Miscellaneous newspaper articles about Asotin County

February 26, 1887
The Stevens Point Gazette, Stevens Point Wisconsin

Robert and John Farrish of Grand Rapids, have been enjoying a month's visit from their brother William who lives near Anatone, Washington Terr.

November 27, 1897
Centralia Enterprise and Tribune, Centralia Wisconsin

Mrs. Julian Biron has recently returned from a visit to her daughter, Mrs. Hiram Benedict, at her home in Asotin, Washington. She stopped over in the twin cities for a day on her return, but took her departure for her home in Merrill on Tuesday morning last.

January 21, 1899
Centralia Enterprise and Tribune, Centralia Wisconsin

Geo. Zenier expects to remove with his family to Asotin, Washington, in about three weeks. Mr. Zenier spent all last summer at or near that place and is dead in love with the place. As a fruit growing country it cannot be beaten and for climate and magnificent scenery it is all that could be desired. We hope Mr. Zenier and family will enjoy healthy and prosperity in their new home.

November 2, 1904
The Iowa recorder, Greene Iowa

B.W. Yeoman, who has been here visiting his brother Frank and family, left Friday for his home in Asotin, Washington.

February 14, 1923
Stevens Point Daily Journal, Stevens Point Wisconsin

Charley Laufer, who went west several years ago, and is now located in Asotin, Washington, has again remembered his old friend with a beautiful art calendar. Charley has a host of old friends all over Portage county who will be pleased to know that he is well and prospering in his new home. He is engaged in the real estate business and also writes fire and life insurance.

April 11, 1931
Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

Mr. and Mrs. George Zenier returned home Saturday from Asotin Washington Territory, where they spent a very pleasant winter with their daughter Mrs. H. Benedict. They were glad to return to Wisconsin and meet with old time friends.

October 28, 1931
Nevada State Journal
ADMITS KILLING
YOUTH CONFESSES SLAYING SHERIFF
12 Year Old Lad Said Not Responsible Mentally
    Asotin, Wash., Oct. 27-Hubert Niccolls, 12-year-old barefoot boy slayer of Sheriff John Wormell, took the stand in his own defense late in today's session of his first degree murder trial and admitted shooting down the 72-year-old officer, corroborating in detail the statements of officers who arrested him.
    Dr. John M. Semple, Spokane alienist, then testified for the defense, saying the boy suffered from a constitutional brain weakness, but that he was not definitely insane at the present time.
    The defense pleaded not guilty because of mental irresponsibility. Mrs. Marie Addington, grandmother of Hubert, declared that "he was possessed of a demon."
    Taking the stand as chief defense witness, the aged woman sorrowfully traced a streak of insanity that runs through the family saying her mother and her son, "the boy's father," were confined in insane asylums.
    Mrs. Addington declared that on the day before the Sheriff was killed the lad asked her to read him the first six chapters of the Book of Joshua in the Old Testament.
    The biblical drama related that Hebrew spies entered the city with the help of Rahab, followed by "40,000 prepared for war," who marched around Jericho blowing trumpets, then attacked and "utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old...with the edge of the sword," then looted and burned the town.
    After hearing this, the grandmother said, Hubert left home, carrying a pistol he had stolen. 

October 28, 1931
The Daily Northwestern, Oshkosh Wisconsin

HOME LIFE OF BOY ENTERS THE TRIAL
    Asotin, Wash.-Harmonica in hand, Hubert Niccolls, 12 year old killer enjoyed himself today as his trial for the slaying of Sheriff John Wormell neared the end.
    Almost all the testimony for and against the frail boy who admitted robbing a store and shooting down the aged police officer was in the record. Hubert pleaded insanity.
    "I saw some tobacco through the window," Hubert testified yesterday, "and I wanted it. So I broke the pane and went in. I was filling a sack with tobacco and gum when I heard the door rattle" Then followed a calm admission of the slaying, but the boy added. "I did not want to shoot him."
    Describing his home life, Hubert said he was given little to eat, few clothes and said his parents, both of whom became inmates of insane asylums, quarreled frequently. He said he liked to read books and magazines about Boy Scouts, adding "They are good for boys to read"
    Dr. John M. Semple, alienist, pronounced Hubert a constitutional psychopath, but said he was not insane. Dr. W.J. Sherfey county healthy officer, said Hubert's lack of of emotion and remorse for the slaying indicated he was insane.

