Research the archive
Narrow 25,688 newspaper stories by words, years, place, newspaper and subject. See when and where they ran, then download what you find.
Put a phrase in quotes ("rent strike") or leave a word out with a minus (strike -baseball). Old scans misspell names, so when little is found, near-spellings are offered.
Refine
Show the numbers
| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1859 | 1 |
| 1865 | 1 |
| 1876 | 3 |
| 1877 | 2 |
| 1878 | 4 |
| 1880 | 1 |
| 1883 | 5 |
| 1884 | 3 |
| 1885 | 10 |
| 1886 | 3 |
| 1887 | 4 |
| 1888 | 5 |
| 1889 | 6 |
| 1891 | 7 |
| 1892 | 14 |
| 1893 | 25 |
| 1894 | 18 |
| 1895 | 20 |
| 1898 | 1 |
| 1899 | 2 |
| 1900 | 2 |
| 1903 | 7 |
| 1904 | 2 |
| 1908 | 2 |
| 1909 | 6 |
| 1910 | 2 |
| 1916 | 3 |
| 1917 | 2 |
161 stories matching constabl
- The Missing Will That Would Have Given Seattle a Library
Henry Yesler's widow and two doctors are arrested, accused of burning a will that left the pioneer's fortune—and his mansion—to the city.
- The Cancer Doctor and the Constable
A self-styled German physician who promised to cure cancer is arrested in Seattle, charms his way through a bail hearing, then slips out of town by steamer.
- The Rowdy Landlords of Ninth and Elph
A morning disturbance at a Tacoma boarding house reveals a volatile scene when a constable attempts to serve an arrest warrant.
- Candy, Land Claims and a 'Confidence Man': Arlington's Commissioner Hits Back
George Morrell denies stealing ginger snaps and swindling settlers—then accuses his accuser of running an extortion racket with a Seattle police escort.
- A Robbery, a Room at the Hotel, and a Prisoner Who Walked Away
With no jail to hold her, a woman accused of robbing a rancher in the Riverside cribs was lodged at the Newport Hotel — and vanished before breakfast. Old Town suspects a conspiracy, and a Sandpoint grand jury is listening.
- The Constable Who Stole a Deadbeat's Pants
When a persistent debt collector found a local man evading his dues, he turned to an unconventional, and highly public, method of enforcement at a popular swimming spot.
- The Sting on Washington Street
A bold bribery attempt backfires when a Seattle constable and a city official lure a man into a trap, leading to a dramatic arrest.
- The Seduction Warrant
A Woodinville rancher avoids the altar until a persistent constable and a threat of criminal charges force his hand.
- The Constable Who Invited a Fugitive to Stay the Night
An accused shooter was tracked down by a local officer, only to be offered an overnight stay in a cabin before walking free.
- A Wharfside Standoff Over a Sewing Machine
A passenger aboard a steamer bound for Alaska attempted to physically resist a constable serving an attachment writ for a debt owed to the Singer Sewing Machine Company.
- The Maniac of Huntsdale: Constable Harrow’s Fatal Standoff
A local constable shoots and kills a man described as 'crazy' in the woods near Georgetown, sparking questions about mental health custody and frontier justice.
- The County's Ledger: A Glimpse into Snohomish Life in 1877
Minutes from the Snohomish County Commissioners reveal a town in transition: new justices, bridge bids, and the quiet bureaucracy of building a community on the edge of the frontier.
- The Coal Creek Massacre: A Coroner’s Inquest into the Battle Between Knights of Labor and Mine Owners
In January 1890, Seattle Sheriff Cochrane deployed militia to Newcastle to suppress a miners' strike. When a riot erupted at Coal Creek, one man was killed and ten arrested. The subsequent coroner's inquest revealed a chaotic scene where union men claimed self-defense against armed mine owners, while the sheriff dismissed the Knights of Labor as 'too excitable.'
- Fatal Shooting at Franklin Coal Mine
A quarrel between roommates at the Franklin coal camp ends in a point-blank execution, leaving the community reeling and the assailant in custody.
- A Mother with a Rifle: Newport Woman Shoots Intruder Who Broke In
Mrs. O. F. Allen, alone with seven children on a ranch east of Newport, fought off a drunken man who forced his way into the house and shot him twice before the constable could be summoned.
- The Doctor’s Debt: A Patient’s Humiliating Public Seizure
A Tacoma woman's attempt to board a train to Chicago was halted in the cruelest fashion when a sheriff seized her luggage over an unpaid medical bill.
- The Constable Who Shot a Boy
A Newcastle constable is convicted of assault with a deadly weapon for shooting a runaway teen he was attempting to detain.
- The Constable Who Wouldn't Quit
A Franklin constable survives a gunshot wound to the head and returns to the beat, only to find the man who escaped his custody.
- The Sheriff vs. The Election Posters
A Seattle lawman is arrested after he goes on a rampage tearing down political advertisements, leading to a physical showdown with a local citizen.
- Accidental Shooting of W.I. Price
A prosecutor declines to charge a local constable for a shooting deemed accidental.
- A Mother Stands Her Ground Against the Law
When an irate father tried to have his son arrested, his wife stepped in to stop the police in their tracks.
- The Ludlow Saloon Shield: How a Mill Worker’s Beating Was Ignored by the Law
In Port Gamble, Washington Territory, a brutal assault on an edgerman was dismissed by a local justice of the peace, leaving the victim powerless against his attacker in a display of judicial indifference.
- The Constable Who Walked Off With the Diamond Ring
A $150 raffle at a South Second Street barber shop ended before the drawing could begin when a creditor arrived with a writ of attachment.
- The Fast Runner and the Stiffed Innkeeper
A local foot-racing celebrity thought he could dodge his hotel tab, only to be caught in bed by a constable.
- The Electrified Rescuer
A Ballard grocer and a constable lose their suspect when a woman claiming to be possessed by electricity intervenes.
Also about this, in other words
- The Theater Manager’s Brawl
John Considine, a prominent Seattle theatrical manager, faces municipal court after a violent dispute over alleged blackmail.
- The Ghost of Conconully
The Okanogan county seat was reduced to smoldering ruins in just two hours, leaving only the courthouse and schoolhouse standing.
- A Stabbing in Tacoma's Black Political Class
A state Senate candidate and a lodge prosecutor fought over $7 and a treasurer's report—then the wounded candidate returned to the jury box.
- The Day the 'Mercury' Office Became a Shambles
After an article called his theater a 'branch of hell,' a local theater manager stormed the newspaper office, triggering a violent brawl and a shooting.
- The Standard Theater Scandal
A theater manager flees a business deal, leaving his cast and crew empty-handed and furious.
- The Theater Manager’s Alimony Battle
A prominent Seattle impresario claims an injured hand and slashed salary to avoid court-ordered payments to his ex-wife.
- The Expensive Cipher Mistake That Rocked Colfax
A bungled telegram message causes a small-town grain buyer to accidentally trigger a massive payout to local farmers.
- A Gunfighter Imported for a Seattle Primary
Sheriff Woolery and saloon-world fixer John Considine tried to seize a First Ward Republican primary—and brought a jailed gambler along to help.