Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Mattie Kelly, one of the richest women on the Colville Reservation, was the cause of what the paper called a small “war” at her 300-acre ranch.

Actually, it was her husband who caused all of the trouble. He had recently returned home after escaping from a Republic, Wash., jail, where he was serving time for robbing a blacksmith.

When Leo McDonald, a prominent rancher, called on Mrs. Kelly, her irate husband opened fire and shot McDonald in the knee and ankle.

A few days later, James Ryan came to visit the Kelly home. Mr. Kelly opened fire on him, too, but Ryan returned fire and shot him in the abdomen. Ferry County authorities planned to take Kelly into custody after he recovered from his wound.

From the election beat: Spokane’s voter registration rolls swelled to an all-time high of 26,437, after one of the busiest days in the city’s history.

The reason? Women, who had recently won the right to vote in Washington, were lining up to register. “Mothers with small children, women clerks, stenographers and office attendants” were lined up with the workingmen during the evening registration session.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1533: England’s Queen Elizabeth I was born in Greenwich.