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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Jim Kershner’s This day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

A woman known as “Wicked Nell” asked Spokane police officers if she could change into her “jail dress” before being hauled off to jail.

Officers agreed. But later that night, one of the jail matrons grew suspicious. She searched Nell’s garment and found enough “dope in powdered form to supply the whole prison.”

“Wicked Nell,” whose real name was Carrie Barton, was a known dope user.

From the multicultural beat: About 25 Japanese residents of Spokane picnicked at Fort George Wright. They were members of the Japanese Methodist Episcopal mission (i.e., church), the center of the Japanese community in Spokane.

They took a special streetcar out to the fort, where they sang Japanese songs and played games of the old country.

From the entertainment beat: Record crowds jammed into Natatorium Park on a summer Sunday, many to hear the final concert of the well-known band leader Liberati.

The finale was a version of “The Death of Custer,” played by the combined Liberati and Bowen bands. Between 4,000 and 6,000 spectators were on hand.

Overall, more than 25,000 people visited Natatorium Park, the biggest crowd ever.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1876: Frontiersman “Wild Bill” Hickok was shot and killed while playing poker at a saloon in Deadwood, Dakota Territory, by Jack McCall.