Knockout Drops at the Standard Saloon

In a petition and complaint filed with the city clerk last night, to be presented to the city council at the next meeting of that body, Herman Westerheide, of 1902 Ainsworth Avenue, swears, under oath, that he was drugged in the Standard Saloon, owned by Peter Sandberg, on August 11, 1904, and then and there he was deprived, by unlawful means, of $210 or thereabouts by a man named Fischer, in the employ of Sandberg.

The petitioner further states in his affidavit, sworn to before Attorney Ernest Hoppe, justice of the peace, that when he remonstrated with the said Peter Sandberg and demanded the return of his money, the said Sandberg did then and there assault the said petitioner and knock out of the mouth of the said petitioner one sound tooth.

This assault, the petitioner alleges in his complaint, was committed in the presence of witnesses named below in the affidavit. He also states that one O. C. Duevel, a city councilman, was present in the saloon when the petitioner left, and that the said O. C. Duevel is a witness to the fact that blood was running from the face and mouth of the said petitioner.

The petition follows:

"To the Honorable Mayor and Common Council of the City of Tacoma.

"Gentlemen: Your petitioner, Herman Westerheide, states:

"That he is a resident of the said city of Tacoma and resides at No. 1902 Ainsworth Avenue.

"That on the 11th day of August, 1904, at the request of one Anna Hanke, the owner of the premises known as the Lincoln Hotel, the petitioner went to the said premises for the purpose of making certain repairs on said premises. That on said premises is kept a saloon under the name of 'Standard,' where malt and other liquors are sold.

"That the license authorizes one Max Webber to sell intoxicating liquors on said premises was issued by the city council of Tacoma, and that Peter Lack and Peter Sandberg are named as the sureties on the bond for said license.

"That said Max Webber and Peter Lack are in the employ of said Peter Sandberg and that, in fact, the said Peter Sandberg is the owner of the said Standard Saloon.

"That on the aforesaid day the undersigned drank some beer on said premises and that he immediately thereafter became stupid, nervous and excited and lost all self-control.

"That then and there one Fischer, a person employed by said Sandberg, induced the undersigned, while under the evil influence of said beer, which must have been adulterated with some kind of poison, so-called 'knockout drops,' to gamble with dice for money and for beer, and after a few hours' time the said Fischer, by unlawful means, had deprived this petitioner of the sum of $210 or thereabouts, all in lawful money, and all, as aforesaid, by said gambling device.

"That then and there the said Fischer had the money of the petitioner in his possession, that he, the petitioner, remonstrated with the said Peter Sandberg, who was then and there present, for the return of the said money, and that then and there the said Peter Sandberg, willfully and maliciously and with evil intent, assaulted this petitioner and knocked out of his mouth one sound tooth.

"That then and there this petitioner was led through a hall adjacent to the said saloon, and there saw divers persons, both male and female, dancing, all of said persons being of a low, lewd and apparently unchaste character.

"That on the following day this petitioner felt so deadly sick from the effect of said adulterated and poisoned beer that he is satisfied that the same was administered to him by an employee of said Standard Saloon for evil purposes.

"That when this petitioner entered the said saloon there were present the following persons, to-wit: Messie Lee, Herman Mathies, L. E. Olson, Batschi and Ernest Gross, and when this petitioner left said saloon one O. C. Duevel, a councilman of the city of Tacoma, was also present, who is a witness to the fact that blood was running all over the face and out of the mouth of said petitioner.

"That this petitioner has made inquiries about said saloon and has been informed that the same is a tough and disorderly place and a public nuisance, etc.

"Wherefore said petitioner, Herman Westerheide, as a resident and taxpayer of the city of Tacoma, demands that his complaint be strictly investigated, and that upon the allegations herein set forth being found true, the said liquor license heretofore issued to said Max Webber be revoked and declared null and void, and that the said bond signed and executed by said Peter Lack and Peter Sandberg be declared forfeited. This petitioner is willing and ready to appear before your honorable body at any time he may be requested to do so."

Signed and sworn to by Herman Westerheide and subscribed and sworn to before Ernest Hoppe, justice of the peace.

It is understood that Mr. Westerheide, through his attorney, Ernest Hoppe, is preparing to bring suit against Peter Sandberg for the return of his money, and also for personal damages.

When Councilman Duevel was asked concerning that part of the sworn statement made by Westerheide which says that he was "a witness to the fact that blood was running all over the face and out of the mouth of the petitioner," he said: "I saw Westerheide several hours after the assault. I asked him why he didn't wash the blood off his face, but he was too drunk to do anything then. I don't know where the affair took place, for I didn't see him until after it was all over."