A Child's Insult Set Off a Seattle Detective's Family Feud
Frank Potter sought a neighbor girl for detective work; his wife suspected more. When his 6-year-old called the girl a 'chippy,' the whipping that followed landed the family in court.
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HOW TROUBLES ARISE. Explanation of the Difference in the Potter Family.
Frank M. Potter was put under $200 bonds yesterday by Justice Humphrey to keep the peace toward Mrs. Potter for six months. The case, although based on an application for peace bonds, brought out the story concerning the assault and battery for which Potter will be tried in the municipal court today. Frank Potter is a private detective and at present engaged on some case wherein the services of a woman are necessary. To do this work Mr. Potter has been trying to secure the services of a daughter of one of his neighbors. Mrs. Potter thought there was something of an attachment between Mr. Potter and the girl. Things were in this condition when Mr. Potter's little 6-year-old child called the girl a 'chippy.' The girl wrote to Mr. Potter complaining of the child, and Mr. Potter proceeded to chastise the little one, after she had confessed using the language. Mrs. Potter protested against the whipping, and then husband and wife got into trouble. Mrs. Potter claims he held a knife over her head to make her retract certain remarks and also knocked her down, but Mr. Potter says he merely pushed her away during the trouble about the child.
“Mrs. Potter claims he held a knife over her head to make her retract certain remarks and also knocked her down, but Mr. Potter says he merely pushed her away during the trouble about the child.”
Domestic violence and peace bonds were treated as private scandal in 1896, but the underlying dynamics—jealousy, humiliation and retaliation—remain recognizable. Washington now uses protection orders as a civil tool with criminal consequences, though the courtroom still struggles to sort accusation from explanation.
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