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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

Water rationing was in effect in Spokane, and some residents were thinking up ingenious ways to avoid it. One man built what looked like a pigeon roost in his yard. It was actually a covert sprinkler.

Another man concealed a hose inside a beanstalk. Both were fined $2.50.

Most scofflaws simply pretended their watches were slow and they didn’t realize they were watering outside the designated times.

From the assault beat: Edith Wilson was ordered to stand trial for throwing carbolic acid in the face of George Copelli, an Italian railroad foreman, in a Spokane cafe.

Copelli’s side of the story came out in a pretrial hearing.

According to Copelli and his brother, he made a date to meet her in the cafe.

She arrived, and the brother discreetly left them in the booth together. The girl stepped out for a minute, and when she returned she walked up to the booth, tossed a beaker of acid in George’s face and ran out of the cafe. Both brothers said it was entirely unprovoked.

Edith did not take the stand, but earlier she said she had tossed the acid in his face because George had been “talking” about her.

George’s injuries were not as bad as originally diagnosed. His face was mostly healed.