The Mercury Newspaper Assault Trial
A courtroom drama unfolds following the violent cleaning-out of a local newspaper office by a theater proprietor.
The hearing of Don E. Johnson, who shot W. E. King in the shoulder during an incident where John Considine, proprietor of the People's Theater, stormed the Mercury office and beat its editor, occupied the courts yesterday. The state’s case focused on the nature of the attack, while the defense claimed Johnson fired to protect his partner from Considine, whom they characterized as having gone there 'with blood in his eyes.' Witnesses contradicted one another on whether the editor, Frank Lavere, attempted to draw a revolver before being beaten. Lawyers for both sides scathingly attacked the reputations of all parties involved, reflecting the volatile nature of the feud.
“Considine attacked the proprietors of the Mercury in their castle, and had gone there 'with blood in his eyes.'”
This violent confrontation between a business owner and the press over perceived grievances highlights the cutthroat, often lawless atmosphere of Seattle's early frontier journalism. The case illustrates the blurred lines between civic debate and physical force in the city's formative years.
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