Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Sister Bilkiss, Spokane’s fiery street evangelist, turned her ire on a deputy prosecutor during her trial for grand larceny.

She called the prosecutor a “pup” and a “sneak” and she threatened to slap his face and “bruise his person.”

Her outburst came, ironically, after she had been found not guilty.

The case stemmed from an incident in which John Henderson gave $40 to one of Bilkiss’ Gideon Bible sisters, Elizabeth Patterson, 18, during a street religious service.

Henderson, who was drunk at the time, came to the Gideons the next day to get his $40 back, which he said he had given to Sister Patterson merely for safekeeping. Bilkiss refused to give it back and said it was a “free-will offering.”

During the trial, Sister Patterson refused to tell the court what she did with the money. Bilkiss said she knew nothing of it.

After Bilkiss was acquitted, Patterson was charged with grand larceny and led off to jail in default of a $1,000 bond.

“You should be ashamed of yourself to let that girl go to jail when you know who has the money,” snapped Sister Bilkiss, although it was not exactly clear from the testimony who did. Then she proceeded to call the prosecutor names and threaten to slap him.

When interviewed at her home later, Sister Bilkiss said, “What the Lord has received, he’s not going to give back.”