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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1872 | 1 |
| 1878 | 1 |
| 1882 | 1 |
| 1883 | 1 |
| 1885 | 1 |
| 1888 | 1 |
| 1889 | 1 |
| 1891 | 2 |
| 1892 | 5 |
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23 stories matching imperson
- The Great Impersonator: Vivian Takes Seattle by Storm
In August 1872, the 'Grammatical Comic Impersonator' Chas. Vivian captivated the Pacific Northwest with his vocal mimicry and costume changes, performing alongside a dancer from the Paris Opera.
- John L. Sullivan's Seattle Takeover
When the world’s heavyweight champion brought his traveling theatrical troupe to town, the city went into a frenzy of gawking, impersonations, and mass hysteria.
- The Sheriff’s Shabby Costume: A Prisoner’s Trick to Escape the Penitentiary
In a bizarre twist of early Washington Territory justice, a sheriff attempted to smuggle a prisoner into the territorial penitentiary by disguising him in shabby clothes. The trick failed, but not before the warden made a memorable quip.
- The Notary and the Disputed Deed
Ida Jones’s charge that notary Charles C. Kramer impersonated a police officer over a disputed deed was dismissed.
- Tacoma’s Floating Border: 142 Chinese Passengers Ordered Back Aboard the Mogul
A Northern Pacific steamer brought 242 Chinese travelers to Tacoma in 1893. Collector Wesson admitted 100, stretched a World’s Fair loophole for 32 actors, and ordered the rest deported—while smugglers counted the cost.
- The Lawyer's Bloody Glove
A brutal murder in a Seattle office leads to a dramatic investigation, a stolen inheritance, and a tragic end for a young wife.
- The Rival Reporters of Spokane
A bitter feud between rival newspapers in Spokane turns into a bizarre scheme involving fake telegrams, impersonated police, and a plot to drug a colleague.
- The Unpredictable Life of Seattle’s 'Odd Job Man'
William D. Southworth, a local eccentric, attempted to organize a national guard, impersonated high-society figures, and left a trail of bafflement across 1880s Seattle before his final confinement.
- The Teenager Who Swindled Seattle’s Banks
A seventeen-year-old impersonator uses forged signatures and a smooth story to walk away with five hundred dollars from city financiers.
- The Con Man Who Could Never Stay Caught
A prolific swindler known for daring escapes and impersonations finally meets his match, leading to a three-year sentence at the state penitentiary.
- The City Dog Catcher Accused of Robbery
A laborer claims that a city official used a badge to impersonate a police officer and steal his savings from a rooming house in the Blackchapel district.
- The Self-Appointed Officer
A private detective finds himself behind bars after harassing a local merchant.
- The Night Olympia Went to War — and Nobody Shed a Drop of Blood
A touring tragedian closes his engagement with six acts of Shakespearean murder, and the army court-martial in town turns out in force to watch.
- The Man Who Defended His Roof
An indignant Seattle resident threatens to prosecute a mysterious stranger who attempted to arrest him for working on his roof on a Sunday.
- The Fake Auditor of J. Pierpont Morgan
A Seattle hotel swindler successfully impersonates a corporate auditor to extract cash.
- The Tailor-Made Confidence Man
A clever grifter leaves a trail of unpaid bills and stolen suits across North Seattle.
- The Presidential Impersonator of Snohomish
A local man causes a stir on Main Street, staging a political reception from the porch of the Snohomish Exchange before his performance is cut short by a mud puddle.
- The Grandest Affair of the Year: Knights Templar and Eastern Star Unite for New Year's Eve
Seattle’s elite gathered at Commandery No. 10 for a lavish installation ceremony, complete with Indian impersonations, sword presentations, and a feast that lasted until dawn.
- The Royal Society of Good Fellows Throws a Party
Athletic contests, fireworks, and a topical song about 'Ta-ra-boom-de-ay' mark a lively celebration in the mining town of Gilman.
- The Great Ice Cream Heist at Whitman College
Alumni graduation banquet turns into a local scandal when undergrads hijack the dessert.
- Variety and Hilarity at Frye’s Opera House
A packed house in 1888 Seattle revels in everything from German mimicry to 'dashing soubrettes'—with one notable exception.
- The Actor Who Changed His Face
James O’Neill stuns Seattle audiences with his physical metamorphosis between two classic roles.
- Students Take the Stage at Liberty Hall
A successful high school vaudeville performance raises funds for classroom decor.
Also about this, in other words
- The Lawyer and the Imposter
Attorney James E. Morrison faces a hearing over allegations he orchestrated a fraudulent pre-emption claim using a double.
- The Impostor and the Army
A man posing as a member of the Salvation Army was caught panhandling for personal gain, drawing a stern rebuke from the organization's local leadership.
- The Clumsy Forgery of a Political Appointment
Dr. Alfred N. Marion was amused to receive a fake appointment letter as deputy collector of customs, a prank aimed at Seattle's political circles.
- The Newspaper Imposter of Mount Vernon
A traveling con artist posed as a Post-Intelligencer agent to swindle residents in British Columbia and Skagit County.
- The Scandal of the 'Assignation House' on Front Street
A public, anonymous accusation of moral impropriety sparks a newspaper rebuttal and a demand for civic dignity in early Seattle.
- The Persistent Con-Artist of Jackson Street
A former hack driver and theater waiter uses elaborate stories and forged checks to swindle local merchants, only to be caught by a vigilant detective.
- The Confidence Man Who Conned the Farmers
A smooth-talking impostor fleeced fruit growers by posing as a corporate representative, leaving behind a trail of bad checks and unpaid bills.
- The Asylum for Impecunious Politicians
A satirical look at the backroom deals, bribery, and state-level corruption behind the selection of a new government institution site in Yakima.