Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

The Japanese people in Spokane were boycotting the Chinese gambling houses because of the “strained diplomatic relations” between their home countries.

“Our consul tell us we should not play cards and fan tan, and buy lottery tickets from China boys anymore,” said a Japanese fish market proprietor in Spokane.

However, he said the boycott did not prevent him from “selling noodle sauce to Chinamen.”

From the burglary beat: Under intense questioning by police, E.S. Bigelow, 18, confessed to a daring series of downtown store burglaries.

The burglaries had baffled police for weeks, because they could not figure out how the burglars had gained entrance. 

Bigelow told police that he and an accomplice had crept over the roofs of downtown buildings and entered through skylights. Then they climbed down the elevator shafts. They entered the stores and grabbed items – rifles, revolvers, knives and athletic equipment – that they had identified earlier while pretending to be customers.

Bigelow was arrested after he tried to pawn one of the stolen shotguns. 

Also on this date

1935: Persia officially changed its name to Iran.