100 years in Spokane: Woman tries to stab school principal with bayonet

From our archives, 100 years ago

Mrs. Bessie Lunceford, 49, created quite a dramatic scene – with a bayonet – at the Walton School of Expression, a school of elocution, music, drama.

For unknown reasons, she walked into principal Lee Walton’s office and tried to stab him and his secretary with the bayonet.

Walton successfully fought off the bayonet charge. Yet he later testified that he had to push Mrs. Lunceford “a little harder” than he intended, and she rolled down a flight of stairs.

Mrs. Lunceford wasn’t too badly injured, however. She “bounded to her feet and threatened to have him arrested.”

She filed a charge of disorderly conduct against Walton, but it was quickly dismissed. Mrs. Lunceford, however, was charged with assault and sentenced to 15 days in jail. The judge asked the county physician to look into Mrs. Lunceford’s condition.

From the election beat: The Spokesman-Review’s editorial page expressed satisfaction that “the conspiracy to destroy the commission form of government and the Park Board of Spokane has failed.”

The candidates behind this “conspiracy” were defeated in the previous day’s election, “despite the fact that a sustained campaign has been carried on for months, the real motives for which were kept in the background.”