The Price of a Glass of Beer
A Seattle man faces legal consequences for a small, unthinking gesture that violated the territory's strict and discriminatory liquor laws.
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.
A man named Shelton unthinkingly gave a glass of beer to an Indian woman who called at his house yesterday, forgetting the penalty to which he had made himself liable. He was arrested and brought before Justice Scott this morning, and in consideration of all the circumstances of the case, was fined $25 and costs, the minimum amount fixed by law.
“He was arrested and brought before Justice Scott this morning, and in consideration of all the circumstances of the case, was fined $25 and costs, the minimum amount fixed by law.”
This 1878 report highlights the pervasive legal mechanisms used to control Indigenous movement and social interactions in early Seattle. While the statutes have evolved, the historical reality remains a sobering reminder of how mundane daily activities were once criminalized under colonial policy.
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