A Spokane Real Estate Agent Turns Horse Thief
E.C. Gurney, formerly considered a 'model citizen' of Spokane, is arrested while attempting to ship stolen Indian-owned livestock East.
SPOKANE, Oct. 7. — E. C. Gurney was arrested early this morning at his home in Ross Park by Sheriff Pugh on the charge of stealing horses from Indians near this city. He had made arrangements to send a carload of stock East last night, and thirty-six horses were already in the loading chute when the sheriff took possession of them. At one time Gurney was in the real estate business here and was considered a model citizen.
“At one time Gurney was in the real estate business here and was considered a model citizen.”
This incident reflects the raw, opportunistic atmosphere of 1890s Spokane, where real estate speculation and livestock theft could exist side-by-side. While today's white-collar crime looks different, the erosion of community standing for a 'model citizen' remains a classic local scandal.
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