Editor's note: The West Seattle Herald has been covering news here for nearly a century. Robinson Newspapers (which publishes the West Seattle Herald) have a massive news archive of Herald coverage dating back to 1928. What follows are crime reports and public safety issues from 1934. Although reporters’ names were not included with stories at that time, their original words remain intact. As more historical crime reports are compiled there will be more installments of West Seattle All Time Crimes.
March 22, 1934
Reward is Offered for Dog Poisoner
Aroused over the appearance again this spring of the dog poisoner who has been active in the district for a number of years, residents of Endolyne have banded together and are offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the guilty party.
The first poisoning of the season was reported this week. The dog was saved by giving it immediate attention. Strychnine has been used in each case investigated. A series of poisonings is expected.
In order to head of the slaughter of numerous pets, the neighbors at Endolyne have met and decided to post a reward which will probably reach $50. A heavy penalty awaits the poisoner, if convicted.
Last year a few dogs were poisoned in the neighborhood, but two and three years ago a large number of pets were slaughtered. The poisonings range back over a number of years.
April 12, 1934
Lewis tells of Child Problems
American Legion Official addresses West Seattle Commercial Club on Campaign
How a case of bad tonsils started a youth on the road to crime was described before the West Seattle Commercial Club Monday noon by Undersheriff Harry Lewis, past state commander for the American Legion and now in charge of child welfare work for the Legion in 11 western states, Alaska and Hawaii.
The boy was caught stealing and taken to court, said Lewis. Here it developed that he was stealing money to buy a set of ear phones because he was going deaf. A medical examination showed that bad tonsils were causing the deafness.
Because of many disclosures similar to this, the Legion is approaching juvenile delinquency as a disease to be prevented, rather than a crime to be punished.
Investigation of 12,000 cases, said Lewis, showed that only nine percent of the children appearing in juvenile court had taken part in athletics. Less than 12 percent belonged to character-building organizations such as the YMCA, Boy Scouts, etc. Less than 31 percent had enough religious training to even express a preference.
With such overwhelming evidence, child welfare workers believe that lack of opportunity to enjoy these advantages is one of the big causes of juvenile delinquency.
Ninty-nine percent of all crime can be traced to juvenile delinquency, said the speaker. He told how in 10 years, the average age of criminals to Folsom prison had been reduced from 35 to 23 years.
Lewis described a plan in use in Los Angeles where organized effort is being made to keep children out of juvenile courts by studying individual cases and applying corrective measures before it is too late.
A similar plan is to be tried in West Seattle and the undersheriff promised to give the movement his aid.
June 19, 1934
Residents Complain Of Thefts by Boys
Residents of the 6000 block on 39th Ave S.W. have reported to the Herald a number of petty thefts and depredations against their property by a gang of young boys who have been preying on the neighborhood for several months. Twelve chickens were reported stolen from one residence since Christmas. The young marauders are warned to cease their activities or police action will be taken.
Editor’s note: In 1934 it was chickens. Today, it’s cell phones.
July 19, 1934
Resident Protests Against Drunkenness
Voicing a complaint against drunkenness and conditions in saloons, a local resident writes the Herald as follows:
Editor of the Herald:
Is it not time that we began to consider the conditions that prevail with the old time beer saloon, or what is in fact worse, planted all through our beautiful home district?
Two young lives were recently snuffed out in an auto wreck on a beautiful afternoon in the very heart of our community. Friends say they saw the booze bottle that fell from the car. Four auto deaths again in our county last Sunday, two of which at least were certainly connected with drink. One father who killed his boy pleading that no man drive who has taken a drink. “Liberty” in a vigorous article on automobile deaths put it thus: “If you drink, don’t drive; If you drive, don’t drink.”
A drunken 17-year-old girl was pulled out of one of our local joints by her father. A local business man says that he saw in one of them a girl drunk on the floor and the men in the place were simply walking over her. A friend last Saturday night saw a 17-year-old girl brought on the street car to one of our homes, drunk. Has the time come to organize again for home defense?
- A Lover of Home.