Jim Kershner’s This day in history » On the Web: spokesman.com/topics/local-history

From our archives, 100 years ago

A Spokane bank clerk was standing on the banks of the Willamette River in Portland, preparing to hurl himself to his death, when the long arm of the law – actually, a Pinkerton detective – caught up with him.

The clerk had been charged with embezzling money while working as a cashier at banks in Washtucna, Washl, and Spokane. He fled to Portland, but apparently decided to end his troubles once and for all.

Yet instead of a watery grave, he found himself in a Portland jail.

From the love and romance beat: A “young and pretty” cigar counter clerk discovered, the hard way, that a jilted lover can be dangerous.

She was walking with her beau – and having an argument – when she told him she was going home. He said he would not allow her to parade around the city in her new suit – which he had purchased as a present – after the way she had treated him.

The next thing she knew, something hit her in the shoulder with a stinging sensation. It was a vial of sulfuric acid or “vitriol.” It ruined her suit and caused a minor burn on her shoulder. Police issued warrants for the boyfriend and one of his pals.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1986: A nuclear accident occurred at the Chernobyl plant in Ukraine as an explosion and fire caused radioactive fallout to spew into the atmosphere.