On Jan. 24, 1907, a jury took seven votes before the 12 men finally agreed to convict George Trent of second-degree murder in connection with a sensational shooting in Pe Ell.
He was sentenced to 30 years in the state penitentiary for deliberately taking aim and shooting Harve Craton, who was trying to persuade Trent to put down his weapons during his drunken armed walk through town.
"The case was one of the hardest and best fought cases in the history of Lewis County," the Centralia News-Examiner wrote, and the courtroom was crowded during the four-day trial.
Trent's murderous actions on Nov. 7, 1906, were allegedly triggered by family allegiances dating back to the famous Hatfield-McCoy feud.
New Waterfront Lots
From the first year of The Centralia (Weekly) Chronicle, in 1890
A correspondent in Chehalis wrote, "A steamboat would be the proper thing for travel between this town and Centralia at this time."
Punny real estate agents joked, "Water front lots for sail."
Glenoma School Burns
75 years ago, in 1932
The Glenoma School burned to the ground in a fire that was apparently caused by a defective chimney. The gymnasium, about 100 feet from the schoolhouse, was saved from the flames.
The fire broke out in the attic of the nine-story main building shortly after a dance held in the gymnasium by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Yard Birds (and Monkeys)
50 years ago, in 1957
Yard Birds marked 10 years in business with a huge advertisement showing the pictures of all 61 employees, along with photos of a small dog named Candy Jones, whose job was listed as "Mascot"; and two monkeys named "Poncho" and "Hazel."
Yard Birds founders Dick "Skinny" Gillingham and Bill "Fatty" Jones had sold their homes and automobiles in 1947 to raise the $6,000 to buy an old truck and start in the war surplus business, according to the advertisement.
Shopping in Pastels
25 years ago, in 1982
An advertisement from Fuller Market Basket advertised "innovations and services to make your food shopping pleasant and gratifying … wide aisles … light pastel colors … soft non-glare lighting … easy-to-reach shelves … sparkling cleanliness … plenty of parking … all designed with you in mind!"
The local grocery chain had two "full-service" supermarkets, in downtown Chehalis and Centralia, and a third "limited-service" store on Fords Prairie, called L.C. Mark-It Foods. Today, the downtown Centralia store is the lone remaining Fuller store in the Twin Cities.
First Woman Elk
10 years ago, in 1997
Shirley Billings was recently sworn in as the first woman member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in Lewis County after the national organization changed its all-male rules.
"It was extremely exciting for me. I knew I was making history for this club," said Billings, a 39-year-old bank manager.
Tribal Leader Dies
Five years ago, in 2002
Longtime Chehalis Tribal leader Percy Youckton died at age 73. He had served as chairman of the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Indian Reservation for 20 years and had been instrumental in getting the Lucky Eagle Casino started, according to his obituary.
Youckton had also been chief of tribal police and chairman of the Chehalis Tribal Housing Authority. He had also been an officer and longtime member of the Shaker Church in Oakville since 1956.
Drug Sting Goes Bad
One year ago, in 2006
A drug "buy-bust" sting in the Wal-Mart parking lot went wrong, ending with a Washington State Patrol narcotics detective shooting at the fleeing suspect car at about 8 p.m.
The Honda rammed an undercover State Patrol vehicle, narrowly missed two other undercover vehicles, then escaped south on Interstate 5 into the foggy night. Police found it three hours later, however, and arrested a 31-year-old Chehalis man for alleged delivery of marijuana.
From the Files of The Chronicle is compiled by Brian Mittge, who can be reached at brianmittge@hotmail.com or by calling 266-0568.
