A Preacher's Raid, a Dismissed Case, and a $1,500 Revenge Suit
When two Colville ministers swore out a complaint against a saloonkeeper under local option, the court found no evidence — and now the saloonman is suing the preachers for wrecking his reputation.
The enforcement of the local option law at Colville is causing several complications. A party whose place was recently searched on complaint sworn out by two ministers was discharged by the courts, there being no evidence introduced to controvert his claim that the liquors found were for his personal use. He in turn has started suit for $1,500 damages against the two over-zealous preachers, claiming that his restaurant business and reputation are damaged to that extent.
“He in turn has started suit for $1,500 damages against the two over-zealous preachers, claiming that his restaurant business and reputation are damaged to that extent.”
Washington's local-option fights were the front line of the long temperance war that ended with statewide prohibition in 1916. The saloonkeeper's countersuit is a reminder that the dry crusade wasn't a clean morality tale — it was a legal brawl with real livelihoods and reputations on the line, much like today's fights over licensing and enforcement.
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