The Disappearance of Judge Kinsaird
Following a night of drinking in Seattle, a local judge has vanished, and authorities suspect he may have jumped into the river.
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.
The friends of Judge Joseph Kinsaird have almost abandoned hope of finding him alive. The police have searched along the river for a mile below the city and no trace can be found. His friends believe that in a fit of despondency early Wednesday morning, Kinsaird committed suicide by jumping into the river. It developed today that after attending a performance of 'The Spider and the Fly' Tuesday night, Judge Kinsaird and several friends went out for a time, visiting several well-known resorts, and all drank to excess. When Kinsaird separated from his friends, he was intoxicated and despondent, and remarked that he had spent his last dollar and might as well end it. Kitty Miller, who keeps one of the bars visited by the party, says Kinsaird told her he intended to jump into the river. Kinsaird was appointed superior judge for Spokane county but was defeated for re-election. He was 38 years old and unmarried.
“When Kinsaird separated from his friends he was intoxicated and despondent, and remarked that he had spent his last dollar and might as well end it.”
This tragic report highlights the era's lack of mental health resources and the heavy toll of social isolation for public figures. The incident serves as a grim reflection of the 'nightlife' consequences in turn-of-the-century Seattle.
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