She Worked for Half; He Kept the Deed
Phoebe Bovee says she spent years supporting Samuel McClure on a promise to share whatever they built. When he took title to a $2,600 King County property alone, she went to court.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Phoebe Bovee brought suit yesterday against Samuel McClure to compel him to deed to her one-half of some real property to which he holds the title. Her complaint sets out that in May, 1886, she and McClure entered into a contract by which they mutually agreed to devote their time and labor to the accumulation of property, which was to be held in common. Up to the present time the plaintiff has fulfilled all of her obligations under the agreement. During all this time she has furnished the money for the support and maintenance of both of them. In July, 1891, McClure secured a piece of property in King county worth $2,600, but refuses to live up to the agreement and share it with the plaintiff. The suit is to compel him to convey one-half of it to her.
“During all this time she has furnished the money for the support and maintenance of both of them.”
Unmarried partners who pool money and labor still end up in court over who owns the house when the relationship sours. Washington's community-property rules cover spouses, not necessarily cohabiting business partners, so Bovee's 1892 suit reads like a modern equitable-claims case.
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