The Price of a Liquor License: A Violent Feud in Tacoma

Ben R. Everett, proprietor of the Nevada saloon and a prominent Republican politician, was stabbed nine times tonight by Frank R. Davidson, one of the proprietors of the Paragon saloon. The stabbing was done with a heavy-bladed pocket knife. The most dangerous cut inflicted was in the temple; had the cut been a trifle lower, it would no doubt have been fatal. Another deep cut was in the left arm, four inches long.

Everett did not know he was cut in the head until the blood began to blind him, at which point he dealt Davidson a heavy blow that landed him in the middle of the alley, or Court A, between Pacific Avenue and A Street, where the encounter occurred. Davidson had been targeting ex-Mayor Kandle, whom he had blackguarded in front of Everett's saloon, accusing him of preventing a liquor license from being granted to the Paragon. Kandle stated he had no voice in the matter. Davidson followed him into Everett's saloon, flung a handful of coin in his face, and continued his abuse. Everett led Davidson to the alley to quiet him, leading to the stabbing. The projectors of the new brick blocks between Tenth and Eleventh Streets on Pacific Avenue had refused to allow more than three saloons in the block, and the Paragon was one denied a license. Davidson blamed both Kandle and Everett for this decision.