Jim Kershner’s This day in history » On the Web: spokesman.com/topics/local-history

From our archives, 100 years ago

The man known as “Jack the Spanker” – aka Charles Brown – was sentenced to life in prison at Walla Walla for assaulting a 5-year-old girl in Spokane.

Spokane children had been terrorized earlier in the spring by a man who approached boys and girls on streets and playgrounds and told them that they had been “bad” and needed spanking. Then he proceeded to cruelly beat them, sometimes with a leather strap.

Brown was found guilty on March 8 of assaulting the girl. He received a life term because “the age of the child gives the court no discretion” in sentencing. The man had been arrested after friends of the little girl went to a “soothsayer” or fortune teller, who apparently pointed them toward Brown.

This wasn’t over yet. His lawyer filed a motion asking for the verdict to be overturned due to lack of evidence. He also said he would appeal it to the state Supreme Court.

From the transit beat: Six streetcar conductors were suspended for taking articles of women’s apparel, found in a suitcase left on the car, and “punching” them with their ticket punchers. The clothing was “peppered” with holes. The owner was not amused when she got her suitcase back.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1864: Congress authorized the use of “In God We Trust” on U.S. coins.