Good Old Days: Dec. 3, 2020

125 years ago

The Commoner

November 15, 1895

(continued from Nov. 19, 2020 issue)

All this took but the fraction of a minute, and the prisoners at once unlocking the heavy iron door of the jail, and afterwards of that leading from the jailer’s room to the courthouse corridor, were prepared for their run. Short time as this took, Jailer Newcomer, aided by Wm. Peak, who is serving a term for petty larceny, released himself from the gag and bonds, and reached the outer door of the jail, just as five of the escapees had disappeared through the front door, into the darkness of the night.

Murphy, who had been slow, was still in the courthouse corridor, and at the jailer’s alarm, Sheriff Lathrum and Deputy Osborne, who were sitting in the sheriff’s office, rushed out and the former seeing Murphy escaping, fired over his head, bringing that worthy to a halt. Deputy Osborne running out the front door could see fleeing forms on Mill Street about a block away. He fired several shots at them, but they did not stop.

Jumping the yard fences about the Bellinger residence they disappeared in the darkness, Mr. Osborne following, made careful but unsuccessful search for the men. He was soon joined by others of the sheriff’s force and an attempt was made to guard all outlets.

Search for the escaped men was kept up all night, but without avail.

(to be continued)

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner

December 3, 1920

Workmen are rapidly completing the new Liberty Theatre and the building will be opened within a few weeks. The work is being done by Contractor M.C. Conley of Spokane. Mr. Conley stated that he is rushing the work as fast as possible as the owners of the building are anxious to have the work completed.

The theatre will be opened sometime this month, perhaps during the Christmas week. Otto Hoefle has leased the room located in the south part of the building and he will open his cigar store within the next few weeks. The theatre will be one of the most complete buildings of its kind in this section of the state.

75 years ago

The Colfax Gazette-Commoner

December 7, 1945

Calling for an ordinance amendment was the unanimous vote of the council Monday evening authorizing collection of 10 percent of the “take” of slot machines in private clubs, a license fee of $2.50 a month on music boxes, a license fee of $7.50 a month on “free game” machines that are played solely for amusement, and continuing the monthly license fee of $7.50 on pinball machines.

Adoption of an ordinance was also authorized that will stop the sale of beer and wine in public halls and restaurants at midnight on five nights of the week. The 12 o’clock suspension of sales is now observed on Saturday nights. On all other nights, except Sunday, sale has continued until 1 o’clock.

25 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

November 23, 1995

It may have been the budget discussion, it may have been the company, or maybe the coffee was just too strong. Either way, Commissioners Jim Potts and Nora Mae Keifer “excused” themselves and walked out of a public meeting with County Auditor Eugenia Goldsworthy and members of her staff on Tuesday.

The latest debate pertained to whether some $100,000 in budget authority would be put back into the auditor’s fund for preserving documents.

Over 10 years ago, the fund was created in Whitman County to insure the preservation of county records. The $100,000 in budget authority was removed from the auditor’s budget without her prior knowledge, Goldsworthy contended.