A Costly Lesson at the Bijou Saloon
A Tacoma visitor loses his savings in a rigged poker game, leading to a police investigation and an arrest.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Frank Watson, a flashy-looking young man, aged 24 years, who says he is a cook, was arrested at 7:30 o'clock last evening by Lieutenant Hanna on suspicion of having assisted in cheating Henry Nilderhaus, of Tacoma, out of $37.20 at poker in the Bijou saloon. Nilderhaus, who is an employe of the Tacoma Railway and Company, came to this city on a visit. According to his story, he was standing on Washington street, near Commercial, when Watson entered into conversation with him, and finally took him to the Bijou saloon. Here he was introduced to the national game of poker. His account of how he played the game was misty, but concluded with the remark that he put down $37.20 and his friend took it up. Two other men besides Watson took a hand in the game. After the victim had complained to the police, one of the party hunted him up and returned the money. Watson is still in jail.
“His account of how he played the game was misty, but concluded with the remark that he put down $37.20 and his friend took it up.”
The intersection of Washington and Commercial (now part of the Pioneer Square historic district) was the heart of Seattle's early red-light and gambling district. The 'national game' of poker remains a staple of city life, but the classic 'saloon hustle' has long since moved into more digital or corporate forms of financial exploitation.
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