Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Spokane Mayor W.J. Hindley, who also served as the city’s theatrical censor, said he believed that the specialty act of Billie McDermott and Hester Wallace at the Orpheum Theater contained “entirely too much hugging.”

The mayor said he did not order that the hugging be curtailed, but he “merely offered this as a suggestion” to the theater manager.

He said he did not object to hugging in and of itself, but he believed that the embracing in their act went on longer than was strictly necessary.

From the murder beat: The mystery deepened in the death of Robert Miller, 25, a “Negro chauffeur” from Spokane.

An autopsy revealed that what was originally believed to be a bullet hole in his forehead was actually a blood clot. There was no bullet wound. The cause of death was still not certain.

Officials still did not believe it was suicide, since his pockets had been turned inside out and his money missing. Also, there was considerable blood on his pillow and face.

He had spent the day before his death at Natatorium Park with his sweetheart and her mother. They both said Miller was of a “happy disposition.”

This story was changed on Dec. 2, 2014 to correct the spelling of Mayor W.J. Hindley.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1850: President Zachary Taylor died after serving only 16 months of his term.