Natrona County Tribune, 1909

He folds - "Tried to Get Away With the 'Roll.'

"Harry Fenton, who is alleged to have been in partnership with a couple of other fellows in conducting a poker game in one of the Center street saloons, which they seemed to consider no violation of the state anti-gambling law, got tired of the exciting life he was leading and one day last week quietly packed his suit case and headed for the Seattle exposition, taking with him the bank roll of nearly $300, without making a divy with his pals. He also forgot to liquidate a small board bill before he left. The gentleman got only as far as Glenrock when he was taken in by the deputy sheriff there. … He was brought back and required to pay his land lord, … after which he gave his partners their share of their 'earnings' and he was turned loose. That some men would beat a board bill is not surprising, but we have always heard that the knights of the green cloth would never rob each other, but this must be an unusual case. No charge was made against him or his associates for violating

the anti-gambling law."

Jurisprudence - "Judge Tubb's Busy Day.

"… Three hoboes … were each fined $10 and costs, but the fine was suspended until they could go to Glenrock and earn enough money to pay. It is feared they will never come back. … (T)he domestic trouble in the Bader family was aired, and after some fatherly advice from the court they wended their way homeward and resolved to do better and consequently live happier.

Casper Tribune-Herald, 1934

Cause for celebration - "State Prepares for Vote on Prohibition Amendment

Wyoming was still "bound by a [state] constitutional amendment prohibiting the manufacture, sale and transportation of intoxicating liquors." The legislature went ahead and legalized 3.2 beer and made "hard" liquor available by prescription, but the voters would have the final say on the proposed amendment, which read: "'On and after the first day of March, 1935, the manufacture, sale and keeping for sale of malt, vinous or spiritous liquors, wine, ale, porter or any intoxicating drink, mixture of preparation of like nature may be permitted in Wyoming under such regulations as the legislature may prescribe.'"

"Wyoming 'went dry' July 1, 1919, coincident with the effective date of national prohibition."

Swallowed the canary - The "postmistress" of Winchester, Wyo., Mrs. Marion Smith, lost the three hatchlings of her valuable pet canaries, Andy and Andrea, "when tragedy visited."

"Mrs. Smith heard the sound of a rattler. … On the bottom of the cage was the snake, one small bird in its mouth and the other two lifeless on the cage floor.

"Mrs. Smith courageously opened the cage door and liberated Andy and Andrea. The cage and snake were than carried out of doors, where neighbors killed the reptile."

Casper Tribune-Herald, 1959

Disinvited - "The city jail was swamped Monday morning [July 27] with an all-time record number of 49 inmates, said Police Chief Paul Danigan. Most of them were transients rounded up by police in the 'jungle,' between the railroad tracks and the river. …

"Since there were not enough … 'iron mattresses' … most of the prisoners sat on the edge of the bunks all night. Some stretched out on the floor. …

"(T)he drunks and winos kept up such a clamor they could be heard on the second floor of the City-County Building. … Police court was crowded and clammy, with no ventilation or air conditioning, as Police Judge Frank Bowron … made quick decisions in an effort to clear the courtroom as quickly as possible. Fines of $10 to $25 for vagrancy were given and promptly suspended when the prisoners agreed to leave Casper immediately. …

"One sheepherder waiting on West B for his employer, was caught up in the police raid and was anxious only to be released in order to return to his flock on the Big Horns. The rancher posted a bond for his release.

"Chief Danigan said speeding transients on their way would be a crime prevention measure."

Casper Star-Tribune, 1984

Tell-tale parts - "Wife charged with murder, dismemberment

"… Patti Jo Pratt, 31, … is accused of killing Clyde Erwin Pratt, 41, and storing parts of his body in plastic trash bags in a bedroom closet of the home in Goshen Trailer Haven west of Torrington. (A)n autopsy … indicated that [the remains] had been there about a month [and] showed evidence of metal fragments, possibly from a gunshot. … But the exact cause of death could not be determined because of the advanced stage of decomposition. …

"(T)he investigation first started on July 27, after a relative of Mrs. Pratt … told authorities he was concerned about the odor at the house and was worried about the welfare of the couple's two children, a 5-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy. …

"Sheriff's Deputy Joe Heide … and two agents from the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, armed with a search warrant, … found a mattress that appeared to have bloodstains on it in the bedroom. They then found two large bags in the bedroom closet, with smaller plastic bags in each of those. One of the large bags contained 'bloody material,' while the other contained the parts of the body."

"A Look Back in Time" is made possible with the help of Western History Archivist Kevin S. Anderson at the Casper College Western History Center, which is open to the public. Quotation marks surround stories as they appeared in the Casper newspapers 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago, with their original grammar, punctuation and spelling, unless otherwise noted.