100 years ago in Spokane: Wife leaves for Los Angeles in search of missing husband

Mrs. W.H. McNutt departed for Los Angeles seeking clues about her husband’s disappearance on June 23.

Two members of the McDonald family, which had been feuding with McNutt over a business deal, had recently been arrested in Los Angeles after detectives found them in possession of McNutt’s missing auto. The McDonalds were denying any involvement in McNutt’s disappearance, telling police that he probably left because of “domestic discord.”

Mrs. McNutt hotly denied that charge.

“There was absolutely no domestic discord in our home,” she told the Spokane Daily Chronicle. “I am convinced that my husband was murdered. His life had been threatened several times, and mine also has been threatened.

“When my husband left home he was driving the car which I have tracked to Los Angeles. He told me he would be back in about two hours, and he was going to Miss McDonald’s hotel. He had a large sum of money when he left home. A check which he had in his pocket on the night of his disappearance was in the possession the next day of a woman who tried to cash it at one of Spokane’s department stores.”

From the polo beat: A “burlesque polo” match, featuring Jazz-bo the Burro, was scheduled to entertain patrons at the Interstate Fair.

Jazz-bo had “entertained small boys and adults with his bucking antics” all week. He would be matched with Jenny the Mule in the polo match.

This match was strictly for laughs, but serious polo matches also were being played at the fair’s polo field, featuring teams from around the Northwest.