No headline

From the archives of the

Bonner County Historical Museum

611 S. Ella Ave., Sandpoint, Idaho 83864

208-263-2344

50 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

Apr. 17, 1966 — JUDGMENT WITHHELD

Donna Lee Walker, 26, Granite, received a one-year withheld judgment sentence in district court yesterday for the shooting death of her husband, Ted, in their ranch house near Granite on April 1.

Mrs. Walker pleaded guilty before Judge Robert E. McFarland to a charge of voluntary manslaughter. In reviewing the case in explanation of his decision Judge McFarland said evidence indicated Mrs. Walker was frightened — not angry — at the time she shot her husband with a 30-06 sporting rifle. Evidence suggested she feared imminent bodily harm. “There is such a thing as justifiable homicide,” McFarland said, “although fear alone is not justification.”

Walker had a reputation for being belligerent, McFarland told listeners in the court room. He had received an undesirable discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps because of an assault. Walker had been a boxer and was well muscled.

Walker’s two sisters who testified earlier said they were afraid of him, McFarland said. They testified Walker had on one occasion beaten up on his best friend and that they had thought “something like this” would happen.

When asked if she had anything to say before sentence was pronounced, Mrs. Walker said “I’m sorry that it happened. I’d take it back if I could. I want to thank everyone who helped me.”

100 Years Ago

Pend d’Oreille Review

Apr. 17, 1916 — CHAUTAUQUA MEETING

The guarantors of tickets for 1916’s Sandpoint Chautauqua will meet at the Commercial Club room Tuesday at 8 pm. All 40 guarantors are urged to attend, as plans must be made to dispose of the guaranteed number of tickets before the Chautauqua opens, July 29, 1916.

•••

STUDENTS REMODEL SCHOOL ATTIC

Students of the high school’s manual training department were busy this week altering the Central school’s attic to furnish quarters for the finishing work in the furniture department. Under the direction of Prof. Gillilan they have built stairways, put in windows and painted walls.

•••

MONGOLIAN PHEASANTS ARRIVE

Four Chinese pheasants have arrived at the fish hatchery. These birds will be used for hatching purposes and the young birds when old enough will be released in this area and other parts of Idaho. Two cockerels and three hens were shipped from Chatcolet, Idaho but en route the males got in a fight, resulting in the death of one.

•••

EASY MONEY FOR STEEPLEJACK

R. Zeiglemann, from Milwaukee, charged and earned $10 when he put a rope through a pulley on the G.A.R hall flag pole in 14 minutes’ time Saturday. The charge does not seem so high when it is learned that the flag pole is 78 ft. tall.

For more information, visit the museum online at www.bonnercountyhistory.org.