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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1872 | 1 |
| 1876 | 1 |
| 1877 | 3 |
| 1880 | 1 |
| 1882 | 1 |
| 1883 | 3 |
| 1884 | 1 |
| 1885 | 3 |
| 1886 | 2 |
| 1887 | 2 |
| 1888 | 2 |
| 1889 | 3 |
| 1891 | 1 |
| 1892 | 12 |
| 1893 | 10 |
| 1894 | 11 |
| 1895 | 16 |
| 1899 | 6 |
| 1903 | 1 |
| 1904 | 2 |
| 1910 | 1 |
83 stories matching clever
- The Great Jailbreak of 1886
After being convicted of a sensational local murder, a Seattle man pulled off a daring escape from the county jail by using clever DIY tools.
- College Musicians Take Seattle by Storm
Stanford and University of California students perform a sold-out concert at the Seattle Theater, complete with a bushel of roses and a bouquet of turnips.
- The Con Man Who Wore a Partner's Identity
A clever grifter posed as a prominent Seattle businessman to swindle New York merchants, leaving local partners to clean up the mess.
- The Clerk Who Pocketed the Change
A grocery clerk is caught red-handed by a private detective after being suspected of skimming from the till.
- The Burglar Who Stole From Himself
A clever thief in Seattle pulls off a double deception: stealing from a store and then framing a Chinese employee for the crime.
- The Bellboy and the Purse Trap
A Rainier Hotel manager ends a spree of thefts by setting a sting operation for a dishonest employee.
- Efficiency on the Waterfront
A clever engineering fix replaces a main mast in record time at the Seattle docks.
- The Heist at the Seattle Saloon
Clever thieves target a West Yesler Avenue saloon, concealing themselves in a ladies' box to bypass security and escape with cash.
- The Tailor-Made Confidence Man
A clever grifter leaves a trail of unpaid bills and stolen suits across North Seattle.
- The Front Street Beer Hall Break-in
A burglar gained entry to a local establishment through a transom window, netting only small change and wine.
- The Emergency Brake of 1892
A clever new mechanism for Seattle's Woodland Park streetcar line promised to stop a runaway trolley car within its own length.
- Fugitive Nabbed in Washington Street Saloon
A Whatcom store owner wanted by the grand jury is apprehended in a Seattle tavern.
- A Secret Prize Fight in the Southern Woods
A small group of spectators gathered in a secluded nook to watch a 'scientific contest' between two local pugilists.
- A Forged Passage: The Counterfeit Papers That Nearly Smuggled Chinese Immigrants Into Seattle
A ring selling near-perfect imitation government certificates was caught trying to land Chinese immigrants at Tacoma, Seattle and Port Townsend — and the customs collector was not impressed by their craftsmanship.
- The Art of the Con: How a Swindler Sold 'Rare' Books to Seattle’s Elite
A clever grifter conned prominent Seattle society women into buying ordinary books at exorbitant markups by selling them on a false promise of exclusivity and 'easy' monthly payments.
- The Final Fight of a Local Sporting Legend
Once a celebrated middleweight who drew crowds, Patsy Carroll died in poverty at a Seattle mission, remembered by the city’s sporting fraternity.
- The Forged County Warrant
A young man looking for forgiveness at Yom Kippur services finds himself swindled by a clever document alteration.
- The Hustlers Defeat Spokane in Dominant League Performance
A clean fielding game and a home run from Charlie Irwin secure a victory for Seattle in the pennant race.
- Bicycle Feats and Gymnastics at the Armory
Champion W. S. Maltby dazzles Seattle crowds with daring cycle stunts and comedy routines.
- The Forger’s Hidden Fortune
A notorious bank forger serves time in Walla Walla, while his victims and the sheriff fight over the remains of his stolen loot.
- The Catholic Fair Turns a Profit
A week-long bazaar in the Tremont Building successfully raises funds for a new church, bolstered by competitive voting and clever marketing.
- The Vanished Prize
A glass jar filled with cash, intended for a public guessing contest at a downtown shop, was plucked from a storefront window in a clever, late-night heist.
- The Pugilist and the Hercules: Seattle’s ‘Denver Ed’ Sets Sights on Giant Tom Costello
Local fighter 'Denver Ed' Smith prepares to step into the ring with a massive gunner from the USS Iowa, promising a fifteen-round bout that has the city buzzing.
- The Patent Medicine Suicide Hoax
A supposed farewell note found on Yesler Wharf turns out to be a clever, cynical advertisement for a health elixir.
- The Waterfront Heist and the Chief’s Clever Ruse
A notorious 'beach-comber' terrorized Beacon Hill and Fremont, hiding stolen silverware in the mud under a dock until a detective’s staged ruse cracked the case.