100 years ago in Spokane: Sister of murder victim faints several times on witness stand; School named after ‘Little Women’ author

From our archives, 100 years ago

Miss Elizabeth Weber fainted several times during her lawsuit against the Spokane police.

She was seeking $10,000 in damages against police for detaining her against her will and “sweating” her to elicit damaging information about her family. This occurred after the murder of her sister, Anna Weber, several years earlier. It remained one of Spokane’s most famous unsolved murder cases.

Elizabeth was asked on the stand if she had admitted to police that her father had been guilty of “improper conduct” with her sister. Elizabeth denied it.

After she suffered several fainting spells while on the stand, the judge ordered a medical examination to determine the cause, although her attorneys protested.

Her father, George Weber, also testified. He cried while describing his last talk with Anna.

From the school beat: Another Spokane school was renamed by the school board. The Carnhope School east of the city was renamed the Louisa M. Alcott School, after the famous author of “Little Women.”