Murder at Mica: A Midnight Political Killing in Spokane County
Charles Gloystein was called from his home after the Oregon election. Local papers blamed the Farmers’ Protective Silver Federation—and said neighbors were too afraid to talk.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Another cowardly political murder has been committed, and the blood of the victim is on the hands of members of the F.P.S.F. of Spokane County. On Monday last, at the hour of midnight—a fitting time for assassins to be stirring—Charles Gloystein, whose name is not unfamiliar to newspaper readers hereabouts, was awakened and enticed from his home to his death by the enemies his Republicanism had made for him; he had no other enemies. This dastardly outrage is the sequel—not theoretical, but the threatened sequel—of a controversy Gloystein had with the Populists and Federationists of his neighborhood just after the Oregon election, when he expressed his delight at the defeat of the Populists. For exercising this privilege, which until this anarchistic party came upon the field has been denied no man, he has been cruelly murdered in cold blood. The methods employed by members of this organization are a disgrace to civilization and a standing menace to our institutions. The perpetrators of such deeds must be run to earth if we would keep anarchy at bay. It is the duty of the state to take measures to bring these red-handed murderers to the gallows. Let it be done without delay.
The affair at Mica was a disgrace to the fair state of Washington. Not since the days of the Molly Maguires has anything half so disgraceful happened. The governor of our state should take this matter in hand at once and bring the guilty parties to justice. Everyone living at Mica firmly believes that Gloystein was murdered, and it is absolutely true that the Mica people do not feel free to say what they think. You will not hear anyone at Mica say that they believe the F.P.S.F. was responsible, but outside Mica men say they believe he was murdered by the F.P.S.F. A few Populists say they believe Gloystein is the victim of the F.P.S.F., and deplore the fact that such an organization exists in their party. The general community seems to hold the F.P.S.F. responsible for the crime, if crime should be proven.
“Everyone living at Mica firmly believes that Gloystein is murdered; and it is absolutely true that the Mica people do not feel free to say what they think.”
Mica remains a small Spokane County community, and this killing captures how partisan fury and rumors of organized violence can divide a rural town. The excerpt also shows papers of the era using a death to weaponize party identity—something recognizable in today’s fights over political violence and who gets blamed.
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