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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1876 | 1 |
| 1877 | 1 |
| 1882 | 2 |
| 1883 | 3 |
| 1887 | 2 |
| 1888 | 1 |
| 1889 | 3 |
| 1890 | 1 |
| 1891 | 1 |
| 1892 | 7 |
| 1893 | 4 |
| 1894 | 4 |
| 1895 | 4 |
| 1899 | 1 |
| 1909 | 1 |
| 1911 | 1 |
37 stories matching provoc
- The Stock Rustler, the Murder, and the Vigilante Threat in Colfax
Ed Hill's preliminary hearing for killing Langford Summers turns on liquor and provocation—while a bitter town whispers that a light verdict will bring vigilante justice.
- The Man Who Killed a Neighbor Over a Book
In a quiet moment of domestic tragedy in Walla Walla, a carpenter’s son strikes down a respected citizen with a hammer while the victim was simply reading.
- The Ballard Marshal’s Trial
A former Ballard policeman stands trial for the killing of a man during an arrest gone wrong.
- A Woman’s Plea for Autonomy in 1892
After decades of marriage, Margaret Brown files for divorce, seeking to secure her household goods and land against a husband she says has abandoned and abused her.
- The Tragedy at the Simon Newman Store
A violent confrontation at a local trading post ends in a coroner's verdict of justifiable homicide.
- The Trial of Little Willie Holmes
A young miner stands accused of killing a coworker in Franklin, revealing a community torn between justice and sympathy for the accused.
- Rock-Throwing Crowd, One-Dollar Fine: Ah Sam’s Day in Court
A Chinese man targeted by a Pike Street crowd was convicted of assaulting a boy in that crowd, but the judge reduced the penalty to $1 and costs after hearing the provocation.
- The Waterfront Stabbing
A discharged sailor commits a gruesome, unprovoked assault on a steward in a Seattle saloon, leaving the victim’s life hanging in the balance.
- The First Legal Hanging in Kittitas County
Richard 'Boosy' Anderson faces execution for the murder of Charles Fox following a dispute over a dice game in a Roslyn saloon.
- The Case of 'Doc' Stewart
A young man is headed to the county jail after an altercation in the streets of downtown Seattle.
- Tragedy at the Miners' Arms Saloon
A senseless killing in a Roslyn saloon ends in the arrest of a suspect and the burial of the victim.
- A Convicted Killer Gets a Second Trial on a Legal Technicality
James Murphy, convicted of shooting Philip Dawe across the counter of a Seattle saloon, won a new trial and was being brought back to face the charge again.
- The Tragedy on the Streets of Port Townsend
After a violent street confrontation involving an iron wrench, Dr. I. R. Herrick has died, leaving a judge accused of the killing in precarious condition.
- A Woman Takes Port Townsend Police to Court
Elizabeth Scott is suing the city for $5,000, alleging that a police officer broke her wrist for the 'crime' of smiling at the Chief of Police during a parade.
- The Stranger Who Threatened to Level the Town
A vengeful drifter vows to erase a chaotic mining camp, only to return a year later and find it replaced by a civilized city.
- City Hall Battle Over City Wires
A fiery public confrontation between the Mayor and the City Council leads to the death of an ordinance designed to move unsightly and dangerous power poles underground.
- The Backyard Brawl That Rattled 1882 Seattle
A neighborhood dispute over a ballgame turned physical, prompting a public argument in the local paper about the nature of justice and the legitimacy of 'backyard' law.
- The Mayor and the Murderer
A scathing editorial questions the ethics of Mayor Ronald defending a local killer while in office.
- Arson Attack at Snohomish Mercantile
An incendiary device was discovered burning in the floorboards of a Chinese-owned store, nearly igniting the heart of the business district.
- The Great Rainout: Seattle’s Masonic Festival Drowned by the Sky
As delegates from across the territory gathered for a grand celebration, an unrelenting downpour forced organizers to cancel races and hope for a dry evening tea.
- The Great Walkout: Soldiers Protest 'Pauperizing' Rules at Seattle Home
Sixty men leave the city's soldiers' home in a mass exodus, citing degrading permit requirements and harsh governance by Col. Leslie.
- The Price of a 'Bad Man's' Temper
A Seattle newspaper editorial rails against a lenient verdict for a saloon regular who murdered a bartender over a perceived slight.
- The Cheney War Scare
A false alarm regarding an Indigenous uprising sends the town of Cheney into a panicked frenzy.
- Street Laborer Opens Fire at City Hall
After being fired from his job as a dump-cart driver, a man stalks the City Hall office and attempts to assassinate the Street Commissioner.
- The Wild West at the N.P. Hotel
A young man, fueled by a 'periodic drunk,' terrorizes a hotel proprietor with a revolver in downtown Spokane.