The Uncertain Fate of a Convicted Killer
Edward Spencer awaits transfer to the Walla Walla penitentiary, sparking speculation about his potential work assignment behind bars.
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.
Edward Spencer, who killed Ella Mundt, remains in the Spokane county jail and may not be moved to the penitentiary in Walla Walla for at least another week. Sheriff Doust indicated that administrative shortages due to the court term have delayed his transfer. Observers doubt Spencer will be assigned to the brickyard or jute mill due to his poor health and the persistent pain from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. It is speculated he will be sent to the tailor shop or laundry, or perhaps even serve in the warden's residence, as historical practice often favored using convicted murderers for domestic labor, viewing them as less likely to be 'professional criminals.'
“As a rule, murderers are not professional criminals and are safer to have around a house.”
This story highlights the starkly different approach to prison labor and the characterization of 'crimes of passion' versus 'professional' criminal behavior in the early 1900s. It reflects the era's tendency to pathologize physical health while grappling with public safety.
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