A Forgery Arrest, a Suicide Attempt, and a Case Spokane Papers Got Wrong

Brad A. Knapp, traveling for Loderman & Co., cigar dealers of this city, and formerly a clerk in the city treasurer's office at Spokane, is under arrest on a charge of forgery. The arrest was made late last night by Detective Wells at the Olympic block on West street in North Seattle, in accordance with instructions in a telegram sent by Chief of Police Rogers from Sheriff Pugh of Spokane county. The telegram, however, stated that a warrant had been issued for Knapp, but the charge was not referred to. Knapp accompanied the detective to headquarters willingly, and expressed ignorance of any wrongdoing that would call for such action by any one in Spokane. He was placed in charge of James McKay and until the arrival of Deputy Sheriff Philip Pugh, of Spokane, late last night was in a restless and painstaking mood to find out the charge against him.

Deputy Sheriff Pugh, when seen by a Post-Intelligencer reporter last night, said that the grand jury at Spokane had indicted Mr. Knapp for forgery in connection with some school warrants. The amount of the forgeries he was not positive about, but thought they ran upwards of $1,000, ranging in amounts from $175 to $290.

Mr. Knapp, who was present during the conversation, said he was perfectly willing to return to Spokane and face the charges. 'I am innocent,' he said, 'and know nothing about the affair. I was in the treasurer's office for over a year and had charge of the school warrant business. In a majority of cases, statements, etc., concerning school warrants were given out by me. I am sure, however, that I will be able to explain anything that may have come up which casts suspicion on me. I left the office last January of my own free will, and there was nothing against me at that time of which I am aware.'

'Yes,' said Deputy Pugh, 'when Mr. Knapp left Spokane he bore a good reputation.'

The deputy and his prisoner will leave for Spokane this evening.

It will be remembered that Mrs. Brad A. Knapp, wife of the man under arrest, attempted suicide at her rooms in the Olympic block, on West street, Saturday evening, May 19, by shooting herself through the left breast with a 38-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver. Knapp had just returned, he said, from Whatcom on business and went directly home to supper, after which he started down town to report to the house for which he worked, Loderman & Co. When he reached the bottom of the stairs he heard a report and then a moment later a second one. He ran back to his room and found his wife pacing up and down the floor in a dazed manner. She said nothing had happened, but Mr. Knapp saw blood on her breast and, on investigating, found that she had shot herself. A physician was called and he pronounced the wound not dangerous.

Mr. Knapp told a reporter that Mrs. Knapp came here from Spokane last March and that he came here three months previous, after having left the treasurer's office. He said that he had been unfortunate in business, and that this had preyed on his wife's mind until she was not exactly herself. He also said she had secreted his revolver. According to his story they lived a very happy life.

After the account of the attempted suicide was published in Seattle, the Spokane papers took up the matter, and through a mistake as to facts, made it appear as if the woman was Olive Munson, a Spokane girl, who is now in this city, instead of Mr. Knapp's wife.

The impression seemed to be that Mrs. Knapp had returned to her friends. This was wrong, because Mrs. Knapp is in Seattle and has been living with her husband. It is true also that Olive Munson has been with them at different times.