The Diamond Ring Dispute
A local woman and her acquaintance face off in court over a $1,000 diamond ring, debating whether it was a gift or a loan.
The trouble between Anna Mazinque, commonly called 'Camille,' and J. T. Davis, known as 'Bodle,' over a $1,000 diamond ring which the former either gave or loaned to the latter, occupied Justice Caldwell's time yesterday afternoon. The case did not develop much more than was printed in the Post-Intelligencer at the time the issue was brought. The woman said she loaned 'Bodle' the diamond to make him look 'putty,' and 'Bodle' said it was an outright gift. The case will be finished this morning.
“The woman said she loaned 'Bodle' the diamond to make him look 'putty.'”
This minor civil dispute highlights the social dynamics of 1890s Seattle, where personal property and reputation were often litigated in local justice courts. The colorful testimony provides a rare, albeit filtered, glimpse into the lives of individuals outside the city's elite circles.
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