The Cost of a Sunday Saloon
A lawyer wins a suit against his own client over fees generated during the 1902 'Sunday Law' crackdown.
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.
In the superior court Saturday, George T. Thompson recovered judgment from Adolph Schwarz in the sum of $200. This suit is the outcome of the violations of the Sunday law which occupied the attention of the courts a long time in the summer of 1902. Schwarz was arrested and tried on the charge of keeping his saloon open on Sunday and Thompson was employed to defend him. When Thompson presented his bill for legal services, Schwarz deemed the fee excessive and refused to pay. After several unsuccessful attempts to compromise, Thompson instituted proceedings in the court to recover the sum of $500. The matter was heard before Judge Brents Friday, who awarded Thompson the sum of $200.
“This suit is the outcome of the violations of the Sunday law which occupied the attention of the courts a long time.”
The 'Sunday Law' was a significant cultural flashpoint in early 20th-century Washington, reflecting the ongoing struggle between moral regulation and the independence of local business owners. It highlights the recurring tension between public policy and the enforcement of personal conduct.
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