Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

A Spokane physician gave a surprising diagnosis in the case of Antonio Volcano, an Italian railroad worker. The doctor said that Volcano was suffering from leprosy, brought on by seeing his father-in-law struck and killed by a Northern Pacific train.

The doctor said it was “not unusual for a man to carry the germs of leprosy in his system for years, before some shock or weakening of the powers of physical resistance brings it to the surface.”

Apparently, Volcano’s father-in-law was working next to him when the accident occurred. Symptoms developed soon afterward.

His 11-year-old son was subsequently exposed to the disease and had also been diagnosed with leprosy. The doctor demanded that the city government step in to treat the man and his family and properly quarantine them before more people were exposed.

From the robbery beat: Two 16-year-olds from Fernie, B.C., accosted a man on a dark, downtown street, pointed a pistol at his chest and tried to rob him.

They picked the wrong man. The man they accosted was deputy prosecuting attorney M.E. Jesseph, who took a swing at the boy holding the revolver and then chased both of them down the street. One of them turned and fired a shot but missed. Jesseph gave up the chase, but then alerted police, who soon arrested the boys. They were being held at the juvenile detention station.