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27 stories matching barr
- The Woodchopper Who Rigged a Gun—and the Murder Trial That Followed
Newell S. Barr's cabin trap killed a would-be intruder in Whatcom; his lawyer vowed to take the property-defense question to the Supreme Court.
- The $31.50 Murder That Broke Open Near Auburn
A deputy traced three suspects from a Northern Pacific train and secured what officers called a partial confession in the killing of a man known as “Charley.”
- The Barr Murder Case Appeals
Fresh affidavits in the murder trial of Barr challenge the character of a key witness, hinting at a potential appeal for executive clemency.
- The 'Hell-Trap' Murderer Sentenced to Ten Years
A man who built a lethal spring-gun trap in a remote cabin is sentenced for the death of a laborer who simply sought shelter from the cold.
- The Deadly Pressure on Puget Sound Steamboat Captains
Shipbuilder John K. Barr argues that owners and agents, not sea conditions, are the real culprits behind marine disasters.
- A Leaded Revolver and a Restraining Order
Lena Barr’s divorce complaint accused her husband of years of cruelty — and of assaulting her with a loaded weapon in 1890.
- The Deadly Spring Gun of Whatcom
A man who set a loaded trap for intruders in his cabin faces a murder conviction, setting a major legal precedent for property defense.
- Court Holds Cowlitz County Liable for Deadly Bridge Collapse
A landmark Supreme Court decision opens the door for survivors and victims' families to sue for damages following the 1922 Kelso bridge disaster.
- Fatal Trap Set for Burglars Results in Arrests
Two men are in custody for murder after their booby-trapped cabin killed an intruder in Whatcom County.
- The Deadly Logic of the Cabin Trap
A man sets a shotgun trigger to protect his home, with fatal consequences for a stranger.
- The Church Fair Scandal: When Seattle’s Clergy Played Prank on a Congregation
A reverend and his colleagues turned a charity fundraiser into an elaborate joke, dressing two women in 'shabbily' clothes to perform a 'Irish spectacle'—only for the punchline to backfire spectacularly.
- The Deadly Man-Trap of Whatcom
A man is held without bail after a spring-gun trap set on his property results in a fatal shooting.
- The Mystery of the Fremont Drowning
A witness reports hearing a desperate cry for help near the old boathouse, but the lake surface holds no answers.
- The Hermit of the Olympics
Deep in the government reservation of the Olympic Mountains, an attorney discovers a man who traded New York city life for a self-built cabin and a library of books.
- A Night Scuffle at the Fremont Milling Company
A machinist was caught red-handed by a vigilant watchman while attempting to loot the mill of its industrial steel.
- The Shingle Weavers’ Solidarity
Everett workers raise hundreds for a member with tuberculosis, highlighting the brotherly bonds of unionism in a changing industrial landscape.
- The Deadly Spring-Gun Trap of Whatcom
A laborer seeking shelter in a boarded-up cabin is killed instantly by a rigged shotgun, sparking a legal inquiry into property traps.
- Gas Line Explosion Destroys Home in Snohomish County
A tragic error during a pipe connection leaves three dead and others severely burned after a home is leveled.
- The Struggle for the Eight-Hour Day
While Seattle’s mills slash hours and wages amid a lumber market slump, labor organizers face stiff resistance from manufacturers and owners.
- Fatal Booby Trap in Whatcom
Two men are being hunted after a 'trap gun' rigged to a door killed an unsuspecting visitor.
- The Trial of the Deadly Gun Trap
A Whatcom man faces trial for setting a lethal snare that killed a man, marking a rare legal precedent for the state.
- The Night Port Townsend Refused a Boatload of Strikebreakers
Twenty-eight destitute men from a Nanaimo miners' strike were shipped to Port Townsend aboard the North Pacific. Sheriff Miller met them at the wharf and said they could not land.
- The $300,000 Fortress: Seattle’s Federal Building Deal Is Sealed
Congress approves the final appropriation for a massive new federal complex in Seattle, signaling the city's arrival as a major Pacific port and administrative hub.
- Detective Chief Cleared of Corruption Charges
After a contentious police board hearing, the city's detective chief beats accusations of theft and graft, while the board simultaneously disciplines subordinates.
- Police Vaccinate the 'Free-and-Easy' Saloon Crowd
Public health efforts to contain a smallpox outbreak lead to forced vaccinations in saloons south of Yesler Avenue, with arrests for those who resist.