Court Examines Morality and 'Common Women' Charges
In a case drawing heavy public interest, two women face accusations of being 'common women' while the defense argues they are simply working-class laborers.
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When the case of the City of Seattle against Martha and Maggie McKenzie was called in Judge Glasgow's court, the defense demanded separate trials. This case, involving charges of being common women, drew a crowd of curious spectators. Prosecution witnesses claimed they had observed the women entertaining men in their rooms at the Pease house, where beer and cards were enjoyed, and alleged one woman was seen disrobing. Officer Johnson was also questioned regarding prior internal accusations of undue intimacy with the defendants, which he denied. The proprietor of the Pease house testified that the defendants were honest, hard-working women employed as chambermaids and seamstresses. The hearing is ongoing.
“He testified that the defendants were honest, hard-working girls, and have been and are still in his employ in the capacity of chambermaids and seamstresses.”
This case highlights how 1890s legal codes were weaponized to surveil and criminalize the behavior of working-class women under the guise of municipal morality. It reflects a recurring theme in city history where the law is used to police who has a right to social existence in urban spaces.
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