Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

The U.S. was not yet involved in World War I, but many Spokane residents were heading off to fight. 

For instance, a German chemist with the Spokane Drug Co. was a first lieutenant in the German army reserve and he left Spokane to join his unit. A German cashier at the Trustee Bank also was a commissioned officer in the German army, but he was not as compliant. He had “taken the matter up with the German counsel in Seattle.”

Meanwhile, a number of Dutch, French and Belgian reservists in Spokane also were ordered to report to their respective armies. Many of them were heading by train to New York, where they would take ships to Europe.

From the robbery beat: One German laborer went to the Old National Bank in Spokane to withdraw $800 in savings in preparation for joining the German army. Apparently, someone saw him withdraw the cash, because he was promptly accosted on Trent Avenue, blindfolded, gagged and relieved of the $800.

From the animal beat: The superintendent of Yakima’s Sumach Park zoo was convicted and fined $5 for shooting five robins. He told the judge he was using the robins to feed five wildcats. However, he also said the robins had been committing nuisances on the park benches.

It was believed to be the first songbird-killing conviction in the county.