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

Jim Kershner’s This day in history

From our archives, 50 years ago

Spokane police were on the lookout for a man suspected of murdering four people in a slaying that shocked Pasco.

Two men and two women were found dead on the bedroom floor of a Pasco home following an all-night party. The 12-year-old son of one of the victims said he was awakened in the pre-dawn hours by noises in the house. He walked out of his bedroom, heard shots, and saw a man fleeing. The boy hid behind a sofa with his dog until the man drove off. Then he found the bodies.

All had been shot in the head at close range. Police were looking for a man in a 1957 two-tone station wagon, who was reportedly heading east.

From the traffic beat: A 23-year-old Spokane man was clocked at 110 mph on the freeway – five years after he had been convicted of a negligent homicide charge in another traffic incident.

In between, he had convictions for joy riding and hit-and-run.

“Just what will it take to slow you down?” asked the judge.

“I don’t know,” said the man.

The judge decided that two months in the county jail might help.

By the way, the speedster denied going 110. He said he had been going 90, tops.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1965: Rioting and looting that claimed 34 lives broke out in the predominantly black Watts section of Los Angeles.