100 years ago in Spokane: Prohibition leader hit by bullet during speech at church

L.R. Horton of the Anti-Saloon League was hit in the leg with a bullet while delivering a speech on “The Progress of Prohibition” at the Plymouth Congregational Church, at the corner of Mallon Avenue and Adams Street.

“Wishing to avert a commotion and thinking some boy had thrown a stone through the church window, Mr. Horton continued to the close of his address, then picked up the bullet.”

Fortunately, the bullet’s force had been spent from passing through the church window and then hitting some woodwork. It glanced off the wood and smacked Horton in the leg, but did not go through his clothing. He reported that it “smarted considerably.”

Prohibition was still a volatile issue, despite the fact that Washington already was a dry state. However, Horton and the minister of the church did not believe that the bullet had been fired in anger by a protester. Instead, they were convinced that it had been “fired by a boy,” and was an accident.

Nevertheless, members of the church searched in vain for the remainder of the day to “locate whence the shot came.”

From the police beat: Police detained three boys and three girls, ages 14-16, when they were found together in a livery barn.

Police were acting on reports that juveniles had been congregating there and drinking liquor. All six were released to their parents, who were admonished to “keep better track of their offspring.”