Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Fred B. Olds, 21, son of the murdered physician Dr. W.H. Olds, took the witness stand and dropped a bombshell.

He said he had heard the accused – Della Olds, the late doctor’s young wife – claim she was going to get a divorce and marry Dr. W.W. Harrington, another Spokane physician. The young Olds, the doctor’s son by a previous marriage, quoted Della as saying she had loved Harrington “for 15 years” – an especially shocking revelation, since Della was only 29.

“ ‘I love him,’ ” Fred quoted her as saying. “ ‘What are you going to do about it?’ ”

Fred said she had heard Della call Dr. Harrington several times at his club. Once, he said, he heard her call someone and say, “Do come and get me,” and then she later went down to a carriage, “scantily dressed,” and drove away.

Yet young Olds also delivered some damaging testimony about his father. He said his father routinely got so drunk that Fred had to undress him and put him in bed next to his sleeping wife.

He also said Della used to cry when her husband came home drunk after they were first married, “but not lately.”

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1937: Aviator Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to make the first round-the-world flight along the equator.