The Pharmacist’s Whisky Loophole
A Walla Walla judge rules that a former saloon keeper turned pharmacist can reclaim seized liquor, testing Washington's early liquor restrictions.
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Judge E. C. Mills in the superior court at Walla Walla has decided that Fred Martin, an ex-saloonman and a registered pharmacist, though not now engaged in business as a druggist, can repossess 1560 gallons of whisky recently taken from him by Sheriff Lee Barnes. It was decided that Leo Rodgers, from whom 20 quarts of wine were taken, can keep but two quarts; the rest must be destroyed. This is the first time the pharmacist question has come up for a decision in the state. Judge Mills holds that ‘Martin may sell or dispose of the liquor in the manner and under the restrictions prescribed by the statute relative to registered druggists and pharmacists, but not otherwise.'
“Martin may sell or dispose of the liquor in the manner and under the restrictions prescribed by the statute relative to registered druggists and pharmacists, but not otherwise.”
This legal maneuvering showcases the friction between the looming statewide prohibition and the attempt to maintain 'medicinal' alcohol sales. It is an early example of the regulatory grey markets that define Washington's long, complicated relationship with alcohol law enforcement.
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