Two men believed to be Federal Prohibition agents worked on July 17, 1931, at dismantling the boiler from the still found in the barn at a Graham, Washington, farm. The illegal operation was as modern and complete as a commercial pre-Prohibition distillery. It was estimated to have been built for $50,000, was in clear view of the highway and operated for six months. The owner of the farm, a Pierce County road district employee, maintained that he rented out the barn and was not aware of the illegal activities. In fact, this location was probably chosen in part due to the respectability that the farmer lent to the operation. In an odd twist of fate, the bootleggers were preparing to abandon the still, or dismantle and move it, and were making their last batch when the raid was made. It is estimated that the operators manufactured over a 1/2 million dollars of alcohol before the still was shut down. 52,000 gallons of mash were seized in the raid. (TNT 7/17-19, 1931, pg. 1-various articles)

Prohibition--Graham; Stills (Distilleries); Police raids--Graham;

A federal agent stands beside one of the huge redwood vats found in the July 1931 raid of Benston's Farm in Graham, Wa., to demonstrate its awesome size. This vat was calculated to hold 7,500 gallons of fermenting mash. The Prohibition era illegal distillery set up in Benston's barn contained a total of eight of these vats. The still operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week and could manufacture 100 gallons of pure alcohol every hour. At a market value of $10 per gallon, the feds estimated that the plant produced $20,000 worth of alcohol every 24 hours. It was reported that the operation was set up by a California syndicate, that rented the barn from Benston, and that it was backed by local capital. (TNT 7/17-19, 1931, pg. 1)

Benston, J. Thomas--Associated objects; Prohibition--Graham; Stills (Distilleries); Police raids--Graham;

Tacoma-Pierce County Blood Bank was located on 726-28 Saint Helens Avenue in downtown Tacoma. The center opened in July 1946, in 1947 they were receiving blood donations for industrial plants throughout Tacoma. View of prisoner donating blood at Pierce County Jail, the jail was located on the first floor of the building; nurse from Tacoma-Pierce County Blood Bank is helping the patient with the donation.

Prisoners--Tacoma; Prisons--Tacoma; Blood donations--Tacoma; Medical equipment & supplies; Blood; Nurses--Tacoma; Pierce County Jail (Tacoma); Tacoma-Pierce County Blood Bank (Tacoma);

Garnet J. Cratsenberg was a police officer for the Tacoma Police Department. Cratsenberg lived at the Florence Apartments located at 414 Tacoma Avenue South, apartment 4. Garnet is wearing a houndstooth check jacket, tie and white shirt.

Police--Tacoma; Portraits; Portrait photographs; Posing; Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma; Cratsenberg, Garnet J.;

Police Desk Sergeant, Art Gilbo, dispatched Tacoma Police Department's detectives and patrolmen when he received a call that Puget Sound National Bank was being robbed in December of 1948. Detective Lesnick and Policeman Hager apprehended Donald Anderson while he was attempting to rob the bank of $20,000. Law enforcement officials also found a kidnapping note in Anderson's pocket, this matter is under investigation by the FBI. Left to right, Detective Walter Lesnick, Patrolman George Hager, Donald Charles Anderson, Detective Jack Thore, and Jailer Don Hutt (T. Times, 12/23/48, p. 1). TPL-9071

Detectives--Tacoma; Investigation--Tacoma; Criminals--Tacoma; Robberies--Tacoma; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Anderson, Donald Charles--Capture & imprisonment; Lesnick, Walter; Hager, George; Thore, Jack; Hutt, Don;

Pierce Country's new detention home, Hillcrest, was built in a joint effort by the Pierce County and Washington State governments. Pierce County furnished the site and half of the money, the State provided the other half of the money; the building cost approximately $285,000 to build. Interior view of one of the classrooms in the new Hillcrest Detention facilities for Pierce County, located on Sixth Avenue and Pearl Street. The structure has modern school rooms, which will have tables and benches instead of desks; a vocational work room will be located by the classrooms (T. Times, 1/2/49, p. 9).

Detention facilities--Tacoma; Justice facilities--Tacoma; Juvenile delinquents--Tacoma; Reformatories--Tacoma; Classrooms--Tacoma; County government--Tacoma; Hillcrest Detention Home (Tacoma); Remann Hall (Tacoma);

Hillcrest detention center is a brick, fireproof building, the inside is made of concrete and steel, with a modern steel kitchen, classrooms and court rooms. The building was initially designed by Rueger and Rueger in 1944, building did not begin until May 1947. Judge Fred G. Remann has been watching the building progress, and is ready to move in and get to work; Judge Remann handles the juvenile cases. Exterior view of the new Hillcrest Detention facilities for Pierce County, located on Sixth Avenue and Pearl Street (T. Times, 1/2/49, p. 9).

