Jim Kershner’s This Day in History

From our archives, 100 years ago

Two separate cases of robbery came to light – both involving men impersonating federal authorities:

Mail-train robbery: A federal grand jury indicted two men who boarded a train between Bonners Ferry and Spokane and then banged on the door of the mail car. One of the men was dressed in a postal inspector’s uniform, so the railway mail clerks let them in.

The robbers proceeded to assault the mail clerks, tie them up, steal the registered mail and jump off the train.

Protection racket: In the second case, a federal grand jury indicted a man who confronted a Spokane businesswoman named Kitty. He flashed a U.S. marshal’s badge and demanded $5 from her as “protection” money. He later did the same with two other women.

From the illicit substances file: A federal grand jury indicted a man for operating an illegal still. It also indicted “a Chinaman” for having opium in his possession. The real problem: He had not paid duty on it.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1862: Union forces led by Gen. Ulysses S. Grant defeated the Confederates at the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee. … 2000: Attorney General Janet Reno met with the father of Elian Gonzalez; Reno later told reporters that officials would arrange for Juan Miguel Gonzalez to reclaim his son.