Gambler Destroys the Peace … Officer

Bartley "Bart" J. Smithson, Casino History, Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Murder / Killing, Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Shooting, Ely--Nevada, Gambling History, Gaming History, It Really Happened, Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Officer Herbert "Burt" D. Long, Nevada, Nevada State Prison (Carson City, NV), NV), Palace Club (Ely, NV), United StatesLeave a comment

1932 At about 4:30 on a Sunday morning, a drunk Bartley “Bart” J. Smithson was target practicing in the Palace Club, shooting at a spittoon and a silver dollar with a 0.38 Smith & Wesson Special. Bullets were flying, some lodging in the building’s rear wall. Smithson was a well-known resident and the proprietor of…

Keno-Pool Parlor Pops Up

Casino History, Clarence Shockey, Gambling, Gambling History, Games / Races: Keno-Pool, Gaming History, It Really Happened, La Boite Amusement Palace (Reno, NV), Nevada, Reno--Nevada, United States, Welker CochranLeave a comment

1932 Bizarrely, Clarence Shockey’s stint as a Nevada gambling club manager was short. Here’s what happened:   Week One July 11, Monday: The Reno City Council approved a gambling license for Clarence, who’d worked in real estate and oil drilling beforehand, both unsuccessful ventures. July 12, Tuesday: Clarence obtained a building permit to remodel the…