Daniel Sandoval

Events are a combination of time and place. That part is easy to see, but the things that happen are often the result of circumstances more complex than simply where and when. Unseen factors were in the news for the third week of September.

100 years ago

Republicans were getting excited about their upcoming county convention, and the Sept. 16, 1908, Natrona County Tribune's first two articles were effusive with anticipation n the planned festivities included fireworks and speechifying from Sen. F.E. Warren.

Bad bender: It was a Friday night in Casper and Town Marshal Rice was escorting a drunk through the alley on the way to jail. The rapscallion bolted for freedom. The marshal shouted for the inebriate to stop.

As the man rounded the corner of a building on Center Street, William "Missou" Hines snatched the fugitive on the fly, dangled the man as the drunk made a feeble attempt to free himself, and then Hines dropped the man to the sidewalk and sat on him.

Sheriff J.A. Sheffner and Rice took custody of the drunk, again. As the two constables were leading the man to jail, another man, also intoxicated, rushed the three men in an effort to rescue his friend from the authorities.

The bold commando failed to notice the proximity of Justice Tubbs, who seized the second drunk, who withered under the grasp of the justice of the peace. Both men were taken to jail and released the following day.

Neither men were identified in the Sept. 16, 1908, Tribune. Yet, accurate reporting was less important than making the point that they had made fools of themselves, and the people of Casper could learn their names from the local gossip. And the two men knew who they were.

Politics: The only mention of Democrats in the Sept. 16 Tribune was a brief article on the inside pages. The article said that some Democrats had circulated flyers detailing dirt on Republican candidates during the Republican primary. Sabotage by Democrats was ineffective.

Future location: Fletcher Maddox, purchasing agent for the U.S. Postal Service, visited Casper to look for possible sites for a new federal building. The site under consideration was on the corner of Third Avenue (Street) and Center Street.

75 years ago

The first headline in the Sept. 15, 1933, Casper Tribune-Herald declared, "Prisoner named as bandit," and the article maintained the man held in the Casper jailhouse was an interstate fugitive.

Dapper criminal: J.E. Brown, alias Bartlett, was arrested by Casper authorities on a bulletin from Sheriff Mark E. Fletcher of Hot Sulphur Springs, Colo., after two bank employees identified Brown as the holdup man from a photograph.

Brown made $2,000 in the bank heist and took an employee's vehicle for his getaway car. Police Chief M.R. Quealy said evidence found at the scene of the arrest indicated Brown purchased a car in Salt Lake City before coming to Casper.

Also found in Brown's possession were five new suits, silk underwear, a new leather jacket, a nickel plated revolver, two new watches, bags of coin and big roll of cash.

River journey: Frank Honeycheck was planning a trip down the North Platte to escape winter. Honeycheck was foraging a living at his camp along the river and built a boat out of a junk car.

He was found wet and cold and sleeping on a bed of discarded clothing. He was taken into custody to give him a night's relief from the elements. Honeycheck said the first leg of his float trip would get him to Iowa, where he planned to harvest corn to continue his journey.

Casper Police Chief M.R. Quealy informed Honeycheck that his plans for a boat trip were courting disaster and that he needed to return all the tools he borrowed to make his boat.

50 years ago

A commuter train fell into Newark Bay in New Jersey and the Sept. 16, 1958, Casper Morning Star published a photo of the disaster's aftermath on the front page. The death toll was estimated between 25 and 40 people.

Stump speech: Dr. Gale McGee advanced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate with an appearance at the Eagles Hall in Casper. McGee outlined his platform in great detail, offering 10 priorities he would pursue if elected.

Locked doors: Gerrie Tolbertson entered the Midwest building in Casper, thinking to stop in at the radio station KATI. There was no one at the radio offices so Tolbertson tried to leave. She was locked inside the building.

Tolbertson got the attention of passersby, who called the police. Radio announcer Jim Lewis happened along and liberated Tolbertson before the police arrived.

Use your words: Sheriff Louis Cooper released the names of a married couple who were in hospital after a family fight. Rose Ann Abbenhause was being treated for shock. George Abbenhause was being treated for a .22 caliber gunshot wound in the face.

Cooper said charges of assault with intent to murder against Rose Ann were forthcoming.

25 years ago

The Sept. 15, 1983, Casper Star-Tribune published a front-page photo of U.S. Marine Cpl. Mike Clepper chipping a golf ball out of bunker in Beirut, Lebanon.

Refuge: In the first of a two part series about the Wyoming State Children's Home by Linda Bean, the article made the point that many of the juveniles society considered "bad kids" were, in fact, victims of incest, neglect and abuse.

"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.