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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Charles W. Pinkham, 19, an avowed anarchist from Spokane, was arrested in San Diego and sent to the state reformatory for violating the public speaking ordinance.

When the judge asked him why he had gone all the way to San Diego to seek trouble, he replied, “Someone had to do it.”

He said he had come to San Diego for the express purpose of violating the public speaking ordinance. These kinds of ordinances were being tested in cities around the West.

He had previously been granted parole for an earlier violation but immediately went to another street corner and violated the law again.

He told the judge that he believed he had the “right individually to make or break a law.”

Pinkham defiantly told the judge that if he was released he would violate the law one more time. The judge tried to reason with the boy, in vain, and finally sentenced him to the reformatory until he turned 21.

Pinkham replied he would just be worse when he got out.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1820: The Venus de Milo statue was discovered by a farmer on the Greek island of Milos. … 1990: Ryan White, the teenage AIDS patient whose battle for acceptance had gained national attention, died in Indianapolis at age 18.