The Case of the Martin Creek Bartender
A friendship soured by a missing $20 and a suspicious bar tab reveals the perils of saloon-based bookkeeping.
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.
The dispute between John Dwyer and Dan Rodgers over money matters at Martin Creek, which led Dwyer to cause Rodgers' arrest, has been settled. Both parties agreed that neither had robbed the other, and that a third party—the bartender—was likely the thief. Dwyer had borrowed $5 from Rodgers at a saloon, leaving the money on deposit with the bartender. When Dwyer later requested his funds, the bartender allegedly charged him $25, pocketing the $20 difference. A series of misunderstandings involving bank checks led to Rodgers' arrest, but he was acquitted. The two men have since reconciled, pinning the blame on the dishonest bartender.
“I did not borrow $25; I got but $5.”
This incident serves as a reminder of the saloon's role as the primary financial and social center in late 19th-century Washington, where disputes over small amounts of cash were common enough to reach the court system.
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