John Lyner Re-Arrested in String of High-Profile Seattle Robberies
After being released for lack of evidence, a suspect in the theft of diamonds and watches is hauled back to jail on new charges.
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 Lyner, arrested three days ago on suspicion of being implicated with Jim Barna in the robbery of two gold watches from A. Garfinkle and also suspected of being in the plot to rob Lou Graham of her diamonds, enjoyed a brief period of liberty yesterday. It seemed impossible for the police to connect Lyner directly with the Garfinkle robbery and it was finally decided to turn him loose. He was accordingly released yesterday afternoon, but before night additional evidence of a convincing and startling character was obtained and the detectives started out on a still hunt for the suspect. Detective Philbrick found Lyner at 10 o'clock last night on Washington street, and although he protested against being arrested a second time, he was marched to jail and again locked up. Lyner will be arraigned for hearing today before Justice Humphrey.
“He was accordingly released yesterday afternoon, but before night additional evidence of a convincing and startling character was obtained.”
Lou Graham was a legendary Seattle madam whose wealth and property often made her the target of headline-grabbing criminal plots in the 1890s. The mention of Washington Street as a hotbed for detective work reflects the central role the waterfront and downtown corridor played in the era's criminal justice reporting.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.