Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

A Spokane lawyer, J.C. Howe, left for his office on a Thursday morning – and hadn’t been seen again, three days later.

His wife said her husband had not been feeling well recently and had stayed home from work all week. Yet that morning, he said he felt well enough to head to work. He promised his wife he would call her at noon and tell her how he was feeling.

He never called and never came home. His colleagues at the office said he did not make an appearance.

“Mrs. Howe is almost distracted with grief,” wrote The Spokesman-Review. “She can think of no other reason why her husband should so mysteriously disappear unless he met with foul play.”

She told police he had never been absent from home for any reason before and never left on a business trip without first telling her.

Adding to the mystery was the news that her husband had withdrawn $60 from the bank on the day he vanished.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1961: President John F. Kennedy told Congress: “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.” … 1992: Jay Leno made his debut as host of NBC’s “Tonight Show,” succeeding Johnny Carson.