Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Jury selection dragged on in the Della Olds murder case.

Several potential jurors were excused on the grounds that they had “conscientious scruples against capital punishment.” One was excused because he knew the family and had already formed the belief that she had shot her husband.

A capacity crowd filled the courtroom, but it thinned out when it became clear that the day (and probably the next day as well) would be taken up with jury selection.

From the divorce beat: A Spokane engineer named J.B. Argabright instituted divorce proceedings three years earlier when his wife refused to follow him when he moved away from Virginia, first to Ohio and then to Spokane. When he learned that she had died, he dropped the divorce action.

Except it turned out it was a different Mrs. Argabright who had died. He discovered, during a property title search, that his wife was still very much alive and had the “prospect of many more years of existence.” 

So he asked the court to revive his divorce action.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1950: President Harry S. Truman authorized the Air Force and Navy to enter the Korean conflict.