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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1883 | 1 |
| 1885 | 2 |
| 1889 | 1 |
| 1891 | 1 |
| 1892 | 11 |
| 1893 | 2 |
| 1894 | 4 |
| 1903 | 5 |
| 1904 | 8 |
| 1909 | 2 |
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38 stories matching thug
- The 'Sullivan Thugs' and the Battle for Seattle's Soul
On the eve of the 1892 mayoral election, a local political scandal involving hired enforcers and intercepted telegrams brings Seattle to the brink of chaos.
- The Heavy Hand of the Svea Saloon
A violent enforcement of 'house rules' leaves two patrons severely beaten by local hired thugs.
- The Everett Street Car Strike
Striking transit workers face off against a 'soulless corporation' as public sympathy mounts against the company's use of hired thugs.
- The Slugger Monopoly of Pacific Avenue
A local slot machine monopolist deploys hired thugs to enforce his trade, leading to a public street fight and a day in court.
- A Tip-Off in Newport, Then Masked Men Held Up the Fast Mail
A Spokane passenger boarded at Newport with a warning that the Great Northern fast mail would be robbed before it reached Spokane. Hours later, masked men did exactly that—and suspicion fell on 'Red' Ed McDonald.
- Midnight Mugging on South D Street
A streetcar conductor fights off two assailants after being ambushed on his walk home.
- City Accused of Blacklisting Labor Organizers
A member of the Knights of Labor claims the city administration is refusing to hire members of the order for municipal work.
- The Dime-Novel Thug Bound for Walla Walla
After a Tacoma streetcar holdup, a convicted robber is sentenced to 14 years at the state penitentiary.
- The Political Thuggery of the Pinkertons
A look at the violent labor struggles in Roslyn and the cozy relationship between political bosses and private security forces.
- The Era of Corporate Thugs
A look back at the private, armed detective agencies hired by corporations to break strikes and terrorize workers in Washington mining towns.
- The Vanishing Gentleman: Tacoma’s Mystery of the Empty Trunk
A well-dressed stranger pays rent in advance, checks into a boarding house, and disappears without a trace—leaving behind only a heavy trunk marked 'Prof. F.L. Hedger.' Locals fear he hasn't just moved on; they suspect a gang of thugs is operating in the city.
- The Seattle Election Telegrams: When Political Operatives Ran the Show
Leaked ciphers from 1892 reveal a scheme where out-of-town 'detectives' and thugs were imported to manipulate local elections and manufacture scandals.
- The Riot That Never Happened
When tensions over Chinese labor threatened to boil over in 1885, Seattle’s civic leaders scrambled to maintain order, fearing the influence of 'vagabonds and thugs' seeking chaos.
- Whatcom Vigilantes Warn Local Troublemaker
A known card sharper and thief was given a blunt invitation to leave town or face a 'necktie festival' at the hands of local residents.
- Highway Robbery at the Edge of Town
A traveler is ambushed and robbed by two men in the dark at the lower end of Second Street.
- The Crackdown on G Street
Local law enforcement targets a house of ill fame in an effort to scrub the city of undesirable characters.
- Spokane Thug Receives Fifteen-Year Sentence
A brazen criminal shows little remorse after being convicted of holding up a Union Park meat market.
- Cabin Raid Near Steilacoom
Two elderly woodcutters were held at gunpoint in their home, sparking a search by local authorities.
- Armed Hold-up in Wright Park
A Tacoma resident reports being robbed of his last 50 cents by two masked men near the bandstand in Wright Park.
- The 'Orting Bank Thief' Libel Case
A political war of words between Populists and the establishment leads to a dramatic arrest for criminal libel in Tacoma.
- A Year's Wages Stolen at Gunpoint in Electron
A laborer, having saved nearly a thousand dollars from his hard work at the Columbia Improvement Company, is held up at the point of a pistol while waiting for his train.
- The Torch That Saved the Train: How a Fireman’s Light Scared Off Bandits in South Tacoma
In a dark stretch of rail near Lakeview, engineer H.W. Burke faced down armed robbers until his fireman charged them with nothing but a lit torch.
- Engineer Defends Purse in Near-Fatal Hold-Up
After refusing to surrender his money, a young man is shot twice but manages to throw his attacker over a 14-foot embankment.
- Labor Tensions Flare Over City Appointments
The Knights of Labor claim Seattle's mayor is prioritizing corporate security over working-class interests.
- Late Night Ambush Leaves Tacoma Man Fighting for Life
A lone gunman remains at large after a brutal struggle left a young victim with critical gunshot wounds.