100 years ago in Spokane: Murder mystery at the Tourist Hotel

From our archive, 100 years ago

Police were attempting to unravel a murder mystery at the Tourist Hotel in Spokane.

Mrs. Margaret Brown, 53, the hotel’s landlady, was found dead on the floor of her room. Her feet had been tied together with a towel and surgeons said the cause of death appeared to be “due to exhaustion after a terrific exertion or struggle.” Police surmised she had fought with at least two men. However, she did not appear to have been strangled or choked.

She had been dead for several days when she was found by two men who said they went there to buy liquor. They said that Mrs. Brown had sold them liquor before. When the men arrived, they found the upper two floors were cold and dark. When they got to her room, they found the landlady dead. Next to her body were several glasses of whiskey and a water glass frozen solid (temperatures in Spokane had fallen below zero). Two large trunks in her room had been ransacked.

Police said the hotel had only one occupant, besides Mrs. Brown. Police brought that occupant in for questioning. He said Mrs. Brown had been alive the last time he saw her, about three days ago, and he appeared much agitated when told of her death. He and another unidentified suspect were both detained for further questioning.

Mrs. Brown’s acquaintances told police that she had been drinking heavily for several weeks.