The Watch Thief of South Third Street
A visiting businessman from Ellensburg gets an expensive education in the perils of Seattle's nightlife.
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.
J. H. Burkman, a countrified-looking man from Ellensburg, encountered a sharper named F. W. Scott in the lower part of the city late last night. Burkman, a man of family about 40 years old, came to Seattle on business and wanted to see the sights. He went to the New Zealand variety hall on South Third Street, and as he was coming out, said to Scott, who was on the stairs: 'A pretty tough place, ain't it?' Scott agreed, and they struck up a conversation. Burkman mentioned he was originally from Minnesota, and Scott recalled that he was too. 'Come up and sleep with me,' said Scott. 'Oh, no,' replied Burkman, 'I have a room at the Maltby House. Stay with me.' When they went to bed, Burkman placed his watch under his pillow as a guard against thieves. In a few minutes, Scott declared he had to go home and left. Burkman soon discovered his watch was gone. He jumped into his clothes and ran down the stairs in search of his bedfellow, whom he found after a short hunt near the Durgin hotel on South Third Street, talking with a number of cronies. Burkman demanded his watch and, as Officer Griffith was coming down the street, Scott was diplomatic enough to take Burkman into the hotel and return it, cautioning him not to tell the 'bulls.' Griffith, however, knew something was up, and when Burkman appeared, asked him about the matter. Burkman unbosomed himself and Scott was arrested. In municipal court yesterday, Judge Glasgow fined Scott $100 and sentenced him to thirty days in the county jail.
“Burkman demanded his watch and, as Officer Griffith was coming down the street, Scott was diplomatic enough to take Burkman into the hotel and return it.”
South Third Street (now 3rd Avenue South) was the heart of the city's rough-and-tumble entertainment district in the 1890s. The 'sharp' or grifter preying on visitors remains a perennial urban story, though today's pickpockets are less likely to offer their victims a bed for the night.
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