Detention facilities--Tacoma; Justice facilities--Tacoma; Juvenile delinquents--Tacoma; Reformatories--Tacoma; County government--Tacoma; Hillcrest Detention Home (Tacoma); Remann Hall (Tacoma);

Tacoma's police department just bought a new modern and well equipped ambulance; the department is now properly training the police ambulance staff. View of George Paul, former police ambulance driver in stretcher, Wilson Miller, police ambulance conductor putting the stretcher in the vehicle, Jesse Eastman, in charge of the police garage is in the ambulance, R. V. Larsen, police ambulance driver, and Arthur Gilbo, former police ambulance driver, both looking on (T. Times, 1/9/49, p. 36).

Police--Tacoma--1940-1950; Litters; Law enforcement--Tacoma; Emergency medical services--Tacoma; Ambulances--Tacoma; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Paul, George; Miller, Wilson; Eastman, Jesse; Larsen, R.V.; Gilbo, Arthur;

The City of Tacoma's off duty Police officers were taking a short break to celebrate Christmas and the holiday season with the Police Chief. The Tacoma Police Department had recently increased the size of their motorcycle cops unit. View of Tacoma Police Chief, Robert C. Marshall (left) and unidentified man, who is presenting a "Merry Christmas Chief Marshall" and "Better Known as Little Napoleon the Slave-Driver Superb" poster to him.

Police--Tacoma; Christmas--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Municipal officials--Tacoma; Law enforcement--Tacoma; Marshall, Robert C.; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma);

The City of Tacoma's off duty Police officers were taking a short break to celebrate Christmas and the holiday season with the Police Chief. The Tacoma Police Department had recently increased the size of their motorcycle cops unit. View of Tacoma Police Chief, Robert C. Marshall (center) surrounded by his policemen; the police officers are wearing leather jackets and boots, they are likely the motorcycle unit.

Police--Tacoma; Christmas--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Municipal officials--Tacoma; Law enforcement--Tacoma; Marshall, Robert C.; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma);

Interior of the machinist room of the McNeil Island Federal Prison. Prison guard and two men can be seen speaking around a work desk at the right side of the room.

Interior of dining hall of the McNeil Island Federal Prison.

Exterior of facilities at McNeil Island Federal Prison. Prison yard, dock and smoke stack are visible.

Mattson kidnapping case. An open Bible and a poinsettia plant are seen on a wrought iron table at Charles Mattson's bedside. The Bible, treasured by the murdered boy, is said to be as he left it. The Bible had been won by the boy by attending Sunday School regularly. He had returned it to his bedside table after attending Sunday School the same day as the kidnapping. On Sunday, 12/27/1936, at around 9 p.m., Charles Mattson was abducted at gunpoint from his parents' home. A ransom of $28,000 was demanded for his return. As the days dragged on, the kidnapper's demands became more confused and conflicting. Dr. Mattson was unable to obtain clear instructions on paying the ransom. Charles' battered body was found in the snowy woods outside of Everett on January 10, 1937. His murder remains unsolved. (photograph T.Times 1/2/37 p. 10; story T. Times 12/28/1936- 1/25/1937, page 1)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bibles--Tacoma; Mattson, Charles--Associated objects;

Mattson kidnapping case, schoolmates of Charles Mattson. Five young boys sitting on concrete steps. One youth is holding a small dog. The boys are Wallis Anderson, Robert Olsen, Marvin Shaw, Richard Hunt and Bill Stevenson. Photograph ordered by the Seattle Star. On the night of December 27, 1936, ten year old Charles Mattson was abducted by an armed intruder at his parents' home at 4605 No. Verde. He was never seen alive again. The intruder demanded a ransom of $28, 000 for the boy's safe return. The fourth grader at Sherman School had many friends in the neighborhood. Some of his friends pose in this picture for the Seattle Star, as newspapers across the country scrambled for pictures to fill their front pages. From 1934 to this point, there were no less than 12 well publicized kidnappings across the nation, beginning with the Lindbergh baby. (T. Times 12/28/1936- 1/25/1937, pg. 1; photograph printed T. Times 12/28/1936, pg. 5)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Boys--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mattson, Charles--Kidnappings;

