The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-11
PETE HANSON IS DEAD
He Was the Notorious King of
Galena Street.
A SINGULAR CHARACTER
any ca rges of Criminal Nature
Brought Against Him, but He Was
Seldom Convicted He Ran
the Clipper Shades

Pete Hanson. the king of Galena
street, and one of the most noted char
acters that ever acquired shady fame
in Butte's lower levels, is dead. He
died yesterday morning from a cause
which it will require a coroner's jury to
determine He had been suffering with
grip and night before last went out
and got drunk. At late hour he went
to his room, was taken violently i'll,
and died before medical assistance
reached him.
Hanson's record would fill many pages
if the history of Buttes half world
were ever written. He was a singular
character. Affable and generous to
fault, he had many friends notWth
standing his reputation for crooked
ness. He was the associate of such
noted characters as Boston Charlie
Risky Barnett" NELL McGinnis,'
etc. and the list of instances in which
men were separated from their money
by shady transactions, which were
laid at his door was a long
one, although the authorities never sue
ceeded in convicting him of any of this
character of crimes. But twice during
his long crooked career in Butte did the
law ever claim any retributiOn from
him, and then he served 60 days at diff
ferent times for running beer hall con-
trary to law.
AT the time Of his death a case was
pending against him for robbing a Wis
itor from the country, but it is profile
NAUTICAL whether or not he would have
been convicted Hanson got the greater
part of his reputation from his con-
nection with the old Clipper Shades in
the early days, and later from his man
agement of the Palace, an equally notO-
rious concert hall. Of late years he had
not been SO frequently heard from ex
cept when his name was linked with
that of his mistress, the notorious Edith
Sommers, one of the most vicious graf
tiers that ever struck the city.
Hanson was native of Denmark.
He came to America in his youth, and
as far as known did not start in on his
checkered career till he came to Butte.
He came here from Florida u years
ago. In Florida he is said to have been
employed in an orange grove. After
coming to Butte he secured employment
as bartender in the old Washington
brewery. In a couple of years he had
tended bar to such good purpose that
he was able to so into business for him
self. He entered into partnership with
J. w. kenney, in 1890 and opened the
Clipper Shades, a concert hall which
l
Wyoming streets, which soon became a
notorious resort, SO notorious before it's
race was run that a letter once ad
dressed to the Clipper Shades, without
the name of the city or state being
given, arrived al its destination.
After two years Hanson sold out his
interest in the Clipper Shades, and with
Neill McGinness opened the Palace con-
cert hall in East Park street. This place.
though it did not acquire the famous,
or infamous. reputation of the Clipper
Shades in some respects, did in others,
and reports to the police of some man
having been drugged and robbed there
were of nightly occurrence. The place
was finally closed by the authorities, or
was ordered to be closed, but it con-
tinued, and Hanson, Boston Charlie,
Risky Barnett and Neill McGinniss
We're arrested and convicted of running
beer hall contrary to law, ard each
got go days and a $500 fine Judge
Speer, in sentencing Hanson, gave him
warm roast and said he was sorry he
was not permitted by law to give him
the sentence he deserved.
During Hanson's Connection with these
notorious resorts he acquired a reputa-
ton for drugging men, and then having
them rolled This was the complaint
that was always made to the police, but
he always denied that he ever dTugged
any one, and of this charge against him
he always said:
"If a man drinks intoxicating liquors,
you don't have to drug him to make
him blow his money. Get him drunk
and he'll blow it himself
The year after the concert halls We're
closed in 1894, Hanson again attempted