The House on Third Street
A string of bold burglaries at the Edwards residence culminates in a narrow escape and a missing collection of instruments.
A sneak thief entered the residence of J. O. Edwards at 1300 Third Street and stole a banjo and violin valued at $140. This is the latest in a series of alarming incidents at the home. Ten months prior, Mrs. Edwards was startled by an intruder at the foot of her bed; her husband later confronted the man in the kitchen and fired two shots. More recently, the family's construction tools were stolen. The police now have a full list of the missing property, while Mr. Edwards remains vigilant, reportedly 'aching to get a shot at the burglar.'
“Mr. Edwards, John Howie, the contractor, and W. W. Duncan are working on Mr. Gamble's house at the corner of Chestnut and Madison streets. They left their tools in the house, and returned next morning to work to find everything gone.”
This story offers a glimpse into the physical insecurity of early Seattle's residential districts, highlighting both the lack of modern security and the 'frontier justice' attitude that persisted even as the city grew into a major urban center.
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