Good Old Days: January 14, 2021

125 years ago

The Commoner

Nov. 15, 1895

(continued from Dec. 31, 2020 issue of The Gazette)

Some time during the previous week, the prisoners had obtained possession of a small file. With this they had attached a rod and had filed through the soft wrought covering, until the hard steel inside had been reached. This evidently the file would not touch, but the prisoners had succeeded in breaking the rod at that point. The effect of this was that when the jailer pushed the box lever from him the rod locking this particular door did not move. However, to prevent being found out the prisoners in the cell had pulled the engaging rods into position, so that when the jailer made his inspection before entering the cage corridor everything seemed all right. When he came to the cell door, the prisoners had but to shove the engaging rods back, swing the cell door and jump out on the jailer. And this was done, with the result noted.

The men still at large are Frank Kelly, Thomas Elliott, each charged with cattle stealing, and Andrew Reidt, convicted of burglary. No trace of the fugitives has been obtained.

Wm. Wagner, one of the escapees, was captured by James Wiley and James Maynard on Tuesday evening at Wagner’s home near Colton. The officers had strong suspicions that Wagner would at once make for his home and his captors were placed to guard the place. Soon after Wagner entered his house, they followed, and he was apprehended without a struggle.

75 years ago

The Colfax Gazette-Commoner

Jan. 4, 1946

An information was filed in superior court Wednesday by Deputy Prosecutor John D. Evans charging Dennis L. Wolf, 18, Spokane, with failure to report to the sheriff at any time a motor acccident that occurred November 18 at a sharp turn on the Palouse road at the Oliver Hall place a short distance beyond the cemetery roadway. The information alleges that two girls, Jean L. Dickinson and Dorothy Dickinson were injured. The girls, however, were registered at the Bryand & Weisman clinic under the names of Betty Jo Hunt, 17, and Janet Bock, 17, both of Spokane. Wolf was to be brought to Colfax from Spokane Thursday afternoon.

50 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

Jan. 11, 1971

Chief Kamiakin state park on Kamiak Butte was among five state parks listed for closure as an economy move last week by the state parks department. Ranger Orval Green said he expected the park to be locked up by Jan. 15. Green, who has been assigned to the Whitman County park for the past 16 months, said Friday he was awaiting a transfer notice.

Charles Odegaard, state parks director, said the five parks listed for closure were those with most limited facilities and those with other parks located nearby.

Also, location near to planned new or added campgrounds was a factor in selection of the five parks, Odegaard said.

Chief Kamiakin has 11 camp sites and recorded 67,000 visitors last season.

Other park closures included Bush Pacific in Pacific County, Lewis and Clark in Lewis County, Scenic Beach in Kitsap County and Pend Oreille in Pend Oreille County.