Research the archive
Narrow 27,002 newspaper stories by words, years, place, newspaper and subject. See when and where they ran, then download what you find.
Put a phrase in quotes ("rent strike") or leave a word out with a minus (strike -baseball). Old scans misspell names, so when little is found, near-spellings are offered.
Refine2 on
Show the numbers
| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1882 | 1 |
| 1883 | 2 |
| 1884 | 6 |
| 1887 | 1 |
| 1888 | 1 |
| 1889 | 1 |
| 1891 | 3 |
| 1892 | 2 |
| 1893 | 19 |
| 1894 | 9 |
| 1895 | 5 |
| 1898 | 6 |
| 1900 | 64 |
| 1903 | 14 |
| 1904 | 3 |
| 1905 | 1 |
| 1909 | 3 |
| 1910 | 2 |
| 1916 | 1 |
| 1924 | 1 |
85 stories
- The Great Wheat Fraud of Whitman County
A farmer’s widow fights for her grain after a bankrupt buyer leaves her with a worthless check and a vanishing act.
- A Judge’s Crusade Against County Corruption
Whitman County Judge William McDonald issues a blistering order to the prosecutor, detailing long-standing allegations of jailhouse abuse, probate perjury, and illegal spending by commissioners.
- The Brutal and Busy Year of 1899 in Colfax
A chronological review of Whitman County's most dramatic events, from fatal run-ins and vigilante justice to the transformation of the landscape by new rail and sewer lines.
- The Great Warehouse Embezzlement
A Shawnee Warehouse agent disappears with the wheat of local farmers, triggering a frantic manhunt from Colfax to Seattle.
- A Fatal Nap on the Tracks
A tired freight brakeman, exhausted by days of overwork, pays the ultimate price after falling asleep on the job.
- The Judge on Trial
A defendant accuses a Whitman County judge of coercion, bribery, and witness tampering in a desperate bid to clear his name.
- Brutal Murder of Local Gambler Sparks Manhunt
A Chinese gambler is murdered in a Colfax alley, leading to a swift, multi-town pursuit and the capture of a suspect near the Snake River.
- The Colfax Contempt: A Honeymoon on the Chain Gang
In a bizarre twist of justice and timing, D. Franklin Squibb married his new bride just weeks after his divorce was finalized—only to find himself serving hard labor for contempt of court.
- A Woman Defies Her Husband’s Attempts at Institutionalization
A Colfax woman successfully defends her sanity after her husband attempts to have her committed to an asylum.
- The Lie That Kept a Father in Jail
Clara Sellers, 13, recants her incest charge, freeing A. Sellers after seven months—but not before he sold his farm to pay for his defense.
- A Judicial Feud Erupts in Whitman County
A former prosecutor and a sitting judge trade public accusations of deceit, perjury, and misconduct involving a prisoner and a local jail scandal.
- A Night at the Chinese Lodging House
A persistent disturbance in a Chinese boarding house leads to a violent confrontation and a jail sentence.
- A Desperate Swim in the Palouse
After losing his land and descending into a alcoholic crisis, a former farmer experiences a terrifying delusion and is rescued from the river.
- The Great Escape from the County Courthouse
A notorious local thief rigged an ingenious 'Spanish windlass' to dismantle his cell window and vanished into the night—completely naked.
- The Sinking Ship at Colfax College
An open letter from the embattled president reveals the infighting and student discontent that led to the institution's crisis.
- A Desperate Jailbreak in Colfax
While awaiting trial for the embezzlement of grain, a local warehouse manager leads a daring escape from the county jail, resulting in a foot chase and a sheriff's pursuit.
- The Scandal of a Palouse Teacher’s Death
A prominent Whitman County physician faces manslaughter charges following the death of a young schoolteacher, unraveling a web of alleged malpractice and local secrets.
- A Tragic End in the Palouse
A young farmer in Colfax dies by suicide in front of his fiancée following a series of personal disputes.
- The Judge and the Skunk Hole
A local editor alleges that a Whitman County judge engaged in witness tampering, perjury, and attempted kidnapping to secure testimony in a personal vendetta.
- A Heroic Rescue from the Mill Race
A local man risks his own health to save a drowning boy near the Pacific Coast elevator.
- A Fugitive Pioneer’s Final Flight
After years of local sympathy, a 73-year-old pioneer skips town and abandons the friends who staked their reputation on his bond.
- The Silver-Haired Widow of the Palouse
A charming con artist charmed her way into the best homes of Colfax, only to be undone by a stolen set of hotel silver.
- Doctors vs. Lawyers: The Fight Over Expert Witness Fees
Whitman County physicians and attorneys clash in a heated debate over the value of medical testimony in insanity and criminal cases.
- Six Boys Fined for Snowball Assault
Local youths targeted a Chinese laundryman with a bone-filled snowball in a targeted act of harassment.
- The Collapse of Colfax College
Students walk out in unison, forcing the closure of the local college after faculty departures and administration disputes.