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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1888 | 1 |
| 1889 | 6 |
| 1891 | 1 |
| 1892 | 12 |
| 1893 | 24 |
| 1894 | 15 |
| 1895 | 35 |
94 stories matching defect
- Almshouse Report Blames Commissioners for Defective Construction
A committee investigation reveals gross negligence and poor construction at the new county almshouse, prompting calls for a grand jury probe.
- Roused from Sleep: A Family Left Destitute by a Flue Fire Near Green Lake
A defective chimney destroys the home of a Scandinavian family north of Ravenna Park, leaving them nearly without possessions as neighbors take them in.
- Fire Destroys Port Townsend’s Marine Hospital
A defect in a flue triggers a blaze that consumes the upper floor and roof of the government hospital, forcing the evacuation of eighteen patients.
- The Fire Hose Scandal
Mayor Phelps files official charges against Fire Commissioner George T. Masel, alleging incompetence and corruption regarding the purchase of defective fire equipment.
- The Great Temperance Schism
Over 1,000 Good Templars defect from their order to join the Sons of Temperance amid internal discord.
- The Crumbling Bulkhead of Front Street
A legal standoff between a property developer and the City of Seattle reveals the precarious state of the city's waterfront infrastructure in 1892.
- Fatal Industrial Failure at Toutle River
A logger is struck and killed by a runaway shingle bolt, highlighting the extreme dangers of manual timber work.
- The Lineman and the Trolley Line
A worker's damage suit against a telephone company is thrown out after the court decides infrastructure shouldn't have to withstand streetcar accidents.
- Defective Sewer Construction in the Third Ward
Accusations of corruption and shoddy craftsmanship arise as city officials are caught using undersized rods and poor brickwork on public projects.
- Yesler’s Waterfront Battle Reaches the Supreme Court
A landmark property rights case regarding Seattle’s harbor lines is dismissed on a technicality.
- A Death-Trap Elevator in the Ball Block
An 18-year-old stenographer is critically injured after stepping into an open elevator shaft in downtown Tacoma, highlighting a pattern of mechanical neglect.
- The Night They Broke Down the Fence at Lake Union
A squatter’s float, a disputed shoreline and a forcible takeover produce a lawsuit that collapses twice on technicalities.
- The Count's Obscene Mail Scandal
A self-styled Count faces trial in Tacoma for allegedly mailing obscene letters, despite his wife's legal campaign to free him.
- The End of the Territory's First Hotel
The historic Eight House in Steilacoom, which once hosted Grant and Sheridan, has been destroyed by fire.
- The First House, Lost
A historic residence is reduced to ashes in Kettle Falls due to a faulty flue.
- Technicality Saves Alleged Thief
A grand larceny case against Nellie Blanchard was dismissed after her attorney exposed a critical flaw in the legal filing.
- No Money, No Jury: Tacoma's Judge Stops Court to Prove a Point
Judge Stallcup vacated a jury order because the county had no cash to pay jurors—and his suit over Tacoma's water bonds made the bench itself the story.
- A Steam Pipe Bursts Aboard the Nineveh
A donkey engine hoisting ballast aboard the British ship Nineveh exploded at Tacoma, leaving ship carpenter McPherson badly scalded and fighting for his life.
- Fire Levels Snohomish Landmark
The Silver Dollar saloon and gambling hall is reduced to ashes in a midnight blaze.
- Seattle Wins Its Yesler Avenue Grade Assessment in the State Supreme Court
The state Supreme Court reverses a lower court and holds that a regular assessment roll alone makes the city's case to collect the Yesler Avenue grade assessment — the defense must now prove any defect.
- The Paper Blizzard That Ate Washington's Budget
A senate committee blames vague printing laws and verbose officials for a $52,000 deficit—and says thousands of reports are destined for the junk dealer.
- The Building That Fell Down
Owners and contractors are locked in a court battle over the construction of a brick building at Third and Washington that collapsed during its assembly.
- Experimental Electric Car Crashes in Tacoma
A prototype electric streetcar plunged off its track on the Tacoma waterfront, leaving one passenger injured and highlighting the hazards of emerging transit technology.
- The Loophole Arsonist
A man accused of burning down his own house escapes conviction because the law failed to define arson as a crime when committed against one's own property.
- The Marshal’s Salary That Ended Up in a Garnishee’s Coffers
John McQuade fought through legal thickets to collect $500 as Gilman’s town marshal—only to find a hotel company waiting to seize the pay.