Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

An editorial cartoon on the front page had a somber message.

It showed a woman putting on her makeup in one room, while in an adjoining room, her little daughter reached excitedly toward a pistol on a chest of drawers.

The caption: “A Twentieth Century Tragedy – The Loaded Revolver.”

From the murder beat: Meanwhile, a real tragedy involving whiskey and gunfire unfolded in a cabin near Mica Peak.

Two brothers, Mitchell Nance, 26, and John Nance, 33, had been drinking from a jug of whiskey. They got into an argument. The argument became so rough that Mitchell’s wife and mother-in-law “dared not intervene” and retreated to another room.

Mitchell knocked John down and then shot him dead.

When police arrived, Mitchell was in a drunken stupor. When he awoke and was informed his brother was dead, he said, “Oh! My God! I can’t believe it. I can’t. If only some one had taken the gun and thrown it away. If some one had had sense enough to kick me I would not be here. … It was the whiskey and alcohol he brought from town that made a fool of us.”

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1942: The Alaska Highway was formally opened.