View of Dr. William Mattson residence, Hill and Mock, Architects, Nelson J. Morrison, designer, circa 1925. Photograph ordered by the Seattle Star. On December 27, 1936, on a night characterized by heavy darkness and fitful showers, a masked intruder forced his way into a rear entrance of the Mattson residence and abducted ten year old Charles. Charles, his brother William, 16, sister Muriel, 14, and family friend Virginia Chatfield, 14, of Seattle had been in the front room watching motorists drive up to view the enormous evergreens lit up like Christmas trees on the Mattson front lawn. The intruder carried 70 pound Charles down a steep cliff behind the home that led to Ruston Way and the waterfront. He left behind a ransom note demanding $28,000 dollars. A previous kidnapping attempt had been made in November of 1936 only two blocks away; as a prowler placed a ladder to a second floor window in an attempt to abduct the 6 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. George Franklin. The Franklins had purchased "Haddaway Hall, " the home of John Philip Weyerhaeuser Sr. at 4301 No. Stevens. The attempt was foiled when Mrs. Franklin was awakened by the beam of a flashlight. No fewer than 12 high profile kidnappings had occurred nationally since the 1934 kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby. Like in the Lindbergh case, Charles Mattson was found murdered. His murder was never solved. (T.Times 12/28/1936- 1/25/1937)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Houses--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mattson, William--Homes & haunts; Mattson, Charles--Homes & haunts; Mattson, Charles--Kidnappings;

Mattson kidnapping case, playmates of Charles Mattson. Three boys posed on the sidewalk for their portrait, ordered by the Seattle Star. At approximately 9 pm. on December 27, 1936, Charles Mattson, his 16 year old brother William, his 14 year old sister Muriel and a 14 year old family friend Virginia Chatfield sat in the front room of the Mattson home at 4605 No. Verde watching motorists drive up to view the large, living Christmas tree illuminated on the front lawn. The childrens' parents, Dr. and Mrs. William Mattson, were attending a social function. The idyllic scene was interrupted by the shattering of glass as an armed intruder broke through a french door at the rear of the house. He made a pretense of searching William for money and then bodily carried ten year old Charles out the rear of the house, leaving a ransom note. The Mattsons were an unusual target, although living in a wealthy neighborhood, the family was only moderately well-to-do. Dr. Mattson had lost much of his savings in the Great Depression and their home was mortgaged. He raised the $28,000 ransom with difficulty but was unable to receive clear instructions from the kidnapper on how to deliver the money. Charles Mattson was killed by a blow to head and dumped in a wooded area off of the Edmonds-Everett highway. His body was discovered January 10, 1937, he had been dead 5-6 days. Despite questioning and holding many suspects, the FBI and police were unable to locate his murderer. The canny and well planned kidnapping varied greatly from the kidnapper's later disjointed and confused communications. The authorities were led to believe that the kidnapper was a madman. (T. Times 12/28/1936 - 1/25/1937, pg. 1)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Boys--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mattson, Charles--Kidnappings;

Charles Mattson's maternal grandfather Charles Fletcher showing the door through which his grandson was kidnapped. On December 27, 1936, Charles Mattson was abducted by a masked and armed man who forced his way in through this rear door. The broken glass panes have been replaced. With his parents attending a social function, Charles was spending the evening at his home with his brother, sister and a family friend. A ransom demand was made for $28,000. The ransom was never paid despite many attempts by his parents to respond to irrational instructions. The boy's body was found January 10, 1937 in a snowy woods near Everett. The crime was never solved. Mr. Fletcher was 78 years old at the time of the kidnapping and resided at 3205 No. 20th St.(T. Times 12/29/1936, pg. 1)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mattson, Charles--Homes & haunts; Fletcher, Charles; Mattson, Charles--Kidnappings;

Mattson kidnapping case. Bluff behind the home of Dr. William Mattson at 4605 No. Verde. On December 27, 1936, a masked gunman abducted ten year old Charles Mattson from his home. It is believed that he carried the boy down this steep cliff to a waiting car on Ruston Way. A ransom of $28,000 was demanded for the boy's safe return. The note was typed in purple ink on a child's typing set. All communications with the kidnapper were to be made through classified ads in the Seattle Times. Newspapers from across the nation publicized every event in the case. Within 48 hours, the Northwest was hit with frigid temperatures and record snowfall. Concern grew for the lightly clad boy who was recovering from a severe cold. The days dragged on as the frantic Mattsons attempted to contact the kidnapper. The body of the boy was found in a snowbank in a wooded area near Everett on January 10, 1937. He had been dead for 5-6 days. His murderer was never found. (T. Times 12/28/1936 - 1/25/1937, pg. 1)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mattson, Charles--Kidnappings;

