William Harvey Thompson

William Harvey Thompson

William Harvey Thompson was a prohibition enforcement agent in the Seattle, Washington, unit of the Prohibition Bureau. Widely known as Kinky, because of this tight curly hair, Thompson's career illustrated one of the problems - unprofessional enforcement - that led to increasing opposition to National Prohibition in the United States (1920-1933).

Thompson’s first mention in the press occurred after he shot a moonshine still-tender through the stomach during a raid.

Later Thompson reported that bootleggers attacked him late one night as he was driving on a deserted country road. He claimed that, while a car was overtaking him , he was shot in the arm. However, police investigators found substantial evidence that Thompson had fabricated the whole story.

Thompson used a blackjack on a man who had no reputation for violence. A jury hearing the resulting case denounced Thompson for his brutal beating of the defendant. The judge who presided at the trial later called Thompson’s supervisor into his chamber and warned him about Thompson’s behavior. Thompson later blackjacked a twelve year old boy, the boy’s mother, and his one-legged father. He subsequently pistol-whipped a manacled prisoner in full view of a crowd of onlookers who were outraged at his behavior.

Thompson‘s "favorite tactic was to walk into a joint, grab a pitcher of beer, and pour the contents on the bar, then offer to reimburse the nearest drinker. If the man denied that the beer was his, [Thompson] would strike him over the head with a shot-filled blackjack, and then wring a confession by painfully twisting the victim’s arm."

Prohibition Bureau officials defended their agents’ violence, arguing that they bravely had to consume alcohol as part of their undercover work and that it threatened their health and caused crazed behavior. However, a local newspaper asked why patrons who consumed the same beverage s didn’t become similarly crazed with an uncontrollable desire to injure others and destroy property.

Police summoned to a drunken fight between a couple in a parked car asked the driver to move on. At that point the driver became belligerent and reached for something in his coat but the officer fired first, fatally wounding Thompson.

Thompson was eulogized as a martyr for the dry cause and his death was blamed on societal disrespect for law and order. Federal Prohibition officials later praised Thompson’s “zeal” but never acknowledged that he had ever used excessive force.

References

* Broderick, Henry. "Prohibition Seattle Style". Seattle, WA: Dogwood, 1968.
*Keve, Paul W. "The McNeil Century: The Life and Times of an Island Prison". Chicago: Nelson-Hall, 1984.
*Metcalfe, Phillip. "Whispering Pines: The Tragic Tale of an American Bootlegger"pp. Portland, OR: Inkwater Press, 2007.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • William James Thompson — N.B. James Thompson VC had a younger brother William. Where did William James Thompson come from? James Thompson VC (Yoxall 1829 Walsall 5 December 1891) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for… …   Wikipedia

  • William Thompson (boxeur) — William Thompson Fiche d’identité Nom complet William Abednego Thompson Surnom Bold Bendigo Nationalité …   Wikipédia en Français

  • William H. Dana — und eine X 15 William Harvey „Bill“ Dana (* 3. November 1930 in Pasadena, Kalifornien) ist ein US amerikanischer Testpilot. Inhaltsverzeichnis …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • William H. Dana — Infobox Astronaut name =William Dana type =USAF Astronaut nationality =American date birth =November 3, 1930, date death = place birth = place death = occupation =Test Pilot rank = selection =1960 Dyna Soar Group 1 time = mission = X 15 Flight… …   Wikipedia

  • William Thompson (naturalist) — William Thompson (December 2, 1805 – February 17, 1852) was an Irish naturalist celebrated for his founding studies of the Natural History of Ireland. He was especially interested in ornithology and marine biology.Born in Belfast, Ireland, the… …   Wikipedia

  • William Henry Harvey — (February 5, 1811 ndash;May 15, 1866) was an Irish botanist who specialised in algae. He was one of the most distinguished students of marine algae of all time. Biography William Henry Harvey was born at Summerville near Limerick, Ireland, in… …   Wikipedia

  • Harvey Awards — Harvey Award Pour les articles homonymes, voir Harvey. Les Harvey Awards sont des prix qui récompensent les meilleurs bandes dessinées américaines. Ils ont été créé en 1988 suite à l interruption des Kirby Awards. Les Harvey Awards sont décernés… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Harvey (Nouveau-Brunswick, village) — Harvey (Nouveau Brunswick) Harvey Ajouter une image Administration Pays  Canada …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Harvey (nouveau-brunswick, village) — Harvey (Nouveau Brunswick) Harvey Ajouter une image Administration Pays  Canada …   Wikipédia en Français

  • William Somerset Maugham — Nacimiento 25 de enero de 1874 París …   Wikipedia Español

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”