The 1920s on the Harbor was a fevered time indeed with lumber mills running on three shifts and money (and bootleg whiskey) flowing freely. Inevitably robberies and theft were also common during those days of Prohibition as seen in these tales of mischief and hi-jinks from the pages of the Aberdeen daily world in February 1928.

STORE IS ROBBED AT COSMOPOLIS — Bandits Tied Proprietor to Overhead Pipe, Get $75 — Cosmopolis, Feb. 6 — Tying N. Milke, the manager, by the wrists to an overhead pipe, two armed thieves Saturday night robbed the Golden Rule Department Store here of some $75 in cash and made their escape before the proprietor could summon aid. The robbery had every indication of a well-planned “job.” One of the men entered the store at about closing time Saturday night, 8:30 o’clock, and asked to purchase a hat, the hat stock being located in the rear of the establishment. A second man entered shortly after, closed and locked the door and pulled down the blinds to ward off suspicion by giving the store the appearance that it was closed for the night. Both men drew guns.

Milke, with his hands above his head, was led to the rear of the store and tightly trussed to a pipe. The thieves then ransacked the store till and made their escape. Milke was able to free himself only after a half hour struggle. No trace of the men has been found. — Aberdeen Daily World, Feb. 6, 1928

THIEVES LIFT RADIATOR FROM PARKED MACHINE — Hoquiam, Feb. 7 — What is claimed as the boldest theft reported here in some time took place last night when thieves removed and made away with the honeycomb radiator of a car belonging to J.T. West, Pacific Avenue. The thieves, with great care, disconnected the radiator and removed it bodily from the car undetected. The car was parked near the West home. — Aberdeen Daily World, Feb. 7, 1928

STEALS MACHINE, LEAVES ANOTHER — An enterprising thief with a penchant for light touring cars, last night stole the machine of Jack Hautala, 1008 J Street, Hoquiam, and left a car of the same make and model in front of the Blue Finn Hall (also known as the Randall Street Hall, today it is the Sons of Norway Hall.) Hautala started to climb into the car before he noticed slight differences and discovered that his own car was gone.

The car left by the thief proved to have been one stolen yesterday at Bucoda. The Aberdeen department was notified of the theft by Chehalis police. The car recovered belongs to Joseph Canfield, Bucoda. — Aberdeen Daily World, Feb. 2, 1928

DRY SQUAD MEETS RAID RESISTANCE — A.E. West and W.T. Wiley were arrested last night on charges of liquor with intent to sell following one of the wildest raids in the dry squad history. Officers, by sopping up liquor from the floor with a towel, succeeded in getting enough to hold the men on possession charges, it was stated.

The raid was at 113 North F Street. Dry squad members, knowing that the place was barred front and rear, decided on strategy. Lee Sorell, head of the dry squad, crept to the front porch while other officers waited near the house.

The heavily barred front door was opened to permit a man to go out. Sorell pushed his way partially through the door. Wiley, alleged door keeper, attempted to bar his further entrance. The officer and man grappled but the bout stopped as suddenly as it started with Wiley, a heavy, powerful man, landing on a table across the room where he had been hurled by Sorell.

Other officers entered the house and succeeded in getting a small pitcher of alleged moonshine. As one of them was carrying it, a woman suddenly kicked the pitcher from his hands, causing it to crash against the wall and shatter. Officers mopped the floor with a towel and succeeded in salvaging some liquor. — Aberdeen Daily World, Feb. 7, 1928

INJURED FIGHTER BOOKED AS DRUNK — Boathouse Warrior Says He Routed Knife Assailant — Bleeding from a dozen cuts and wounds but still on his feet looking for “the guy who stuck” him, George Henderson was brought to the city jail last night and booked on a charge of drunkenness. It was found necessary to summon a physician and to sew three deep wounds.

Henderson was brought in early in the night after police had been summoned to a boathouse on the Chehalis River by a riot call. Henderson was found reeling about and officers rushed him to the police station for first aid. He had been struck a terrific blow on the head and had deep gashes above the left eye and through his upper lip, all of which required stitches. Henderson proudly handed officers the knife which he claimed to have taken away from the assailant who slashed him. He was unable to give a coherent account of the fight.

The victim evidently was not the only one who suffered in the battle as his right hand was broken or strained from “hitting the guy.” — Aberdeen Daily World, Feb. 13, 1928

TOO LOQUAICIOUS, GETS JAIL TERM — John Carbon, operator of the My House Cigar Store, 409 East Heron Street, was sentenced to 15 days in the city jail Saturday afternoon for contempt of court.

Carbon was hauled before Police Judge R.E. Taggart for failure to take out a 1928 license after having been warned by police that he would be arrested otherwise. Carbon was late to court, but Judge Taggart agreed to try him after he had previously ordered Carbon’s $10 bail forfeited for non-appearance.

Carbon talked voluably. He several times interrupted the judge and at length was warned to be quiet.

“Oh, I know what you want — $10,” he told Judge Taggart, reaching for his pocket book. “You will get more than that if you don’t keep quiet,” the judge warned him. ”Oh, no,” Carbon replied in a bored manner. “Five days,” quoth his honor. “That’s nothing,” Carbon said. “Ten days,” was the judge’s rejoinder. “Oh, well — “ started Carbon. “Fifteen days,” proclaimed the judge, his ire rising. Carbon started to finish his sentence, thought better of it, and proceeded to submit to a search. “Remember you are in a court next time,“ Judge Taggart said. Carbon again swallowed his words as he was led into jail. — Aberdeen Daily World, Feb. 6, 1928

Roy Vataja is the son of Finnish immigrants and may not know much, but knows enough not to spout off to a judge during sentencing.