100 years ago today in Spokane: Death of young man questioned after drinking spree

Did L.W. Cole, 20, die of too much booze? Or was he killed by his jailer in Troy, Montana?

Those were the questions pondered by a front page headline.

According to a friend of Cole, the two young men left Spokane by auto for a drinking spree in Troy. Apparently, the spree was a little too wild, and both were arrested and sentenced to 30 days in the city jail. “While in jail, Cole became unruly and an officer hit him on the head with his club. … Soon after, Cole became delirious and Troy officials sent him, accompanied by his companion, to Spokane.”

When Cole arrived at Sacred Heart, doctors found him raving, difficult to hold in bed and “in a violent delirium.” However, doctors could not determine whether the delirium was from drinking or from concussion. Doctors said he had severe cuts on his head and face.

The next day, doctors discovered he was suffering from acute lobar pneumonia. He died shortly afterward.

The doctor who attended him said that his troubles might have been caused by a skull fracture, but it was also possible that “sprees of this character” can bring on lobar pneumonia.

An autopsy was requested by his mother, and was scheduled for the next day.

Two years earlier, at age 18, Cole had gotten drunk and fallen from a second story window on Main Avenue and broken his leg.