The Vanishing Proprietor of the People's Theater
A court case against John Considine exposes a shell game at the People's Theater, where a mysterious owner named 'J.J. Clark' remains conspicuously absent.
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 trial of John Considine in the municipal court on the charge of managing a theater connected with a saloon developed the amazing information that the People's Theater has a new proprietor in the person of a J.J. Clark, and that Considine as manager is receiving only about $15 a week. During testimony, Considine was asked where this proprietor lived. 'On the hill in the First ward,' he replied. 'Has he a place of business?' 'I don't know; he usually comes to the theater when he wants to see me.' Considine described him as a man about 23 or 24 years old with a small dark mustache. When asked if the city could find him, Considine claimed they could in a couple of hours, though the court appeared skeptical. Corporation Counsel Scott remarked that he didn't believe Clark existed and thought he might be a myth. The defense moved to dismiss the case on the grounds that the theater was a legal enterprise regardless of its proximity to a saloon.
“I don't believe Clark is the owner of the People's theater and thought he might be a myth.”
Considine was a legendary figure in Seattle's underworld; this trial captures the classic 'shell company' tactic used by early 20th-century nightlife operators to avoid municipal liquor and morality ordinances.
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