100 years ago in Spokane: Murder indictment expected for Huirt after Spokane woman’s body identified

A body found near Olympia was determined to be Elizabeth (Betty) Prior of Spokane, one of the many wives of James “Bluebeard” Huirt.

The identification was made via a laundry mark on her clothes, which was traced back to the Shoshone Laundry of Wallace, Idaho, where Betty Prior worked at the Banquet Cafe before moving to Spokane.

Her closest friend in Spokane said it was a relief to have the suspense over, but “it seems so terrible that she should have gone this way.”

“Her life had never been happy and she had such hopes after her marriage and such confidence in her husband that it seems too terrible to be true,” said her friend. “… It seems hard to believe that anyone could be so depraved as to marry and then murder a girl simply to rob her of $2,000, her life’s savings.”

Huirt’s murder indictment was expected soon in Los Angeles, where Huirt was being held. Authorities there said that they were still awaiting Huirt’s explanation about the disappearance of at least three other wives, including Bertha Goodnich of Spokane. Huirt was still shackled to a bed in a Los Angeles hospital.

Authorities were also attempting to discover Huirt’s real name. They believed he might actually be Walter Andrew Watson, but he used so many aliases, including James B. Huirt and Harry M. Lewis, it was hard to unravel the truth.

From the presidential campaign beat: A Spokane man sent a wire from Washington D.C. urging state residents to rally behind Sen. Miles Poindexter of Spokane, “because his chances of winning the nomination are as good as any other candidate.”

However, he was worried that Washington state residents “do not appreciate the prominence” that Poindexter had gained among eastern Republican leaders.

“Washington delegates, and if possible, Oregon delegates, should stand pat for him,” he wrote.