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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1888 | 7 |
| 1889 | 10 |
| 1891 | 8 |
| 1892 | 15 |
| 1893 | 35 |
| 1894 | 33 |
| 1895 | 57 |
165 stories matching van
- The Two Mrs. Van Valkenburghs
A Seattle restaurateur's elopement with a Napa woman brought a forgotten first wife out of San Francisco, claiming his divorce was fraudulent and that she was still his lawful spouse.
- The Unhappy Home of a Board of Public Works Official
After years of alleged cruelty, infidelity, and bitter public strife, Candace Van Brocklin secures a divorce and a significant property settlement from her husband, J. W. Van Brocklin.
- The Senator Caught in the Act
A Spokane politician attempts a quiet wedding in Tacoma, only to be ambushed by his colleagues.
- The Great Horse Thief of Seattle: A Van Buren Mystery
A dramatic arrest at the Artisan Hotel reveals a tangled web of stolen property, false accusations, and theatrical intrigue involving Edward Howard and Cornelius Vanderbilt.
- Seven Votes Decide an Office: The Ballots Are 'Indescribable'
A contested Seattle election heads to the state supreme court, where a recount has whittled a 78-vote plurality down to seven — and counsel warns that some ballots defy description.
- Seven Votes Decide the Sheriff: Judge Langley Tosses Out Fraud Charges and Seats Van de Vanter
After a six-week ballot-by-ballot recount, a Seattle judge ruled that clumsy election officers could not disfranchise King County voters—and confirmed the Republican sheriff by a seven-vote margin.
- The Fall of a Society Man
A once-prominent Seattle socialite and billiards champion has been tracked to a remote California hideout following an alleged $2,500 embezzlement scandal.
- Two Offices Hang on a Pile of Double-Marked Ballots
Lawyers spend a full day before Judge Langley fighting over the sheriff's and coroner's seats, as Moyer and Van de Vanter trade technicalities over initials, stamps and hundreds of spoiled ballots.
- Blood Shed Over a Mining Claim
A dispute over a placer mining claim in the Chewelah district turned violent, leaving three men fatally shot.
- The Daredevil of Seattle: A Near-Fatal Balloon Plunge
Thousands watched from the waterfront as Professor Van Tassell's aerial exhibition went awry, nearly ending in disaster over the harbor.
- Head-On Collision Near Van Asselt
An avoidable railway disaster occurs when two trains occupy the same track, leaving passengers rattled and equipment destroyed.
- Dr. Van Buren Arrested After Night at the Theater
A doctor entangled in the notorious 'Yesler case' finds himself back in custody after being surrendered by his bondsman.
- The 'Rocky Mountain Hustler' in the City Jail
A teenager’s father attempts to use the courts to release his son, who was arrested for holding up a local grocer.
- 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.
- The Great Butter Robbery of West Street
A bold waterfront heist ends with an unlikely intervention by an old gentleman, a flight across the city, and a classic retort from a local thief.
- The Shadowy War for the Yesler Fortune
Attorneys, doctors, and secret witnesses clash in court over the lost will of a Seattle pioneer, exposing a trail of bribery and paranoia.
- The Mayor's Power Under Scrutiny
A dismissed public works official sues to reclaim his seat, setting the stage for a legal battle over municipal authority in 1892 Seattle.
- The Land Grab That Built Seattle’s West Side
In 1890, a powerful syndicate led by George M. Van Doren bought up the entire Verier Addition in Kent and began aggressively marketing West Seattle lots to speculators, setting the stage for the city's explosive real estate boom.
- A Doctor Traded His Drugstore for a ‘Level Bottom’ That Wasn’t
Dr. Van Dyke sued R. K. Latimer, claiming a Green River land swap was built on false promises about acreage worth far less than the store.
- The Water Works Cash Scandal
A former water superintendent admits to using bill funds to cover mysterious cash shortages, triggering an explosive office row.
- The French Laundry War
When an abusive husband tried to have his wife and her assistant evicted and arrested, he found that the women of the 'French Laundry' weren't going down without a fight.
- Defamation Suit Filed Over 'Thieves and Skinners' Remark
A local merchant is suing for $10,000 in damages after being publicly accused of being a 'thief and skinner' by a man on Madison Street.
- The Tragedy of a Backyard Stream
A toddler’s unsupervised play ends in a heartbreaking drowning in a narrow irrigation ditch, highlighting the perils of a growing city.
- The Mayor's Power Play Fails
A judge rules that Seattle's Mayor overstepped in his attempt to purge the Board of Public Works for political gain.
- The Industrial Boom of Van Asselt's Sewer Pipe
A newly discovered deposit of clay near the Green River births a factory, employing eighty men and shaping the city’s infrastructure.