100 years ago in Spokane: Rapist sentenced day after he’s caught

From our archives, 100 years ago

The “fiend” who tied up and raped two Spokane women in their homes was arrested at his father’s nearby farm. The two victims had identified William W. Smith, a convicted rapist, through photos. He had recently been released from the Walla Walla prison, where he had served time on similar charges.

Officers tracked Smith to his parents’ farm and confronted him. At first, Smith meekly complied with their commands. But when he went to the porch to get a coat, he broke and ran. Officers overtook him quickly and knocked him on the head with the butt of a revolver. They cuffed Smith and took him to the police station, where he confessed to the crimes. Items stolen from the homes of both women were found in the farmhouse.

Justice was served swiftly in 1916. The next day, Smith pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison.

From the police beat: A young couple walking late at night near Perry Street and 36th Avenue reported that “a man rose up in the brush along the trail” and started after them.

They ran and called police, who searched the neighborhood for half an hour.

Finally, police identified the culprit: a cow tied to a picket rope near the trail.

According to the owner, the cow is very friendly and always walks up to greet him when he comes home at night. The cow “probably mistook the couple for him.”