Yesterday and Today: Collecting on Gambling Debts in Nevada

Casino History, Fremont Hotel and Casino (Las Vegas, NV), Gambling Currency: Credit, Gambling History, Gambling Laws / Regulations: NV Statute of 9 Anne, Gambling: Debt, Gaming History, Goldfield--Nevada, It Really Happened, J.E. Burke & Co., Las Vegas--Nevada, Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Nevada Supreme Court, Nevada, Texas (Goldfield, NV), United StatesLeave a comment

1864-1983 While being plied with endless, free whisky highballs,* Hamilton Buck played roulette for hours at the Texas gambling-saloon** in Goldfield, Nevada. Then, in 1908, the northwestern mining town was nearing the end of its heyday (1904-1908) that had made it the state’s largest metropolis. With Charles Green, a brother of one of the establishment’s…

Mrs. John Steinbeck’s Tale of Woe

Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Suicide, Divorce / Annulment, Gambling, Games / Races: 21 / Blackjack, It Really Happened, John Steinbeck, Newell Benningfield, Reno--Nevada, West Indies Club (Reno, NV)2 Comments

1948-1950 Tragedy struck when the wife of famed American novelist, John Steinbeck, was in Reno, Nevada for a quickie divorce from him after 5½ years of marriage. In 1948, while establishing residency in The Biggest Little City, Gwyndolyn “Gwyn” Conger Steinbeck developed a relationship with Leonard Wolff, a wealthy, former U.S. Army Air Forces bombardier…