100 years ago in Spokane: Lackluster show of patriotism lands local man in court

The term “slacker” usually referred to a man who failed to register for the draft, but now the paper was beginning to complain about Liberty Loan slackers: people who refused to buy war bonds.

E.H. Carlson was accused of being both.

A committee of war bond salesmen visited Carlson. When they asked him to buy some bonds, he refused. He was also “alleged to have made remarks which led them to believe that he was pro-German in sympathies, and his case was reported to the authorities.”

Authorities showed up at his house and arrested him. He was hauled before the U.S. commissioner, who ruled that he was eligible for the draft and had failed to register. He was taken to jail to await trial.

From the crime beat: Two men showed up at the door of Mrs. E.S. Sherlock, 59, and said they were real estate men. When she let them in, they produced guns and said, “We want your jewels and we want them quick.”

They forced her to open her safe and hand over diamonds and gold worth $1,500. As they left, they beat Mrs. Sherlock over the head with their guns, almost knocking her out.

She was later able to stagger out the front door, but she fell of the front porch and sprained her ankle. Her screams attracted neighbors, who called police.

A number of detectives were out searching for the thugs.