Mattson kidnapping case. Two boys standing on a path leading up the hillside below the Mattson home. Photograph ordered by the Seattle Star. On a peaceful post-Christmas night in 1936, the Mattson children and a family friend were watching area motorists drive up to view the Christmas light display in the front yard of the Mattson home at 4605 No. Verde. An armed and masked man broke in through a rear entrance of the home and seized Charles Mattson, the smallest of the group of children. He left a ransom note for $28,000. He then, it is believed, carried Charles down this path behind the Mattson home, down a steep bluff to Ruston Way and a waiting get away car driven by an accomplice. (T. Times 12/28/1936 - 1/25/1937, pg. 1)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mattson, Charles--Kidnappings;

Charles Mattson kidnapping case. Hillside bluff below the Mattson home; photograph ordered by the Seattle Star. On December 27, 1936, while his parents attended a social function, Charles Mattson was snatched from his home at 4605 No. Verde, in the view of his brother, sister and a family friend, by an armed and masked man who forced his way through a rear door of the house. The masked intruder carried him bodily down the steep cliff behind the Mattson house. At daybreak, the FBI and Tacoma police swarmed the deep gully at the base of Verde Street on Ruston Way, adjacent to the waterfront, looking for clues. (T. Times 12/28/1936- 1/25/1937, pg. 1)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mattson, Charles--Kidnappings;

Mattson kidnapping case. View of Ruston Way and Commencement Bay from hillside below the Mattson home. On December 27, 1936, an armed intruder abducted ten year old Charles Mattson from his parents' home at 4605 No. Verde. He then carried the boy down the steep cliff behind the home leading to Ruston Way and the waterfront. A ransom note was left behind at the crime scene, demanding $28,000. Up to this point, no less than 12 well publicized kidnappings had occurred since the 1934 kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby. The previous year, 1935, young George Weyerhaeuser had been kidnapped and returned following payment of the ransom. Charles Mattson was murdered and his body dumped in a wooded area 200 feet off of the Edmonds-Everett Highway, 6 miles south of Everett. Despite an extensive manhunt, and numerous suspects, his murderer was never found. (T. Times 12/28/1936- 1/25, 1937, pg. 1)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mattson, Charles--Kidnappings;

Mattson kidnapping case. View from Ruston Way of hillside below the Mattson home. Two boys are standing on the edge of the bluff. Photograph ordered by the Seattle Star. On the evening of December 27, 1936 at around 9 p.m., a masked gunman forced his way into the Mattson home at 4605 No. Verde and snatched ten year old Charles Mattson. The intruder carried the 70 pound boy down the steep cliff behind the home, across the railroad tracks and it is believed to a waiting accomplice and get away car on Ruston Way. The boy's battered body was recovered January 10, 1937 near Everett. The demanded $28,000 ransom was never paid and the boy's murderer was never apprehended. (T. Times 12/28/1936 - 1/25/1937, pg. 1)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mattson, Charles--Kidnappings;

Mattson kidnapping case. Warehouses and shoreline along Commencement Bay. Photograph ordered by the Seattle Star. On December 27, 1936, at around 9 p.m., ten year old Charles Mattson was abducted from his parents' home by an armed intruder. The man left a typed ransom note demanding $28,000. He then, it is believed, carried the 70 pound boy down a steep cliff behind the Mattson home, across the railroad tracks and to a waiting car on Ruston Way. The following day, the area was crawling with press attempting to fill their front pages. It was hypothesized the the abductor could have hidden the boy in one of the warehouses along the waterfront. (T. Times 12/28/1936- 1/25/1937, pg. 1)

Waterfronts--Tacoma--1930-1940; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1930-1940; Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Warehouses--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mattson, Charles--Kidnappings;

