Contempt of Court at the Casino
Two gamblers and their attorney land in hot water after a failed attempt to swindle a mark on a Lake Washington excursion.
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.
William Carter and J. McDonald, known as 'sure thing' men, were convicted in municipal court for running a three-card monte game. The men had taken a local resident, John K. Dango, on an excursion to Lake Washington for the apparent purpose of entertainment, only to attempt a swindle. A detective who had followed the trio intervened. During the trial, their attorney, William Tucker, objected to the jury, claiming they were selected with the intent to secure a conviction. Judge Glasgow overruled the objection and found Tucker guilty of contempt of court. Both the gamblers and the attorney faced penalties for their courtroom and criminal activities.
“The detective, who had followed the trio, stepped in and spoiled their game.”
This 'confidence game' on a lake excursion is a classic example of Seattle's rough-and-tumble street-level vice during the boom years. It highlights the intersection of petty criminality and a legal system that often had as little patience for insolent defense attorneys as it did for the grifters they represented.
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