The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-06-12
He Takes His Adversary Unawares
and Secures the Former
Capital Saloon.
An Interesting Fight for Posses
sion Of an Upper Main
Street House.
h Adjoining Gambling Concern Had !
vsrbsl Lessee, but There Was
Written One ~ Well.

When the Capital gambling house o
upper Main street moved into the adjoii,
ing building at the corner of Main or
Wood streets some months ago, m inter
estinR fight for possession Of tho vacan
prsmises was inauguratsd. The hous
which had just been vacated belongs t.
Mrs. j. @, Bchwabs. The proprietor of tn,
Capital, when IL was in the Schwabe build
ing, was Samuel Wallen. more popularity
known to the profession 40 ''swede SAM
He has. since taking the old Hsadqusrtsra
place, corner Wood and Main streets, had
for . partner Henry Albertson. Wallin,
before giving up the old place, had secured
a verbal promise from the owner that be
should continue to control the prem.
ises BY paying tho rent. Though
II was not known why be
wished to do this, II was generally under
stood that he wanted to keep the place
from falling into the hands OF any rival
establishment. The only rival known ia
be after the vacated store was Thomas
Graham, Of the White House gambling
establishment across the street. As it later
developed Graham was after IL, and as there
are very few things Graham goes after with
out landing. elections barred). he got there
on this. or partially there. He secured a
written lease on the premises and prepared
TO take possession. Wallin heard OF it ana
made preparations to keep Graham out of
the house. He had a stock of dry goods
and other things belonging to Alderman
Liasner moved into the place. Graham
talked of breaking in after bust
ness hours. This called for some
eonsultstions between the police, the rival
claimants and their lawyers. The police
looked on the matter az q strictly civil
affair and one in which they had no right
to take a hand unless violence or something
of the kind should occur. Wallin's lawyer
tried to convince the police that If Graham
attempted to break in he would be no bet
ter than an ordinary burglar. Still the DO
lice thought they had better not interfere
until there should be some actual hostil.
tiles.
Thus the situation remained for weeks,
Graham did very little talking, as he knows
how and when to keep still, and the idea
got abroad that he had concluded to foreRo
Their fight for the premises. This
was just what Graham wanted the
opposition to think. How far This idea was
from being. right developed last night.
About 10 O'Clock Graham. accompanied BY a
deputy sheriff. and armed with necessary
leRal boldly walked into the
former Capital gambling house. since fur
nishing store. III clerk, a boy. saw him
coming, and that's about all he did see, for
a minute later Graham had taken possession
and the doors we're closed. An excited
crowd gathered, and as they represented
tho friends of the opposing parties the
situation looked ominous for awhile. The
presence Of q couple Of policemen prevented
any trouble. The lights in the store we're
put out, n Graham stood guard at the
door, admitting only those known to be his
friends.
What the next move will be is problem
attic. just at present Graham ia there.