100 years ago in Spokane: Woman alleges collusion by chef and taxi driver in theft

From our archives,

100 years ago

Mrs. H. Strutzel, described as the “pretty young wife of the Pantages orchestra director,” charged a taxi driver and a Greek chef with assault and theft.

Mrs. Strutzel was leaving the famous Bob’s Chili Parlor when she hailed Andrew Hansen’s cab. Paul Chapus, a chef at the Silver Grill, then jumped into the cab “without her invitation” and said he was going only a block past her home and wanted to share the cab.

She claimed that somewhere along the way, Chapus turned and struck her in the face. She screamed, but the taxi driver did not stop. Only when her “cries became shriller” did the taxi stop. At that point, Chapus jumped out of the cab. When Mrs. Strutzel got home, she discovered that her purse, with $3.50 in cash, was missing.

She believed the two men were in cahoots on the theft.

However, they told a completely different story. They said no such assault occurred. The taxi driver said he let Chapus in the cab “only as an accommodation, as the journey was short.” Chapus at first claimed he went home in a streetcar, but later admitted being in the cab. But he said there was no truth to the rest of her story. Her purse was not found on either man.

However, both men were arrested, and Hansen also was charged with possession of liquor, since a bottle of wine was found in his cab.