100 years ago in Spokane: Mother, daughters arrested on suspicion of shoplifting

A mother and three daughters, 18, 10 and 8, were arrested for shoplifting more than $200 in groceries, silks and clothing from several Spokane stores.

The two younger daughters were enlisted in the scheme by the mother and their older sister.

“I didn’t think it was bad,” sobbed the 8-year-old at the police station. “It was fun getting all the pretty things, and mother and sister said it was all right.”

The daughters apparently took articles from the store and brought them to the mother, who then concealed them in wrapping paper or paper bags. A woman store detective followed them and uncovered the scheme.

Their father, a car repairer for the Northern Pacific, said he was astonished by his family’s arrest and blamed it all on the oldest girl, his stepdaughter. He said she has caused much trouble.

“Let her stay in jail where she belongs,” he said.

From the murder beat: Police in Alberta were planning to search a deserted farm near Edmonton owned by “Bluebeard” Huirt, aka Watson.

They believed he may have buried several of his wives on the farm. Five of his Canadian wives were still missing.

A Burns detective from Spokane said he found a steamer trunk in Edmonton belonging to the notorious murderer, which contained a pick, shovel and jacket, all with apparent bloodstains.

“I have seen lots of gruesome things in my time, but nothing I have ever seen made me shiver as these things,” said the detective.