100 years ago in Spokane: Steptoe auto dealer arrives in Spokane with murder on his mind

Koman Belko, a Steptoe automobile dealer, and his business partner, D.W. Smith, were having a business dispute.

Belko believed that Smith was cheating him. Smith believed that Belko was carrying the matter too far.

Was that ever the truth.

Belko followed Smith on the train to Spokane and then trailed him into his hotel. Belko circled Smith’s chair in the lobby three times. He finally came up and demanded to know if Smith was going to “settle with him.”

Smith replied that Belko was crazy. Belko did not like that answer at all – so he pulled a gun and fired at Smith’s head.

Smith ducked his head just in time and the bullet missed. Belko then slammed the gun down on top of Smith’s head twice. He then tried to fire another shot, but the gun misfired.

Most of the bystanders in the lobby raced out in fear, but a few rushed to Smith’s aid. Two men jumped on Belko and tried to pry the gun away from him. A struggling Belko bit one of the men’s fingers to the bone.

However, reinforcements arrived and quickly subdued Belko.

When police arrived, Belko told officers that he shot Smith because Smith was robbing him.

Smith was taken to the emergency hospital and treated for scalp wounds. He said that the company’s books would prove that he was not cheating Belko.

Belko was booked on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon.