Editor's note: The West Seattle Herald has been covering news here for nearly a century. Robinson Newspapers (which publishes the West Seattle Herald) have a massive news archive of Herald coverage dating back to 1928. What follows are crime reports and public safety issues from 1935. Although reporters’ names were not included with stories at that time, their original words remain intact. As more historical crime reports are compiled there will be more installments of West Seattle All Time Crimes.

March 28, 1935
Juvenile Delinquency Is Worst in North End W.S.
Ninth Grade Dangerous Period for Unstable Youths Says Principal of James Madison Junior High
Several surprises were given members of the West Seattle YMCA Board of Management recently when Joy Scudder, principal of James Madison junior high school, spoke on “Juvenile Delinquency.”

Principal Scudder has charted the course of juvenile delinquency that has appeared among his school pupils. Curiously enough, the heaviest delinquency occurs in the north end of West Seattle. This section for many blocks north and south of the Junction is almost clear of complaints, as shown on his chart.

Statistics quoted by Principal Scudder indicate that the ninth judge, which is included in junior high school, sees the heaviest delinquency among pupils. A study showed that 74 percent of delinquency is included in the ages 14 to 18.

Broken homes account for a heavy percentage of delinquency among girls, but among the boys it was found that economic stress was a more important factor. Retarded pupils – those whose mental age is a year or so less than their actual age – form 79 percent of the delinquents.

An extensive study of delinquency has shown that only 14 percent of the delinquents have belongs to character-building organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America or YMCA. A slightly larger number have been exposed to religious influence.

News items which play up the amount of money gained by crime have a tendency to encourage juvenile delinquency, said Mr. Scudder while stories of punishment for crime have the opposite effect. Runaways and juvenile arrests have been made on the increase for some time, he said.

The discussion was held at the YMCA was in connection with a movement sponsored by the West Seattle Kiwanis Club to form a “Co-Ordinating Council” in this district to bring together all organizations having youth programs so as to prevent juvenile delinquency and thus prevent adult criminals.

May 9, 1935
Tear Gas at Bank Will Foil Bandits
Making it one of the model community banking institutions in the state, the West Seattle branch of the Peoples Bank & Trust Company has just completed the installation of a tear gas system to frustrate possible attempts at robbery.

Eleven nozzles covering every part of the bank are ready to discharge the weeping gas should a bandit enter the institution. A master alarm system, accessible to employees of the bank, will touch off the gas if a holdup is attempted.

The system was tried out Monday of this week before a group of banking officials, smoke being substituted for the usual lachrymatory gas. Since bandits give gas-equipped institutions a wide berth, it is questionable whether the equipment will ever come into real use.

May 16, 1935
Flower Thief Robs North End Gardens
Now that spring is here, West Seattle’s flower thief is active again and irate home-owners have asked the Herald to issue a warning: Most of the thefts reported have been in the north end.

A resident living at 2122 46th Ave S.W. was especially indignant over the stripping of her tulip bed where the blossoms had been carefully cut off with a knife.