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81 stories matching arson
- The Shadowed Life of a Russian Emigré
A man pursued from London to New York and Denver finds himself under arrest for arson in Seattle, caught in the web of international extradition.
- The Hotel Fife Arson Plot
Police foiled a coal-oil arson attempt at Tacoma’s Hotel Fife with 150 guests inside; J.L. Lewith was arrested.
- 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.
- Arson Alleged in Tacoma Barber Shop Feud
A bitter feud between two women leads to an alleged act of arson.
- Arson Accusations Spark Legal Reckoning
As docket day commences, Walla Walla’s superior court schedules a series of criminal trials, including a high-stakes arson charge against Chris Hilibrick.
- The Failed Arson Plot at the Denny Block
A tenant discovers a trail of kerosene-soaked fabric and a trap door beneath his shop, thwarting an attempt to burn down a Seattle business district.
- The 'Artillery Insanity' Defense Wins Arson Acquittal
A man accused of burning his own store to collect insurance walks free after his lawyer claims a war-era head injury rendered him mentally incapable of controlling his actions.
- Arson and Betrayal at the 'Bucket of Blood'
A notorious King Street saloon is at the center of a criminal conspiracy involving insurance fraud and a fractured family business.
- Local Legal Troubles and a Broken Marriage
Superior Court handles a flurry of forgery, arson, and assault charges, while a divorce is granted for failure to provide.
- The North Seattle Arson Plot
A fire deliberately set with coal-soaked furniture and walls leads to the arrest of three tenants in a North Seattle residence.
- Arson Trial Reveals a West Seattle Cover-Up
A grocery store owner on trial for burning his own shop admits to paying 'hush money' to witnesses after becoming 'confused and crushed' by his losses.
- The Notorious Mrs. Rauloff Returns
Fresh from a trip to Victoria for the Queen’s birthday, the subject of a grave-robbing and arson case is back in Seattle.
- The Neighborhood Feud that Sparked a Arson Investigation
A bitter territorial dispute between two Tacoma neighbors reveals a pattern of property destruction, spite fences, and suspected arson, highlighting the volatile nature of frontier land conflicts.
- The Kentucky Arson Fugitive Caught in Walla Walla
After three years on the run, a woman accused of burning a Kentucky barn for insurance money is apprehended in Walla Walla.
- Arson Suspected at the People's Theater
A suspicious fire destroys stage scenery at the People's Theater, causing $700 in damage, with staff claiming the blaze was intentionally set.
- The Jailhouse Docket
Four local residents, including a man accused of arson at the Hotel Dacres, enter pleas of not guilty as court proceedings begin in Walla Walla.
- The Unsettled Affairs of Chris Hilbrick
After years of court appearances, arson accusations, and mental health crises, a Walla Walla man has his estate placed under guardianship.
- Chinatown Ash and Ember: A City Under Siege
A devastating fire levels the Chinese quarter in Tacoma, leaving the community in ruins and stoking the fires of anti-Chinese agitation.
- A Jury Called the Franklin Mine Fire Arson. Thirty-Seven Miners Were Already Dead.
A coroner's jury found that someone deliberately set the fire that suffocated 37 workers in the Franklin mine. The only survivor described how one opened door and one stopped fan turned the gangway into a death trap.
- Vigilante Fury Follows Oakesdale Arson
After a suspicious fire destroys a row of businesses, Oakesdale residents threaten to lynch a Chinese resident previously evicted from the property.
- Chinatown Destroyed by Suspicious Blaze in Tacoma
Twenty-five buildings consumed in a massive fire; arson suspected in the downtown quarter.
- The Midnight Attack on a Chinatown Cigar Stand
A deliberate arson attempt threatens to ignite the heart of downtown Seattle after rags soaked in coal oil are discovered burning against a Chinese-owned business.
- An Arson Plot Unearthed in a Rented Shack
A struggling family, searching for kindling in their attic, discovers a lethal trap set to torch their home.
- The Great Elma Bank Heist: Fire as a Distraction
Seven masked bandits robbed the Elma bank of $3,500 on Saturday night, using a strategically timed arson attack on the local school gymnasium to draw police and citizens away from the scene.
- The Harassment of Mrs. Robinson
A vulnerable woman in Seattle is subjected to a months-long campaign of targeted abuse, culminating in an arson attempt that nearly burned down a local hotel.
Also about this, in other words
- 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 Day the Boardwalk Burned: Seattle’s Most Audacious Arson Attempt
On a quiet April afternoon in 1900, an arsonist tried to torch the home of Judge E. H. Scott on Yesler Way. A brave housekeeper fought back with a poker, saving her employer and thwarting the fire.
- The Arsonist's Confession: 'He Wanted Me to Burn It'
A Tacoma man details his coerced participation in the Aurora Hotel fire, revealing a plot by property owner Ed Williams to collect insurance money.
- Arson Attempt Targets Chinese Business District
A deliberate fire set in the basement of Wah Chong's store nearly triggers a catastrophe for the city's business sector.
- Arson After a Labor Dispute
A disgruntled worker is suspected of burning down his former employer's new home near Dieringer station.
- A Burglary and Arson on Tenth Street
A homeowner discovers her house filled with smoke after burglars ransack her residence and leave a lit match on the mantel.
- Serial Arson at the Western Mill
A night watchman thwarts an attempt to burn down a Lake Union mill, marking the third suspicious fire in a single week.
- Suspicion Falls on Youths After Ballard Arson
A vacant building owned by Fred E. Sander was destroyed by fire in Ballard; two local boys seen fleeing the scene are now suspects.