100 years ago in Spokane: Young women come from New York and are questioned as potential wobblies

When Mildred Bayne, Esther Mayno and Fannie Isaacson, all 19 and all from New York, arrived in Spokane on a cross-country expedition, they felt welcome – briefly.

“We had just read a sign on a building that said, ‘Spokane is a friendly city,'” Mildred said. “And then a big policeman came and arrested us.”

They were arrested as “suspected IWW (Wobbly) propaganda traffickers”. Apparently this was based on nothing except that the three girls had “advanced ideas”. After being interrogated at police headquarters, to the satisfaction of the police, they proved innocent and were allowed to leave.

“We think socialist, but believe me, we have nothing to do with an IWW outfit,” said Mildred. “… Are we angry because we were ‘pinched’? Not at all. It just gives us a nice experience that we can record in our diaries. “

She added that the police were “really pleasant on the station”.

The three girls, dressed in khaki and with rucksacks, left New York in June and came “here by car, hiking and freight”.

“We came to Rosalia on a Milwaukee cargo and rode in a freight car from Missoula,” Mildred said. “… The brakeman didn’t even see us.”

They spent the night in Spokane at the YWCA.

Beat out the bank robbery: George Williams was sentenced to 10 years in state prison less than 24 hours after the robbery of the Farmers and Mechanics State Bank in Rockford.

He fled north through the city, but the citizens chased him into a plowed field, where he surrendered.

“I’m done,” he called. “Do not shoot.”

He pleaded guilty and was immediately sentenced.