The Empire Hotel Eviction Suit
A Snohomish hotel owner loses her legal battle after being forcibly removed from her own property.
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.
Yesterday afternoon, Judge Denney decided the suit brought by Mary J. Riley against Patrick Coffer, Lillian Mahoney, W. A. Murphy, Ray Kenneth and A. M. Abel for $10,000 damages for alleged assault and battery, in favor of the defendants. All parties concerned in the action live in Snohomish. The trouble occurred last spring. Mrs. Riley owned the Empire Hotel at Snohomish, and preparatory to making a trip South, borrowed money on her property, giving a warranty deed, which she said was not to be filed. But it was recorded and the property sold by the holder of the warranty, Mike Mahoney. When Mrs. Riley returned, she claimed possession of the property, and, according to the testimony of the defense, was giving orders on her own responsibility when she was ejected by an officer. The plaintiff brought suit because it was claimed that the officer exceeded his authority and used unnecessary force.
“She claimed possession of the property, and, according to the testimony of the defense, was giving orders on her own responsibility when she was ejected by an officer.”
This case highlights the precariousness of property ownership in the early 20th century, where a single misunderstood deed could lead to forcible eviction. Disputes over property rights and the limits of police authority remain as relevant to Washington's housing landscape today as they were in 1904.
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