100 years ago in Spokane: ‘Phony’ war hero unmasked, sentenced

The phony British Army major, J.H. Stern, was sentenced to an indeterminate prison term in Moorhead, Minn.

“Major” Stern had tried to pass himself off as a British war hero, and had been scheduled to deliver lectures in Spokane about his exploits. Federal agents in Spokane unmasked him, and determined his war “wounds” were no wounds at all.

They sent him back to Minnesota to be tried on charge of larceny. He pilfered money from a fund raised to help search for his brother-in-law, who died while duck hunting.

From the religion beat: Knox Presbyterian Church celebrated its 30th anniversary with capacity crowds at both its morning and evening services. The anniversary address was given by the Rev. B. Scott Bates, the new president of Whitworth College

It was formerly known as the Centenary Presbyterian Church, but the old building was destroyed in a fire in 1917. The congregation was now installed in a new edifice, which would be dedicated later in 1918.

The church remains to this day at the corner of Knox Avenue and Post Street.