Good Old Days: September 3, 2020

125 years ago

The Commoner

August 30, 1895

The council and city officers after much discussion of the matter, decided at the meeting Monday evening to enforce the city ordinance against gambling. On Tuesday, Marshal Mackay arrested Chas. Preston, on a charge of running a game of “craps,” and Arthur Good, the keeper of a stud-poker game. The two prisoners were brought before City Justice Doolittle, and the cases were set for hearing on Wednesday at 10 a.m. Bail bonds were fixed at $300 each, which were furnished.

The prosecution introduced only one witness, E.W. Weinberg, who testified to the two prisoners having been engaged in gambling, as charged, on the night of August 22, in the New Castle saloon.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner

September 3, 1920

Fred Humphreys was arrested last Saturday by officers who claimed they had found ten sacks of wheat and several pint bottles of liquor buried in an old straw bottom on his farm. Officers allege that the wheat belongs to an Oakesdale farmer by the name of R.B. Terrell. Fred Humphreys was arrested and brought to the city to have a preliminary hearing before Judge McCroskey Monday.

Mr. Humphreys is an extensive land owner of Steptoe, owning one of the largest wheat ranches in that vicinity. He was greatly surprised when the officers told him they had found ten sacks of wheat and a quantity of liquor in the straw bottom on his place. He gave bonds for $500 for his appearance at the hearing to be held Friday before the superior court.

75 Years Ago

Gazette-Commoner

August 31, 1945

That Lt. Burdette Goodrich, 27, P-38 fighter pilot, died February 27, 1945, in a Japanese prison camp in Burma was the official word received Thursday morning by his wife, Loretta, Colfax, thus ending all hope that he might have been liberated with other American prisoners late in April. Mrs. Goodrich and the lieutenant’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Goodrich, had been notified by the war department June 11 that Burdette was a prisoner of the Japanese.

The telegram from the adjutant general’s office in Washington, D.C. said that it had been officially established that Lt. Goodrich died of malnutrition and dysentery, and that a confirming letter would follow.

Lt. Goodrich entered the service of the army air corps in March, 1942, went overseas in October, 1943 and was reported missing in action over Burma June 6, 1944.

10 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

September 2, 2010

A little bridge on Big Alkali Road became the focal point of hungry construction firms recently.

Eleven contractors submitted bids to Whitman County on a job to replace the charred Aune Bridge over Alkali Flat Creek. Award of the job went to Harry Johnson Plumbing and Excavating, Walla Walla, on a low bid of $502,226.

“I think you’re looking at a number of factors,” said Mark Storey, Public Works director. “We put this bid out late in the season, and the economy is still tough for these guys.”