American Justice 1959

"Let's get out here." The party was getting out of hand. Denny and I walked back up to our cars. "See you the morning sometime John.","OK, I will give you a call."

I followed Denny down the lane then we turned on the highway and were headed towards Auburn.

Just before we entered the city limits two sheriff cars and a Washington State patrol with red lights and sirens going roared down the highway towards Lake Tapps. I remember thinking; we got out of there in time.

Lake Tapps, wild party, turned into a riot. The party ran out of beer and a couple of kids took it upon themselves to go looking for more in the surrounding cabins.

They found beer, whiskey and guns. When a deputy showed up at the party and was walking towards a group of kids someone discharges a gun; the deputy didn't not know if it was shot at him or up in the air.

The deputy ran back to his patrol car and called for back up. It took the whole sheriff department. Police officers from two cities and the Washington State patrol to gain control of the riotous teenagers.

30 teenagers were jailed. 50 were given tickets "Minors in possession of alcohol " and of those arrest and charged, 9 of them were seniors in my high school. The 9, were charge with assault, breaking and entering.

The 9 and their parents went before a judge, no one had a lawyer with them, and there was no need. This was a very informal court at this stage.

The Judge introduces an Army recruiter, then told the group before him, if they enlist into the Army, they would not be prosecuted and would not have a police record. The judge recesses the court for one hour.

After that hour, the Judge was seated and called the Amy recruiter in, the recruiter handed the judge some papers, The judge would call a name on the enlistment papers, the teenage would stand and the judge would dismiss the charges. We lost 7 seniors that day.


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