historical late 1800s may have been one of Society of the Florida Keys, Inc. the few integrated organization in The art on the masthead, the USS the state. The G.A.R. is listed in the Shark, was drawn by Bill Muir. A newspaper article with the with the city directories with the officers. The partial list of the G.A.R. listing in Maloney’s 1900 Directory Editor: Tom Hambright showed Dr. J.W.V.R. Plummer, PC; Anyone that studies history will Frank Shavers, S V C; Henry Colson, tell you that sometime you cannot J V C; James A. Roberts, adjt. Letters and articles are welcome. find the rest of the story. Our front After years of searching for more Please write to: Editor, Florida Keys page article is such a story, but information on the local unit of Sea Heritage Journal, KWMHS, there is a enough information for a the G.A.R. without success when P.O. Box 695, Key West, FL look at the drug trade in 1921. I found the above partial article in 33041 or visit our web site I have searched for years for the the Scott De Wolf Collection which Keywestmaritime.org. membership of The Grand Army list some of the original members of of The Republic in Key West. the Major B.C. Lincoln post being The Grand Army was a fraternal Key West Maritime installed by Frank N. Wicker, who Historical Society organization composed of veterans was Collector of Custom from 1873 Board of Directors of American Civil War for the to 1883. Several more searches of Northern/Federal forces. Founded the De Wolf Collection has failed President: Corey Malcom in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois, and to find the missing piece, so far no Vice President: Bill Verge growing to include hundreds of luck. Secretary: Andrea Comstock posts (local community units) The members of the G.A.R. in the Treasurer: Tom Hambright across the nation, (predominately artical are: William H. Wood, John in the North, but also a few in the Williams, D.B. Mathews, Moses George Craig South and West), it was dissolved Thomas, John Scheurer, George H. J. Gregory Griffin in 1956 when its last member, Wood, Tony Laurie, Henry Linter, Bill Grosscup Albert Woolson (1847-1956) of Thomas Ponshot, Charles Williams, Mary Haffenreffer Duluth, Minnesota, died. Linking John Fletcher, Stepney Austin, Clark Sheri Lohr men through their experience Yarwood and Moses Crawford. Bruce Neff Wendy Tucker New Members John Viele Robert J. Wolz Peter Admas, Glenwood, MD; Mr. & Story, Dividson, NC; Alan Teitelan, Mrs. T.M. Arrasmith, Washington, Key West; Richard Vaughan, Kansas David Harrison Wright DC; Max Foster, Riverview, FL; City, MO; Alvin Whitaker, Waterloo, Herb Martin, Longwood, FL; James WI. 2 - FLORIDA KEYS SEA HERITAGE JOURNAL - FALL 2014 (Dope from page 1) I am sending some DeCastro is the Cuban who was Department of Justice correspondence turned over to me caught here some time ago with Bureau of Investigation today by Special Agent D. of J. a large quantity of morphine, and Miami, Fla. No doubt there is something to it who was recently sentenced (very but Key West is a hard place to get lightly). The Murphy mentioned is June 8, 1921 results. Joe Krause, who was also recently Respects, released from jail on a liquor charge. Howard P. Wright, Esq., There is little doubt that Krause and Box 32, Jacksonville, Fla. W. J. Maloy DeCastro are in Cuba to get a load Narcotics Inspector of dope. Dear Sir: You will also note the “one big block,” this being a large block of Gray L. O’Brien and wife alias TREASURY DEPARTMENT morphine crushed. This was sent Mrs. W. D. Cantrell Internal Revenue Service through the mails. The reference to Atlanta, Ga. “Garcia at the Victoria” means one Enclosed herewith are more of the Cuban waiters at the Victoria letters in one of which is some June 10, 1921 Restaurant in Key West. This man is morphine, and in another, a Office of Supervising Federal a dope seller. reference to sending the morphine. Prohibition Agent The O’Briens ran a dope den here Enclosed also is a note to Dr. L. Gulf Department all winter, and the arrest of O’Brien H. Martin, signed by B. C. Taylor, caused him to become acquainted a prisoner in the county jail. This HGJ. with Krause and DeCastro, while note was taken from the lining of all were in jail. The police recently the clothing of O’Brien when he Mr. C. E. Miller closed the house, and ordered was released from the County Jail Narcotic Inspector Krause and Mrs. O’Brien out of this morning on payment of a fine Atlanta, Ga. town. The Mitch mentioned is a by his wife. Miami dope runner who has never Kindly refer these matters to the Sir: been caught. nearest narcotic inspector. Enclosed you will find Kindly refer this matter to a information transmitted to this narcotic inspector, and impress Respectfully, office by Narcotic Inspector W. J. upon them the fact that they must Maloy. take immediate action if they wish Leon E. Howe In course of your investigations to catch DeCastro and Krause. I Special Agent in Florida please give this due suppose there will be no trouble attention. catching Mrs. O’Brien. She is TREASURY DEPARTMENT stopping at The Jefferson Hotel in Internal Revenue Service Respectfully, Key West under the name of Mrs. Atlanta, Ga. W. D. Cantrell. Jacksonville, Fla. W. J. Drautzburg (signed) You might warn the narcotic Head, Narcotic Unit, people not to go near the Federal Office of Narcotic Division Building, particularly the Customs. SUPERVISING FEDERAL Gulf Department. If possible they should not travel on PROHIBITION AGENT a ticket indicating “govt. request” GULF DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE as they will be tipped off by the Bureau of Investigation railway conductor. June 9, 1921 407 - 9 - 11 Bisbee Building Jacksonville, Fla. Respectfully, Hon. D. J. Garett S. F. P. Agent June 14, 1921 Leon E. Howe (signed) Atlanta, Ga. Special Agent (Continued on page 4) Sir: FALL 2014 - FLORIDA KEYS SEA HERITAGE JOURNAL - 3 (Dope from page 3) D. J. Ganett, Esq. Supervising Federal Prohibition Agent, Federal Building, Atlanta, Ga. Dear Sir: Re: GRAY L. O’BRIEN AND MRS. W. D. CANTRELL, Narcotic Matter. I am enclosing you copy of letter from Special Agent Howe, of this An envelope from the Jefferson Hotel used by Mrs. W.D. Cantrell. Photo credit: office, dated June 8th, attached to Monroe County Library. which are several letters from Mrs. W. D. Cantrell, Key West, Fla., I am enclosing you herewith just count the days until I can see addressed to G. L. O’Brien, General some correspondence which is self- my Daddy. Dear, I love you more Delivery, Miami, Fla. It will be explanatory. and more each day. I am sick. noted that one of these letters Give the same such attention as Came so Friday and of course can’t contains several grains of powered you think it deserves. make any money for a day or so morphine sent through the mail. but will send you some tomorrow.