Jim Kershner’s This day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Spokane police were finally admitting defeat in their hunt for the assassin of their own former police chief, Capt. John T. Sullivan, in January 1911.

Even the poster advertising a $7,500 reward was torn down at the police station.

“The act closes the last chapter in the story of the futile attempt that has been made to unravel the most tragic mystery in local police annals,” said the Spokane Daily Chronicle. “… Absolute failure is admitted now.”

The paper hinted that police had been following some shocking trails.

“A few leading citizens will probably never know that up until three months ago, they were under surveillance,” said the Chronicle. “Not suspected, exactly, but considered as possibilities for suspicion. Two theories, laid out after the murder, indicated that Sullivan’s death might have been a move of a political game being played, or an aftermath of the IWW (Wobblies) fiasco.”

Neither theory panned out. The Chronicle concluded, somewhat despondently, “Only blind chance can now point out the killer.”

No one was ever arrested for the assassination.

Also on this date

From the Associated Press

1911: Harriet Quimby became the first woman to receive a U.S. pilot’s certificate, from the Aero Club of America. … 1981: The rock music video channel MTV made its debut.