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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1888 | 20 |
| 1889 | 45 |
| 1891 | 9 |
| 1892 | 42 |
| 1893 | 69 |
| 1894 | 123 |
| 1895 | 160 |
468 stories matching answer
- The Treasurer's Bond and the Asylum Signature
A Tacoma bondsman says her name was forged on ex-City Treasurer George W. Boggs's bond while she was confined at Steilacoom—and that she never authorized the defense filed in her name.
- Breach-of-Promise Suit: Mary Smith Says Starvation Forced Her to Sign Release
In the latest filing in the Smith-Fisher case, Mary H. Smith claims Elmer H. Fisher took advantage of her poverty to get her to sign away her claims.
- The Test Case of Chin Fook
A legal battle over the constitutional rights of Chinese residents in 1890s Seattle.
- Populist Insult Sparks Contempt Fine
A citizen confronted a judge on the street, accusing him of taking bribes, leading to an immediate court-ordered fine.
- A Circular Saw Opened His Skull. He Is Still Answering Questions.
A week after a circular saw tore into his head, Stetson remains lucid in Seattle, and his doctor says the wound shows no inflammation.
- Tacoma Sues Its Ex-Treasurer Over Public Money Lost in Failed Banks
The city argues George W. Boggs should answer for funds left in banks that collapsed — but a judge rules the council had no right to name depositories in the first place.
- The Widow, the Policy, and the Husband Who May Not Be Dead
A Tacoma life-insurance case turns into a fraud mystery: the company says Jonas Martin vanished in 1893 and that his wife knew it.
- A Divorce Suit With Dynamite in the Details
Cora Heaton accuses her husband of jealousy, vile language, and threats; he does not answer the complaint.
- Seattle's New Fire Engine Wrecked on a False Alarm
Answering a call from the Tremont block, the Watrous engine hit the streetcar tracks between South Second and South Third, snapped an axle and toppled—leaving driver Charles Murray and engineer F. M. Collins lucky to be alive.
- Ballard's Water Fight Goes to Court
When a lawsuit tried to block the young city from buying the West Coast Improvement Company's springs and pipes, Ballard's answer warned that an injunction would leave the water system in peril.
- A Diplomatic Dilemma at the Border
Hon. John Leary and his wife, returning from their honeymoon in Japan, found themselves stranded at the Victoria quarantine station, leading to a strange battle of bureaucracy.
- The City Could Still Take the Land
Judge Humes ruled that Seattle’s constitutional debt limit does not interfere with eminent domain, clearing the way for the Howell Street extension through the Ivey property.
- Legal Battle Over Pullman College Construction
The Board of Regents of what would become Washington State University defended itself against allegations of bid rigging in a Superior Court case.
- Seattle’s Suspended Fire Commissioner Skips His Own Hearing
George T. Masel is a no-show before a joint session of the city council, and the rumor is he would rather face charges than let creditors see his property.
- Ballard's Council Feud: Mayor and Council Say Ex-Councilman Winsor Let His Own Trial Go by Default
The Ballard city council row continues as the mayor and council answer Thomas Winsor's reinstatement petition, accusing him of selling lumber to the city and then refusing to defend himself.
- Tacoma's Water Works Deal Was for Eastern Capitalists All Along
C.B. Wright says he never wanted the city light and water plant for himself—the proposed buyers were New York and Boston investors, leaving the mayor waiting for an answer.
- A Saloon Shooting, a Bottle Blow, and a Defendant’s War Record
Murphy takes the stand in Seattle, claiming self-defense, while the prosecution’s only eyewitness faces accusations of being bought off.
- The Mother-in-Law Made Me Do It: A Seattle Divorce Battle
George E. Brown denies his wife's claims of neglect, saying his mother-in-law called him a bad investment after he lost his job. His answer paints a picture of a marriage meddled with.
- The Lawyer's Bill Included Whisky, Sherry and Plasters
Sued for grave irregularities, John P. Dore answers with 157 items for advice—and an account full of whisky, medicine and groceries. He says Mrs. McDonough still owes him $139.70.
- The 'Indolent' Husband Who Fired His Lawyer
When William Allen was sued for divorce by a wife who claimed he was too lazy to support her, he decided to represent himself—and his court filing for 'rheumatic pain' is a masterclass in 19th-century legal DIY.
- The Ballard Suitor’s Violent Ultimatum
A young man from Dakota terrorized a Ballard family with a revolver and a bizarre demand for marriage, only to return later with a guitar and a hired musician.
- The Man Who Stopped Getting Up for Food
John Turnrose was arrested for sleeping in a Seattle shack. In police court, he said he no longer cared what happened to him.
- The Man Who Insisted on Paying His Fare
A Swedish immigrant creates a scene at the Northern Pacific depot by trying to pay back a debt to a railroad that didn't even want his money.
- A Silent Wedding in Seattle
A young couple, both deaf, marry in a quiet ceremony at the Seattle National Bank building.
- A Receivership Tells Issaquah's Miners There Is No Money for the Old Wages
Seattle Coal and Iron's receiver answers his own employees in superior court: the mine is insolvent, the market is gone, and the pay cut stays.