Democratic Party Leaders Brawl on Port Townsend Street
A reprimand regarding unpaid city bonds sparked a public physical fight between the city treasurer and the chairman of the county central committee.
Walter Bowen, secretary of the county Democratic central committee and city treasurer, assaulted Charles A. Dyer, chairman of the county Democratic central committee and a member of the city council, on the principal street today. An article appeared in this morning's Leader reprimanding Mayor Tibbals and Bowen for allowing a default to be made on the payment of the city bonds. Mr. Dyer, a banker and one of the leading citizens and a heavy taxpayer, being cognizant of the situation, was presumed by Bowen and Tibbals to have given the information to the press. As a matter of fact, W. B. Dennis, editor of the Leader, told the Post-Intelligencer correspondent that Mr. Dyer was not in any manner, so far as he knew, connected with the publication of the article. Near the Central hotel, at 9 o'clock this morning, Bowen met Dyer and engaged him in conversation. Without warning he struck Dyer in the face. Dyer was stunned, but rallied and responded vigorously. Friends finally separated them.
“Without warning he struck Dyer in the face. Dyer was stunned, but rallied and responded vigorously.”
Public officials trading blows over city finances is a reminder of the volatility of early municipal politics. While today's political fights over city bonds and budgets are usually confined to council chambers or Twitter, this 1892 brawl highlights the high-stakes, personal nature of civic governance in the rapidly growing towns of the era.
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