The Hypnotist of Renton
A domestic dispute involving a 'hypnotist' neighbor turns violent, leading to arrests and a strange day at the local courthouse.
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.
If the story G.W. Mattson poured into the ears of Assistant Prosecuting Attorney McBride is true, the people of Renton and Newcastle have abundant opportunity to investigate what appears to be a case of hypnotism. Mattson lives on May Creek. Some time ago, a man named William Griffith, popularly known as 'The Buffalo,' came to live at his house. Mattson claims Griffith exerts a wonderful influence over his wife, and when he drinks, he becomes a menace. Mattson reports that on Tuesday night, Griffith entered his bedroom, drew a large gun, and told him to make his peace with God. Terrified, Mattson eventually escaped. Upon seeking a warrant in Seattle, Mattson behaved erratically, questioning the stenographer about her marital status. Meanwhile, Deputy Sheriff Jack McDonald arrested Griffith. However, he soon discovered that Mattson's wife had also sworn out a warrant against her husband for brandishing a butcher knife. Both the husband and the 'Buffalo' ended up in jail, leaving the wife alone on the ranch.
“You -- make your peace with God, for I am fixing to kill you.”
This domestic drama highlights the volatile social conditions of 1890s mining-adjacent communities like Renton, where personal grievances often spilled into the legal system. It remains a classic example of local 'scandal' reporting, where domestic friction was treated as public entertainment.
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