Mattson kidnapping case, marina showing boat houses and boats. Telephone and power lines in the background. Photograph ordered by the Seattle Star. On the evening of December 27, 1936, Charles Mattson was abducted from his home at 4605 No. Verde by a masked gunman in full view of his older brother, sister and family friend. Because the teens did not hear a car pull away, it is believed that the intruder carried the boy down a path at the rear of the house that winds down a steep embankment to a wooded gulch below. He would then escape by car on Ruston Way or by boat at the waterfront. The gunman demanded a $28,000 ransom for the boy's return. As days passed, subsequent communications by the kidnapper were confusing and conflicting. The frantic parents were unable to get clear instructions on how to deliver the ransom. The boy's body was found near Everett on January 10, 1937; he had been dead 5-6 days. The kidnapper had made ransom demands even after he had murdered the boy. A massive manhunt turned up many suspects, but no one was indicted in connection with the murder. The story slipped from the front page on January 26, 1937 as leads began to peter out. (T. Times 12/28/1936 - 1/25/1937, pg. 1)

Waterfronts--Tacoma--1930-1940; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1930-1940; Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mattson, Charles--Kidnappings;

Elmer J. McCune, left, 40 year old Puyallup rabbit farmer, poses with Sheriff John Bjorklund after his arrest and sentencing for murdering his wife, Maude Bulgar McCune, with an ax. On the night of November 9th, 1935, during a brief reconciliation for the couple, after being almost continually separated during their six years of marriage; the couple argued at McCune's rabbit ranch 5 miles south of Puyallup on Pipe Line Road. McCune stated that he "lost his head" when his wife nagged at him and hit him with a stick. He responded by striking her in the head with an ax. The couple's seven year old son Leroy was asleep in the house at the time. McCune buried his wife's body on his ranch. One week later, Nov. 15th, he brought Ruth Dunlap, with whom he admitted having a relationship of several years duration, from Seattle to his ranch and presented her to his son as his new mother. McCune was sentenced to life imprisonment two days after his arrest. (T.Times 4/19/1935, pg. 1; 4/20/1935, pg. 1)

McCune, Elmer; Homicides--Puyallup--1930-1940; Bjorklund, John;

A ramshackle, vacant and boarded up residence across the street from the home of J.P. Weyerhaeuser, Jr. and his family, at 420 No. 4th. Officials suspect that this home may have been used as a vantage point to observe the family in the days preceding the May 24, 1935 kidnapping of George Weyerhaeuser. Those officials point to a fire of mysterious origin in the house at 3a.m. on May 11, 1935, indicating that the house was occupied. The theory of the home as a hideout was later abandoned and footprints through the home were attributed to a reporter trying to get a better view of the Weyerhaeuser home. (T.Times 5/28/1935, pg.1)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Abandoned buildings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

This vacant and boarded up home stood about 200 feet from the home of the J.P. (Phil) Weyerhaeuser, Jr. family at 420 No. 4th. The Weyerhaeuser home is the one behind the tree at the right rear of the picture. The police suspect that the abandoned home may have been used a a hideout where the kidnappers could observe the Weyerhaeuser family prior to the May 24, 1935 kidnapping of nine year old George Weyerhaeuser. This theory was later abandoned and footprints attributed to an overly ambitious photographer trying to get a different viewpoint of the Weyerhaeuser home. (T. Times 5/28/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding months)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Abandoned buildings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

In May of 1935, a group of newsreel cameramen and reporters were staking out the home of J.P. Weyerhaeuser Jr. at 420 North 4th Street waiting for a break in the George Weyerhaeuser kidnapping case. Nine year old George Weyerhaeuser was abducted around noon on May 24, 1935 as he walked from Lowell School at 1210 North Yakima to Annie Wright Seminary at 827 Tacoma Avenue North to meet his sister and go home for lunch. By May 25, 1935, the kidnapping had become a front page story across the United States. Reporters streamed into Tacoma. The boy was reportedly being held for $200,000 ransom, truly a fortune in the depression strapped times. The kidnapping remained a front page story until George was released on June 1, 1935, despite the fact that very little information was being released by either the police or the family. Most stories published were filled with speculation and conjectures. (T. Times 5/25/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding months)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Reporters--Tacoma--1930-1940; Photojournalists --Tacoma--1930-1940; Cameras--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

A sample of George Weyerhaeuser's third grade school work. The nine year old boy was kidnapped on May 24, 1935 and held for $200,000 ransom. The original pre-typed ransom note contained George's signature to prove authenticity. Later notes from the kidnappers also contained samples of George's writing. His school work was obtained for comparison. The paper reads "Lowell School. May 16 1935. a2.17 George Weyerhaeuser 3a. On the way we saw a (boat) in the bay. We passed some (houses) that had (trees) and many (?)." (T. Times 5/25/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding months)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Associated objects;