McClain County, Oklahoma, 1909 - Leo Cobb
Submitted by:  Sheri Hammons   hammons@shertech.net
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Date:  ca 1909
Unknown Newspaper

The boy in the article was Leo L. Cobb.  His Mother was Connie J. Steeley
Cobb of Purcell.

TO SAVE LIFE OF CHILD POLICEMAN MAKES A RAID ON BOOTLEGGING JOINT

To save the life of a four year old child a bootlegging joint was 
visited Tuesday morning by a policed officer.
Hearing cries of distress, policeman J. D. Jones hurried to the Rock 
Island station Tuesday morning about 8 O'clock.  The appeals for help 
were from a mother, whose child was lying in her lap suffering from 
convulsions caused by ptomaine poisoning.
The child was unconscious when the officer arrived at the city 
dispensary with him in his arms.  All efforts to secure a doctor 
were futile.
It did not require professional knowledge to determine that the life of 
the boy lying in the dispensary room was fast ebbing away.  Urged by the 
pleadings of the heart-broken mother the secret service men chaffed his 
hands and face.  At this time captain Slaton entered.  From knowledge 
gained by reading in medicine (sic) Slaton believed that a large 
quantity of whisky would save the little one's life.  There was 
confiscated liquor in the city vault just across the hall.  Desk 
sergeant Reah had the only key to the vault, but there is a law against 
giving away liquor and the sergeant wouldn't break the law.
When he saw that Reah could not be induced to produce the stimulant, a 
policeman rushed out with the remark  that he "would secure some whiskey 
if he had to raid a bootlegger's joint to get it."  In less than ten 
minutes he returned with a quart of the liquor.
When the doctor arrived a few minutes later the child was gaining
strength every moment.  The physician says that the whisky probably
saved the boy's life.  His mother, Mrs. W. R. Cobb of Purcell, was
waiting for a train for Halleyville, where her sister lives.  About
noon the child was well enough to be taken to a hotel.  Mrs. Cobb
has sent for her husband, who will come here and help his wife care
for the sick one until he is in condition to be taken back home.