Person

Chief Woolery

Named in 27 stories. Back to all names

Apr 13, 1882Midnight Hijack on the Coal WharfA steamship steward is drugged and robbed in the dark, highlighting the dangers lurking on the Seattle waterfront.Seattle, WA
Apr 16, 1882The Strange Case of 'Danger' the Dog at Justice Coomb's CourtA local street joke involving a dog, a dry goods box, and the Chief of Police highlights the whimsical side of early Seattle's judicial system.Seattle, WA
May 13, 1882The Price of a Public NuisanceA man dubbed 'Dirty Smith' faces the magistrate and finds himself working off his debt to society on the city’s construction projects.Seattle, WA
May 17, 1882The Vagrant and the 'Iron Jewelry'A petty theft on the Duwamish River lands a drifter in a Seattle jail, where he must trade his freedom for hard labor.Duwamish River, Seattle, WA
May 27, 1882The Girl Who Ran Away: A Seattle Hotel Trap and a Lawyer’s ComplicityIn May 1882, a 16-year-old runaway from the Puyallup River found herself stranded in Seattle, only to be exploited by a local attorney who deposited her stolen savings in his own name. Chief of Police Woolery intervened, recovering the funds and exposing the legal professional’s unethical conduct.Seattle Hotel, Seattle, WA
Jan 28, 1883A Saloon Shootout AvertedA Montana man faces justice after drawing a pistol in a Mill Street saloon over a gambling dispute.Yesler Way, Seattle, WA
Jan 31, 1883Police Crack Down on Local Gambling DenAfter ignoring illegal banking games for some time, the city police force raids a gambling operation and arrests the dealers.Seattle, WA
Mar 4, 1883Violent Outburst at Kepplar's Beer HallA quiet game of cards on Front Street turned bloody when a ship carpenter stabbed a local plasterer, leading to a quick intervention by the Chief of Police.Front Street, Seattle, WA
Apr 3, 1883Justice Returns in IronsTwo thieves, previously operating in Portland, are brought back to Seattle in custody after a stint in Victoria.County Jail, Seattle, WA
May 30, 1883The Gentleman Forger of North SeattleA dapper newcomer claiming to be a real estate mogul is revealed as a wanted Colorado bank swindler.North Seattle College, Seattle, WA
Jun 10, 1883The Thief Who Crawled into a HoleA petty shoplifting chase leads to an absurd standoff underneath a downtown storefront.Seattle, WA
Jul 14, 1883The Unlucky Escape of Frank HoganAfter four years on the run, a jailbreaker is recognized and knocked cold by the Chief of Police.Seattle, WA
Jul 21, 1883Seattle's Chief Woolery Gives the 'Hard Cases' a Meal and a One-Way BoatMeeting every steamer from up the Sound, the police chief spots known troublemakers, feeds them, and tells them when the next boat leaves—then finds a valise of safecracking tools and giant-powder cartridges.Seattle, WA
Oct 13, 1883The Strange Mystery of the Snoqualmie RoadA young laborer is found dead in Lake Washington, but the investigation into his companions reveals a web of confusion and suspicious departures.Lake Washington, Seattle, WA
Nov 16, 1883Drunken Brawl at Yesler's WharfTwo opportunists and their intoxicated victim end up in jail after a chaotic street struggle.Seattle, WA
Nov 20, 1883Clearing the Streets of 'Washington Street Aristocrats'Local police launch a crackdown on the city's 'vagrants,' forcing them to either work or leave town.Washington Street, Seattle, WA
Dec 11, 1883Raiding the Opium DensPolice Chief Woolery and Officer McGowan raid a hidden opium den between Eighth and Ninth Streets, leading to the arrest of two young men.Seattle, WA
Jan 27, 1884Firecrackers and Guard Duty for the New YearAs the Chinese community celebrates, the City Council forces them to pay for their own police watchmen.Seattle, WA
Feb 2, 1884The Mysterious Port Gamble HeistA bold robbery at Port Gamble sparks a frantic search for suspects believed to have fled toward Seattle.Port Gamble, WA
Feb 24, 1884The Scandal at the Post Office News StandA Seattle news stand proprietor faces criminal charges after being observed with a young girl, sparking community debate over intent and reputation.Seattle, WA
Mar 29, 1884A Family Feud Turned Public SpectacleA woman’s obsessive search for her daughter in Seattle leads to a public assault on her own son and a charge of insanity.Mill Street, Seattle, WA
Apr 23, 1884The Book Agent's Quick ExitA traveling book salesman avoids a long legal ordeal by pleading guilty and leaving town immediately.Seattle, WA
Apr 26, 1884A Bloody Brawl on Commercial StreetA long-standing feud between a bartender and a steamer water tender erupts in public, leaving both men facing legal trouble.Commercial Street, Seattle, WA
May 17, 1885The Temperance Stand Against the Liquor InterestA political meeting in Vancouver, Washington, sparks a fierce debate over the influence of the liquor trade, the liberty of the press, and the character of local leadership.City Hall, Vancouver, WA
Jun 18, 1885The Unceremonious Dismissal of Chief WooleryA police chief accused of serious misconduct walks away without a hearing, leaving Seattle residents bewildered and angry.Seattle, WA
Dec 27, 1885The Christmas Eve Brawl at the French Woman’s SaloonA holiday celebration in Seattle ends in a violent saloon assault, leaving a mill worker clinging to life.Seattle, WA
Jan 28, 1891The Plot to Lock Up a Witness: How Greed Tried to Silence a PioneerWilliam De Shaw, a respected Seattle merchant and witness to a will worth millions in British Columbia, was nearly committed to an insane asylum by land speculators who wanted his testimony silenced.Seattle, WA