Alcohol. It is the elixir that turns seemingly stable adults into cheery blabbering idiots, angry misanthropes, or weepy killjoys. Whatever effect it may have, the results of their jags created fodder for the local newspapers. Here are a few stories from the Aberdeen Bulletin, predecessor to The Daily World.

Daley Dray, a cornet player in one of the saloons, was arrested yesterday on a charge of drunkenness, and put up a bond of $10 for good behavior, upon which he was given his liberty and released. He immediately left town, jumping his bail. – March 23, 1906

MUST SERVE SENTENCE — Chris Berg will spend the next month in jail, and for at least that period he will be sober. Judge Drake says that Berg may be classed as a habitual drunkard, for his last appearance in court is the seventh since February 1, all on the charge of drunkenness. His honor thought a fine would be ineffective, and so decided to keep Christopher in a safe place for thirty days by a jail sentence, not giving the alternative of a fine. — June 25, 1906

DISTURBER ARRESTED — Last evening as the Volunteers of America were holding services on the corner of Heron and F streets and Captain Judson was addressing the crowd, W. Breedlove appeared on the scene and made a disturbance.

He had evidently imbibed enough whiskey to make him think that he was “It,” and that this was the opportunity to distinguish himself. A big burly policeman coming along just then differed with him, and annexing Breedlove, escorted him to jail, where he is now working out a fifteen days’ sentence. From Captain Judson’s story it appears that he had befriended Breedlove when he was down on his luck, but that his kindness was imposed on, Breedlove turning against him when he would not give him money.

Recently the clock was stolen from the Volunteers’ reading room and Captain Judson suspected Breedlove of being the thief, but found he was not. When he found that he was suspected he was very angry and the Captain thinks this is the real cause of his behavior last night. — November 7, 1905

Finally, from the pages of the Aberdeen Bulletin, comes to a story that was updated several days in a row, as alcohol turned “Sunny Jim” considerably darker:

SAYS HE’S DEAD — Sunny Jim this afternoon declared to friends that he was dead. “You have come too late boys,” he said; “I am dead. Can’t you see heaven over there?” he added, pointing to a corner of his cell. He said he did not care where he was to be buried, but suggested that a cheap coffin would be about right, as he had never done anything good, and deemed it inexpedient to spend too much money on him. he insists that he is as dead as a door nail, and has given a friend instructions as to what disposition he shall make of Sunny Jim’s effects. — April 27, 1906

SUNNY JIM IS CRAZY — If indications can be relied upon, “Sunny Jim” is demented. After a long spree, he was locked up in the city jail, and his condition has become so bad that Chief Christensen believes he must be sent to Montesano to appear before the sanity commissioners.

After his trip to heaven yesterday and his unsuccessful effort to secure entrance to the pearly kingdom, Sunny Jim announced that he was dead. He said it was useless to try and fix him up, as he had departed this life. “Why, can’t you see your talking to a dead man?” he asked “I tell you, boys, I’m a goner; it’s too late to do anything for me.”

Over in the corner of his cell Sunny Jim could see heaven. He described it to those who had called on him and declared that he was very anxious to get there. When the chief told him he had better get up and be measured for his coffin. Jim dismissed the subject by saying that a cheap box would suffice, and that he had no preference for far as an undertaker was concerned. He declined to put his hands in his pockets, for some unapparent reason, and gave instructions as to the disposition of his personal effects.

This morning the unfortunate man was much worse and he is now being treated by the city physician. Should there be no improvement in his condition he will be committed to the insane asylum. He is a fine-looking man of almost six feet, and hails from Norfolk, Va. Everything possible will be done for him, but it seems today as if his reason has fled. — April 28, 1906

SUNNY JIM RECOVERS — Sunny Jim has upset all the calculations of Chief of Police Christensen by completely regaining his reason. Jim was in bad shape mentally Saturday, but yesterday he came out of it, and today is in full possession of his mental faculties. He knows everything that has transpired and is cognizant of the fact that he considered himself dead. He realizes how foolish it was, and vows and declares that he will never jeopardize his reason. He will be held for a day or two, until he is in condition to look after himself. — April 30, 1906

SUNNY JIM LIBERATED — After a series of remarkable experiences Sunny Jim was released this morning from the city bastille and sent back to the logging camp. He has completely regained his reason and vows that he will hereafter refrain from excessive use of liquor. He seems to realize everything that happened while he was locked up, and now is very much ashamed to have stated that he was dead and that he had been refused admittance to heaven. The man is very popular among his acquaintances in the woods and in town, and all are glad that he has been put on his feet again. — May 1, 1906

Roy Vataja is the son of Finnish immigrants and would be interested to learn who “Sunny Jim” was and what happened to him.