100 years ago in Spokane: Teenagers let off light after minor crime spree

Three local teenagers stole a checkbook from a Metaline Falls, Washington, merchant and used it to go on a wild spending spree.

Among other things, they used it to buy an Overland automobile and take it on a joyride – until they wrecked it in Newport.

In Spokane, they had already written other checks worth hundreds of dollars, including a check for cash at the Old National Bank.

However, none of the three were going to jail, or even to the reformatory.

The ringleader, James Mannen Ritter, was tried in Newport, where he admitted that he stole the bank book and brought it to Spokane and went on the spree with the other two boys. However, the Newport judge gave him a suspended sentence of one to 15 years.

The other two boys were tried in Spokane, because that’s where the stolen and forged checks were passed. Judge Witt gave them suspended sentences as well. The judge said that he couldn’t send these two boys to jail after the ringleader had gotten off nearly “scot free” in Newport. Witt said Ritter should have received a stiffer sentence.

From the immigrant beat: Spokane’s Chinese laundries were suffering from a manpower shortage.

More than 35 Chinese men and boys had departed for the Alaska salmon canneries. The salmon canneries paid about $6 a day, while the laundries paid only $2.50 to $4 for a 12-hour day.

As a result, six Chinese laundries had closed in Spokane, leaving only four left. Those laundries were forced to turn away customers.