100 years ago in Spokane: With prohibition approaching, police warn partiers that drinking must stop at midnight on New Year’s Eve

From our archives,

100 years ago

Spokane’s commissioner of public safety splashed cold water on revelers making plans for one final night of drinking on New Year’s Eve.

The commissioner said he would strictly enforce statewide prohibition beginning exactly at midnight on Dec. 31. All drinking at saloons and other public places would have to cease. Even bottles purchased before midnight could not be consumed after midnight, he said.

“The statewide prohibition law forbids this and gives the privilege of drinking liquor only in private homes or apartments,” he said.

He said all saloons must close at “12 o’clock sharp.”

“While we don’t anticipate any riotous scenes or trouble, we will have the usual New Year’s Eve force on duty, which means just about the entire police department,” the commissioner said.

From the divorce beat: A Hillyard wife sued for divorce because her husband was cruel to her and her children.

“He would slap the the baby when it put its thumb in its mouth,” she testified. “And he would strike the children with the palm of his hand.”

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1955: Rosa Parks, a black seamstress, was arrested after refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery, Alabama, city bus.