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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1872 | 1 |
| 1876 | 4 |
| 1878 | 1 |
| 1883 | 1 |
| 1885 | 5 |
| 1888 | 1 |
| 1889 | 2 |
| 1890 | 1 |
| 1891 | 2 |
| 1892 | 3 |
| 1893 | 9 |
| 1895 | 8 |
| 1903 | 9 |
| 1908 | 1 |
| 1909 | 1 |
| 1915 | 1 |
50 stories matching executor
- The $3 Million Renton Estate Battle
Two heirs to a shipping magnate's fortune are fighting to overturn a probate settlement, claiming they were swindled out of their inheritance.
- The Battle for Salmon Bay’s Sand Spit
A multi-year legal feud over a railway right-of-way and a squatter’s claim reaches the courtroom.
- The Widow and the Will of Paul Drasdo
A Seattle restaurant owner dies leaving behind a contested estate, a cafe on Second Avenue, and a will that offers his potential widow exactly one dollar.
- The Battle for the Nathan Thayer Estate
A high-stakes legal drama unfolds in Prosser as relatives contest the will of a prominent local orchardist, alleging undue influence by his primary beneficiary.
- The Grand Hotel Suicide and the Two Men Who Weren't There
Carl Eggert's letters, translated after his death, describe imaginary pursuers, a son lost to suicide and a small estate divided with jarring practicality.
- A Dead Woman’s Lot: The Fight Over Josephine Ward’s Seattle Land
Her administrator says Josephine Ward’s ex-husband conveyed her share of a Law’s Addition lot in fraud—and that the Woodins now hold title they should never have had.
- County Commissioners Hunt Down Missing Treasurer’s Funds
A forensic audit reveals that former Yakima County Treasurer John A. Splawn left a deficit of over a thousand dollars, sparking a legal demand for repayment from his estate.
- The Price of Philanthropy
Walla Walla taxpayers worry that the proposed Stubblefield home for widows and orphans might become a public burden.
- Walla Walla Rallies to Fund the Stubblefield Home
A committee of the Commercial Club successfully secures $10,000 in local pledges to establish a new home for the needy.
- The Stubblefield Will Dispute Settled
A long-running legal challenge to the Stubblefield estate is dropped, clearing the way for a long-awaited home for widows and orphans in Walla Walla.
- The $5,000 Will Fight Over Two Seattle Lots
McClanahan says Jane Harmon promised him the estate; her sisters' children say the will should not stand.
- The Unquestionable Will of Bailey Gatzert
Seattle’s prominent civic leader leaves a massive estate with ironclad instructions that bar his beneficiaries from ever challenging his wishes in court.
- A Final, Sudden Act
A Tacoma resident died suddenly while in the act of signing his last will and testament, which was noted for its extreme brevity.
- The Battle Over Stubblefield’s Will
Arkansas heirs launch a second equity suit to dismantle a $151,000 charitable trust intended for orphans and widows.
- The Supreme Court Rules Against Gambling Debts
A Spokane County case sets a new precedent: checks used for gambling losses are legally void, even if passed to third parties.
- The Scandalous Tale of the Stolen Will
A Seattle attorney dismisses rumors of a purloined inheritance as a malicious shakedown attempt by a disgruntled servant.
- Newport Merchants Agree to Close at 6:30 — and Fine Themselves $50 If They Don’t
In 1908, local shopkeepers signed a pact to shorten business hours, hoping clerks and owners alike could finally take part in public life. Violators owed $50 to the Commercial Club.
- One Dollar Apiece: A Seattle Will Cuts Off Two Daughters
Caroline Lemon’s estate went mostly to her daughter-in-law, while Amanda Alden and Jane Gooden were left single-dollar bequests.
- The Passing of a Pioneer Merchant
James Crawford, who helped build Seattle's mercantile reputation, dies at age 46 after a struggle with consumption.
- The Sheriff’s Gavel: Seattle Land Auctioned to Pay a Debt
In October 1876, King County Sheriff L.V. Wyckoff prepared to sell 160 acres of land in front of the courthouse to satisfy a judgment against Duncan Dewar, illustrating the harsh realities of property law in early Seattle.
- The Tale of a Captain's Favorite Cane
A heartfelt exchange between a late local legend and his longtime friend.
- The Great Tacoma Brick Boom: A City Building Itself Into the Future
As ten new brick structures rise on Water Street and real estate auctions fetch record prices, Tacoma’s leaders are betting big on a booming future—despite labor shortages and material scarcity.
- The Real Estate Gambles of Pioneer Seattle
A historic real estate listing reveals the precarious nature of land titles in early Seattle and the high-stakes land development following the death of P.C. Comstock.
- The Sheriff’s Gavel: A King County Farm Vanishes at Auction
In October 1876, Duncan Dewar lost 160 acres of prime land in Seattle to satisfy a $300 debt. The legal machinery of the young territory was grinding away, turning homes and fields into line items.
- The Buried Treasure of Seattle’s Industrial Future
A real estate notice reveals the immense value—and looming development—of a coal field near Lake Washington, long before the city’s urban expansion.