Good Old Days: July 23, 2020

125 years ago

The Commoner

July 26, 1895

It is almost certain that Mrs. Mansfield will be compelled to stand trial in the superior court on a charge of having assaulted Mrs. Girard Clark with intent to commit murder, on June 4, 1895. Although the assault was committed nearly two months ago, the preliminary examination of the case did not occur until July 23, before Justice Kirkland.

The charge was based on an affray wherein Mrs. Mansfield stabbed Mrs. Clark in the back, the wound narrowly escaping being a fatal one.

The first witness for the prosecution was Mrs. Girard Clark, the injured woman. Her testimony in brief was that early on the morning of June 4, she started to fix a fence which would keep cattle out of her garden, and which she believed to have been thrown down by Mrs. Mansfield.

While engaged in digging a post hole, near the house occupied by Mrs. Mansfield, the latter came to the window a few feet away, and endeavored to drive her away, throwing three sticks of wood at her, one hitting her, and also a heavy iron monkey-wrench.

Mrs. Mansfield also threatened to do her bodily harm. Just at noon she saw Mrs. Mansfield in the yard, and left the house to drive her out. Approaching her, Mrs. Clark picked up a small piece of board, and threw it at her, then running past her.

Mrs. Mansfield displayed a heavy monkey-wrench, struck Mrs. Clark in the side, knocking her down. Mrs. Mansfield then taking the knife in her right hand rushed on the fallen woman and stabbed Mrs. Clark in the back.

Pulling the knife out of the wound she had inflicted, she exclaimed, “I”ll cut your G-d d—n heart out,” and slashed at Mrs. Clark’s neck. The latter seizing the knife, managed to get it away from Mrs. Mansfield, who walked to her own house.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner

July 23, 1920

The fake speed cop has made his appearance on the Whitman County roads and a number of the farmers as well as strangers have been stopped on the county road and dug up a fine to the fake officer.

Two years ago, a justice of the peace gave the speed cop permission to go out on the highways and byways and collect the amount of the fine. The officer collected so much money that he himself told the officers that much of it was lost whenever he had a “spill.”

Noting the success that had been achieved by the former speed cop, fake traffic officers are stopping the drivers on flimsy excuses and telling them if they wish to put up the cost of the fine that it will not be necessary for them to report to a justice.

In order to oblige the driver, the fake officers agree to take the price of the fine so as not to discommode the offenders. This offer is gladly accepted by the grateful dupes who hand over $17.50 and when this transaction is completed, they grasp the hand of the fake officer and tell him what a good fellow he is.

75 years ago

The Colfax Gazette-Commoner

July 20, 1945

Apartments and rooms are being sought by school officials for the nine new teachers who have signed contracts with the district board to teach here next school term beginning September 4. The housing situation here is reported serious and there is danger of 11th hour resignations unless teachers can be furnished living quarters, officials state. The office of Supt. R.E. Osborne will be closed from July 25 until he returns from an eastern trip the first of August.

50 years ago

The Colfax Gazette

July 23, 1970

At least four Spokane legislators, plus Sen. Elmer Huntley of Thornton and possibly Rep. Robert Goldsworthy of Rosalia, will attend a meeting on campus unrest scheduled for Sunday at 5 p.m. in the community building at Whitman County fairgrounds.

“We’re anxious to have a big turnout for this meeting, which we feel may help solidify public opinion against continued disturbances on the campus,” said Robert Clegg of Colfax and Del Logsdon of Cheney, two of the co-sponsors of the meeting. “Members of our group feel that there must be an end to disturbances that are preventing many serious, dedicated students from obtaining an education at our state institutions.”

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Five possible routes for relocating Highway 195 around Colfax were presented to the Colfax city council and planning commission Monday night by members of the Spokane district of the state highway department.

Marked in various colored lines on aerial maps, the routes were described as “logical possibilities.”

Two of the routes loop east of the city and by-pass Colfax to the west. One route would go along the west hill and intersect with the Main Street of Colfax at approximately Thorn Street.

All of the routes call for leaving the present highway route at the Parvin Road to the south and in the area of the Crumbaker Road to the north. The lengths vary from seven miles to 10 miles and the “rough” cost estimates range from $11 million to over $14 ½ million.

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Colton’s Chamber of Commerce, Booster club or whatever organization promotes that city’s interests ought to be hopping mad at the Colfax Gazette!

The Gazette’s census editor discredited the thriving Whitman County community several weeks ago by listing it among the towns that had lost population in the last 10 years – but Colton should have been listed among the gainers.

Facts are: Colton’s population increased 33 – from 253 to 286 during the past 10 years – a gain of 13 percent.

10 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

July 22, 2010

Crews from Catlow Movers of Spokane pulled the old 24 X 48 Jones School along Highway 26 from Dusty – one of the few remaining one-room schoolhouses in the county – to its new location at Palouse Empire Fairgrounds July 14.

Traffic was clogged for miles during the move. Crews pulled over at wide spots and had to stop to lift electrical service wires which crossed the highway.