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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1863 | 3 |
| 1872 | 7 |
| 1876 | 27 |
| 1877 | 14 |
| 1878 | 19 |
| 1879 | 2 |
| 1880 | 5 |
| 1882 | 4 |
| 1883 | 15 |
| 1884 | 6 |
| 1885 | 22 |
| 1886 | 17 |
| 1887 | 7 |
| 1888 | 7 |
| 1889 | 36 |
| 1891 | 6 |
| 1892 | 17 |
| 1893 | 41 |
| 1894 | 31 |
| 1895 | 50 |
| 1898 | 2 |
| 1899 | 5 |
| 1903 | 5 |
| 1909 | 1 |
| 1910 | 1 |
| 1915 | 1 |
| 1916 | 2 |
| 1917 | 1 |
354 stories matching common
- The Architect and the Common Law Wife
A breach-of-promise suit spills messy details of a hidden life, with a prominent architect claiming his former partner was merely a paid mistress.
- The Judge Rules on the 'Common Law' Marriage
A King County court recognizes a union without a formal ceremony, sparking debate over the legal definition of marriage.
- Court Examines Morality and 'Common Women' Charges
In a case drawing heavy public interest, two women face accusations of being 'common women' while the defense argues they are simply working-class laborers.
- Mary Fisher Sues Architect Jasper Fisher Over Marriage Vow
A woman sues a prominent Seattle architect for $10,000, alleging he kept her in a common-law marriage for years before abandoning her for a new bride.
- The $100,000 Estate and the Indian Marriage That Seattle Forgot
A daughter claiming the estate of pioneer Franklin Mathias says her parents were married by Indian custom in 1867. A federal judge must decide whether that marriage—and her legitimacy—counts.
- The Trial of a Man Known Only as a 'Pimp'
A Seattle lawyer challenges a city ordinance that allows for arrests based on reputation rather than criminal acts.
- Seattle’s Desperate Need for Modern Firefighting
As the city rapidly expands, the Common Council scrambles to replace inadequate, antiquated fire gear before a disaster strikes.
- The 'Hulless' Oat Craze of 1876
A Vermont promoter and a Duwamish River farmer pitch a new 'agricultural wonder' to the settlers of Washington Territory.
- The Wharfinger's Narrow Escape
A jury rules that a dock owner isn't a common carrier, leaving an injured woman without recourse.
- The Cruelty of a Mock Marriage
A young woman is left destitute in Seattle after a man used a fake marriage ceremony to steal her savings and abandon her.
- Ministers Defend the High School
Seattle clergy take to their pulpits to advocate for the continuation of high school education amidst a budget and legal crisis.
- Quarantine Declared Against Victoria Over Smallpox Outbreak
Seattle and Puget Sound cities join forces to prevent the spread of a deadly smallpox epidemic crossing the border from Canada.
- School Board Rejects Secret Society Interference
A Seattle school board attorney ruled that secret societies like the A.P.A. have no legal standing to bring charges against educators.
- The Great Sheep War: Seattle’s Political Flocks and the Independent Goats
A satirical letter to the editor uses a bizarre allegory of sheep herds and wild goats to critique Seattle's political parties, corporate wolves, and the emerging independence of women in public life.
- Railroad Monopoly Challenged in Court
Chief Justice Greene rules against Northern Pacific's attempts to block competitors from their lines.
- The 'Agricultural Wonder' of the Skagit Valley
A local farmer promises to transform the economy of the Territory with a miracle oat that promises to outgrow all others.
- The Mayor Bows Out of the Political Fight
Mayor H. G. Struve declines a nomination for re-election, citing a desire for 'common sense' government and the unity of local business interests.
- The Unruly Bleachers of Madison Street
A Seattle fan calls for an end to the jeering, hissing, and systematic roasting of players that has plagued local baseball games.
- Fruit Growers Push for Better Marketing
A newly formed by-products board calls for a major Seattle conference to stabilize the Northwest fruit industry.
- The Inhumanity of the City Jail
A plea for the humane treatment of women in Seattle's overcrowded, mixed-gender prison system.
- The Miracle Crop of the Duwamish Valley
In 1876, a local farmer touted the 'Hulless Oat' as an agricultural revolution for the Seattle region, promising heavier yields and sweeter grain than traditional varieties.
- A Third Street House and Lot for Sale
Before Seattle became a city of skyscrapers, a simple plot of land between Seneca and University was a common commodity for sale in the local paper.
- A Public Shaming in 1876 Seattle
A husband takes to the pages of the local newspaper to publicly disavow his wife, a common, legally sanctioned form of domestic surveillance in the late 19th century.
- The Tax War That Almost Killed Seattle's Economy
In 1877, a federal order threatened to strip Seattle of its tax base by forcing steamships to register their 'home port' in Port Townsend. The local press warned that without this revenue, the county would collapse.
- The City’s First Legal Battle: Seattle vs. the Man Who Owned the Water
In April 1877, just months after Seattle was incorporated, the new Common Council authorized a lawsuit against Henry Yesler—the very man who built the city's first mill and gave it its name—over a dispute that would define municipal power.