75 years ago

That he will enforce the state anti-gambling laws by stopping the playing of slot machines, punch boards and other games of chance is evidenced in the following statement by County Prosecutor Claude Irwin, issued Wednesday:

“I have been asked to clarify the policy of the prosecuting attorney’s office toward the enforcement of state laws relating to gambling and operation of bottle clubs.

“I have just returned from a meeting of the prosecuting attorneys of the state who met with the state attorney general in Olympia Friday last week, at which these problems were discussed.

“Prior to January, 1946, the attorney general ruled that the operation of bottle clubs in the state was illegal and in violation of the Washington liquor statutes.

The prosecutors at their January, 1946, meeting, unanimously adopted a resolution calling for enforcement of the law in regard to bottle clubs. Since that time all counties of the state, except Whitman and Kitsap, have taken action to close this type of club....”

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Sometime during Saturday night the safe in the office of the Grange Supply company on Harrison Street was blown open by burglars described by sheriff’s officers as professional safe crackers.

Taken from the large, heavy vault was $220 in currency and $40 in silver. The lock on a small cash drawer beneath the office counter had been broken but nothing removed since it contained only tokens. Checks were left behind and merchandise unmolested.

That two persons participated in the robbery was indicated in footprints discovered at the county road department’s machine shop on Sumner Street which was entered through a rear window for the theft of materials believed used in the safe blowing job. No fingerprints were obtainable and it is believed by the officers that the suspects wore gloves.

The nearest hour that can be fixed by officers is after 12:30 a.m. Sunday at which time rain had stopped falling. Paper used to wrap stolen fuse was found outside the machine shop in dry condition

Beside the 50 feet of fuse taken losses at the county shop included 100 dynamite caps.