The 'Blasher' Walks: A Razor Fight in a Seattle Saloon Ends in Acquittal

William Robinson, a heavy, thickset fellow who is known to the police as 'Blasher,' was acquitted by a jury in Judge Humes' court yesterday of assaulting Alander Strom with a razor in the doorway of the Mint saloon on Washington street, on the morning of March 3. The affair was a bloody one, Strom having his cheek laid open to the bone from a point near the ear to the chin and also being cut on the arm.

At the time of the affair Robinson claimed he acted in self-defense, but his story was not given much credence, it being known that he was on a spree. The state claimed that Robinson, after having raised a disturbance in the Maple saloon on Pioneer place, went to the Mint saloon and began quarreling with Strom, who put him out into the street. Then Robinson, without provocation, rushed up to Strom and slashed him with the razor.

The defense yesterday introduced enough witnesses to convince the jury that Robinson was imposed upon instead of being the aggressor, and that he acted in self-defense. He went into the saloon accompanied by Bob Hander. No sooner had they made their appearance than someone announced that two Irishmen had arrived. They stood up at the bar and were pushed around by those in the barroom until Hander concluded it was best for him to get out. Robinson wanted his hat, which had been snatched from his head, and continued arguing about it. Finally he was ordered out of the saloon, but would not go without his hat, and then Strom threw him out. Robinson went to Clancy's saloon and got one of his friends to go after the hat. The messenger was told to tell Robinson to come after his hat if he wanted it. When Robinson went back the second time, three of the men in the saloon, one armed with a revolver and another with a club, went at him, and in addition to knocking him down twice threw him into the street. By this time his fighting blood was aroused and he drew the razor on Strom in self-defense.

The jury, after receiving instructions from Judge Humes, retired, but returned in a few minutes with a verdict of 'not guilty.' Robinson grinned from ear to ear as he walked out of the court room with his attorney, while his friends surrounded him and showered congratulations upon them both. Robinson got the name of 'Blasher' because he always carries two or three razors.