Stories by Jim Kershner for the Spokesman-Review

News > Spokane

100 years ago in Spokane: Churchgoing schoolteacher caught in blackmailing, kidnapping scheme

Fri., May 15, 2020

A.L. Porter, secretary of the Western Retail Lumbermen’s Association in Spokane, was shocked to receive a letter threatening to make his son “disappear.”

News > Spokane

100 years ago in North Idaho: ‘Peculiar’ gas kills 3 miners

Thu., May 14, 2020

Three miners in the Marsh Mine at Burke, Idaho, died after they were overcome by “monoxide gas fumes,” said the Spokane Daily Chronicle.

News > Spokane

100 years ago in Spokane: Local presidential candidate falls far back in new poll

Wed., May 13, 2020

Spokane’s dream of having the Republican presidential nominee was looking shaky after local favorite Sen. Miles Poindexter slipped to ninth place among Republican candidates in a nationwide poll.

News > Spokane

100 years ago in Spokane: City rejects census count that trims population by 200

UPDATED: Tue., May 12, 2020

Spokane disputes the U.S. Census Bureau’s figures which showed a decrease in population from 1910 to 1920.

News > Spokane

100 years ago in Spokane: Serial killer nicknamed ‘Bluebeard’ prefers prison over asylum

Mon., May 11, 2020

“Bluebeard” Huirt, aka Watson, aka Holden, was sentenced to life in San Quentin State Prison by a Los Angeles judge – yet he was already angling for early release via the “insanity route.”

News > Spokane

40 years ago in Washington: Mount St. Helens eruption goes from an ‘if’ to a ‘when’

Sun., May 10, 2020

The week got off to an ominous start on May 10, 1980, when an earthquake jolted Mount St. Helens – the biggest quake since the mountain started rumbling.

News > Spokane

100 years ago in Spokane: Disappearance of yet another wife of murder-bigamist investigated

Sat., May 9, 2020

Authorities in Canada were investigating the disappearance of yet another of James P. “Bluebeard” Watson’s many wives, Agnes Wilson of Edmonton.

News > Spokane

100 years ago in Spokane: Paper publishes bigamist-murderer’s memoir

Fri., May 8, 2020

The Spokane Daily Chronicle published an extraordinary account of James P. “Bluebeard” Watson’s life and mind – written by “Bluebeard” himself.

News > Spokane

100 years ago in Spokane: Census shows slightly shrinking city, dismaying boosters

Thu., May 7, 2020

Spokane’s official 1920 U.S. Census count was released, and it was a shocker.

News > Spokane

100 years ago in Spokane: ‘Bluebeard’ pleads guilt to first degree murder

Wed., May 6, 2020

James P. “Bluebeard” Watson, aka Huirt, pleaded guilty to first degree murder in a Los Angeles courtroom, after admitting that he killed Nina Lee Deloney of Eureka, Mont.

News > Spokane

100 years ago today in Spokane: One of ‘Bluebeard’ Huirt’s many wives wanted him hanged for murder

Tue., May 5, 2020

One of the woman who married “Bluebeard” Huirt says he should be given the death penalty for killing other wives.

News > Spokane

40 years ago in Washington: Scientists remain ‘mystified’ as Mount St. Helens activity increases

Sun., May 3, 2020

A bulge near the top of Mount St. Helens was growing on May 3, 1980, and scientists were uncertain what to make of it. The most alarming explanation was that “pressure of molten rock is building within the volcano.”

News > Spokane

100 years ago in Spokane: Further confessions expected from bigamist-murderer who killed 2 local women

Sat., May 2, 2020

The Los Angeles district attorney predicted the full story of “Bluebeard” Huirt’s crimes would soon “astound the whole world.”

News > Spokane

100 years ago in Spokane: Bigamist-murderer confesses to killing 1 wife after she found out about another

Fri., May 1, 2020

A transcript of the confession of James “Bluebeard” Huirt, alias Walter Andrew Watson, revealed that he killed one wife, Nina Deloney of Eureka, Montana, because she found letters revealing the existence of another wife, Elizabeth Williamson of Spokane.

News > Spokane

100 years ago in Spokane: ‘Bluebeard’ Huirt confesses to killing a number of his more than 20 wives

Thu., April 30, 2020

The “Bluebeard” saga reached a climax after James “Bluebeard” Huirt confessed to killing several of his wives – and one of the murders occurred on Lake Coeur d’Alene.

News > Spokane

100 years ago in Spokane: ‘Bluebeard’ Huirt charged with bigamy, complaint focused on Spokane women

Wed., April 29, 2020

The legal net was tightening around “Bluebeard” Huirt. A formal complaint was filed against him in Los Angeles, charging him with bigamy.

News > Spokane

100 years ago in Spokane: Another wife of suspected serial killer ‘Bluebeard’ Huirt speaks out

Tue., April 28, 2020

Another Spokane woman, Mrs. James Craemer, came forward and claimed she was one of several dozen brides of “Bluebeard” Huirt.

News > Spokane

40 years ago near Mount St. Helens: Man refuses to evacuate as volcano threat grows

Sun., April 26, 2020

Mount St. Helens was still rumbling on April 26, 1980, but scientists had no idea what it might portend.

News > Spokane

100 years ago in Spokane: Warrant issued for ‘Bluebeard’ Huirt; guards drink wine with Walla Walla inmates

Sat., April 25, 2020

A warrant was formally issued for Harry M. Lewis, alias James “Bluebeard” Huirt, on charges of bigamy.

News > Spokane

100 years ago in Spokane: Murder indictment expected for Huirt after Spokane woman’s body identified

Fri., April 24, 2020

A body found near Olympia was determined to be Elizabeth (Betty) Prior of Spokane, one of the many wives of James “Bluebeard” Huirt.

News > Spokane

100 years ago today in Spokane: ‘Bluebeard’ admits he knew missing Spokane wife

Thu., April 23, 2020

James R. “Bluebeard” Huirt admitted to authorities in Los Angeles that he “knew” Bertha Goodnich of Spokane and several more of his missing wives.

News > Spokane

100 years ago in Spokane: Letters reveal tactics of ‘Bluebear’ Huirt used to entice, trick women

Wed., April 22, 2020

Investigators from Spokane’s Burns Detective Agency branch released a series of letters sent by “Bluebeard” Huirt to a Spokane woman. These letters revealed the methods Huirt used to marry and swindle dozens of women, several from Spokane.