The Tragedy at Mrs. Jordan's
A Newcastle man stands trial for the murder of John Downie after a deadly dispute involving a woman.
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.
John Bailey, a young Black coal miner from Newcastle, was placed on trial for the murder of John Downie. The courtroom was filled with spectators, largely Black neighbors and families, as the defendant and victim shared the same community. Bailey, defended by Black attorney A.A. Garner, claimed self-defense, arguing he was struck with a chair before firing. Witnesses, however, including Kitty McClain, testified that the two had been in conflict over their relationship with her and that Bailey had been carrying a revolver for a week, suggesting premeditation. The case highlights the tense personal disputes and legal realities within Seattle's late 19th-century Black community.
“I am shot, and shot to death.”
This 1893 murder trial offers a rare, detailed glimpse into the social dynamics of Seattle's early Black community, particularly in mining outposts like Newcastle. While the reporting reflects the casual prejudice and racialized shorthand of its era, it remains a vital record of interpersonal struggles that existed beneath the surface of the city's growth.
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