The Burglary Mystery at the Bostwick Hotel
A young woman arrested in Ellensburg for a room robbery in Tacoma is released after the accuser drops the charges.
Miss Pauline Benz, who was arrested in Ellensburg Saturday afternoon and brought to Tacoma last night charged with robbing the room of Miss Bessie Hunter at the Bostwick hotel, was released by the police late this afternoon. Miss Benz had nothing but a suitcase with her when arrested and proved conclusively that she had considered leaving the city early last week. The police were positive that she was the right party and she was to have faced the court this afternoon on a burglary charge, but Miss Hunter appeared and withdrew her complaint after hearing Miss Benz's story. The young lady stated today that she would remain in the city instead of going East again. No trace of the real thief has been found.
“No trace of the real thief has been found.”
The Bostwick Hotel, a historic landmark in downtown Tacoma, was a common setting for the city's early-century transient social life. This case highlights how rapidly accusations could be leveled against newcomers, and how swiftly they could be dropped without a clear resolution to the original crime.
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