Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

A farmer named Andrew Aldridge, 66, of Bonners Ferry, had been quarreling with his neighbor A.F. Waterman, 65, about the property line. Several times, Aldridge said, Waterman had stolen his corner stakes and moved them.

Then one morning, Aldridge saw Waterman out moving the fence.

 Aldridge yelled at Waterman to stop, but he didn’t. Angry words were exchanged, and Aldridge went into his house and retrieved his Winchester .30-30 rifle.

Here’s what happened next, in Aldridge’s own words:

“I think I missed him the first time. This was the first time I had my rifle out for over a year.”

With his second shot, he hit Waterman below the shoulder, killing him instantly.

Aldridge sent his son to town to fetch the police, who took Aldridge into custody. When asked why he shot his neighbor, he said, “Well, I really don’t know. He had been pestering me so long that I just had to get rid of him.”

A reporter who talked to him in jail said he didn’t seem particularly “excited” over the event, and that he spoke in a matter-of-fact manner. He said he didn’t think he would bother to get a lawyer, because he had been in poor health a long time. He did not think he would last much longer anyway.