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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

100 years ago in Spokane: Dr. Wahoo ends up at police station after money runs for sanitarium

 (Spokesman-Review archives)

From our archive, 100 years ago

Dr. A.J. Wah Wahoo, 78, a “picturesque character because of his long hair, yellow leggings and moccasins,” caused consternation at the police station because of his medical condition.

Dr. Wahoo, “ill and decrepit,” claimed that he was a full-blood Cherokee, fluent in five languages, and the “originator of the Wahoo brand of Indian herb remedies.”

The nature of these herbs was not specified, but Dr. Wahoo had recently been a patient in a Spokane sanitarium, where had been treated for a drug habit. He was dismissed from the sanitarium after his money ran out, and ended up at the police station.

A series of debates ensued about whether Dr. Wahoo should be arrested, treated by county doctors, or both. Police refused to arrest him or have him treated at the emergency hospital, saying he was “no emergency case.”

After a long delay, he was taken by taxi to Sacred Heart Hospital.

From the murder beat: Miss Edith Colby, former candidate for Spokane city commissioner, was formally sentenced to 10 to12 years in the Montana state penitentiary. This was the sentence recommended by the jury, which had found her guilty of second degree murder.

She made no statement after the sentence was announced. Her attorney said he planned to file a motion for a new trial.