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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

100 years ago in Seattle: Court orders sheriff to return William Boeing’s booze

From our archives, 100 years ago

Two men, including one labeled by The Spokesman-Review as a “rich Seattle home owner” were victorious in a case that reached the state Supreme Court. They challenged King Sheriff Robert Hodge, who seized “several thousand dollars worth of wines and other liquors” in violation of state prohibition.

The state Supreme Court, reversing a lower court, ruled that the men could keep their liquor because it was legally obtained before the law went into effect on Jan. 1, 1916.

The “rich Seattle home owner” was William E. Boeing, who founded an airplane manufacturing company that same year.

From the accident beat: A coroner’s jury exonerated Dr. R.A. Greene, whose car struck and killed a 16-year-old boy on the South Hill on July 4.

Greene testified that he was driving north on Monroe Street, saw boys as he approached 12th Avenue and sounded his horn. He kept his finger on the horn until just before he approached them at 11th Avenue. But one crossed directly in front of his car.

The boy, Tyree Locke, of Kellogg, was dragged 21 feet by the car, an official testified.

From the hospitality beat: Jacob Goetz Jr., 12, started work for his dad, the famed “Dutch Jake” at the Hotel Coeur d’Alene. The father said his son asked to go to work for him, and he obliged – even accepting the work hours the boy requested.