October 30, 1931 
Reno Evening Gazette, Reno Nevada

YOUNG SLAYER NOW IN PRISON
    Walla Walla, Wash., Oct. 30-Twelve year old Hubert Niccolls, slayer of Sheriff John Worwell[sic] of Asotin county, today began a life sentence behind prison bars with his cornet and harmonica among his belongings.
    After being sentenced at Asotin the boy was brought here late yesterday and in a short time when through the usual prison procedure for new inmates.
    "We will take good care of him," Warden Clarence E. Long said.
    With a smile on his face, the boy, youngest person ever to be brought here for a sentence, appeared before Warden Long. He carried his cornet in one hand and had a harmonica tucked away in a pocket.
    "He showed little emotion," Warden Long continued, "but was a little curious when escorted within the institution."
    The boy will be placed in a separate cell, away from other inmates. A medical examination and mentality tests will be given him within the next few days. He will have no young playmates, only prison employees to watch him in his daily exercise. An instructor will give him school lessons.

October 31, 1931
The Helena Independent, Helena Montana

CHILDISH MURDERER WOULD REFORM; FATHER FLANAGAN ANXIOUS TO TAKE BOY OF 12
    Walla Walla, Wash., Oct. 30-The youthful Hubert Niccolls, --o at the age of 12 faces a life sentence behind prison bars, today ---d a fatherly prison official that henceforth he wanted "to do the right thing."
    In his first day of penitentiary --e, to which he was sentenced for the shooting of Sheriff John Wormell, of Asotin, when Wormell ---nd him robbing a store, the boy had a long talk with Hans Damm, assistant prison superintendent.
WOULD BE GOOD BOY
    "I'm sorry for what I did," the boy sobbed. "I--I didn't intend it should happen. now I want to do the right thing."
    Later, after he had taken his exercises, which hereafter will be a part of his daily prison routine, he became more cheerful.
    During the day, Warden Clarence E. Long described the request of a Catholic priest in Nebraska to be given custody of the lad, as "impossible." The offer was made yesterday by the Rev. Father E.J. Flanagan, of Omaha.
    The law has taken its course, Warden Long said, and even if he did approve such action, he could do nothing. He said he did not care to comment further.
NEVER HAD A CHANCE
    Father Flanagan said in his message, addressed to counsel who defended the boy during his trial, that he believed the lad "has never been given a chance."
    In addition to playing his harmonica and cornet, which young Niccolls brought to the prison with him, the boy revealed today that he likes to play checkers and dominoes.
    He told Assistant Superintendent Damm, the man said later, that he couldn't play them alone, however.
    "Maybe you'll play them with me?" he asked.
    "We're going to give this boy every opportunity," Damm commented later.
A PROBLEM
    "He seems bright enough. He's a problem, all right. We can't treat him as we might a man. We must assume more of a fatherly attitude towards him."

November 5, 1931
Sheboygan Press, Sheboygan Wisconsin
(Photo: Top-Hubert Niccolls and Grandmother. Bottom Left-Warden L.H. Lawes. Bottom Right-Kenneth Mackintosh.)

JURIST WOULD HANG BOY GIVEN LIFE FOR MURDER
Despite Tender Age; 12 Year Old Hubert Niccolls, Slayer of A Sheriff, Should Suffer Ultimate Penalty, Kenneth Mackintosh Says.
    Sentenced to spend the rest of his life in Washington State prison, 12 year old Hubert Niccolls, who killed John Wormley as the latter surprised him in the act of holding up a store, may consider himself lucky that Kenneth Mackintosh was not his judge. Mr. Mackintosh, a jurist and member of the famous Wickersham Commission, is emphatically of the opinion that the lad should have been hanged, reasoning that he will always be a criminal and a menace to society. On the other hand, Warden Lewis H. Lawes, of Sing Sing Prison, New York, considers the verdict a just one, holding the belief that the boy's execution would not deter other potential murders. Mr. Lawes is of the opinion that it is not necessary to keep the boy in prison for life, as there is a possibility of making him a  good citizen.

November 5, 1931
Appleton Post Crescent, Appleton Wisconsin

YOUTHFUL CRIME AND COMMUNITY GUILT
    When a 12 year old boy steals a revolver, breaks into a shop with evident intent to rob and then kills an aged sheriff when disturbed by that official, the community in which the boy lived has an unusual and troublesome problem to solve.
    Such an event occurred at Asotin, Washington and the youth, Hubert Niccolls, was found guilty of murder in the first degree and sentenced to the state penitentiary at Walla Walla for life.
    The court and the jury apparently were convinced that the element of individual responsibility was vital and that the boy in his present stage of development was a menace to society.
    But that this 12 year old boy should have been hanged for his crime is almost unthinkable. Yet Judge Kenneth Mackintosh, member of the Wickersham crime commission and former justice of the state supreme court, was of this opinion. "The boy undoubtedly always will be a criminal, a continued menace to society," he said, "and it is reasonable to expect that at some future time he will again be at liberty. He should have been hanged."
    In the salvage of this boy's life, his community had a definite obligation to meet. To hang him and then forget it would have been the easy way out. To sentence him to prison for life with the future possibility of parole if proper instruction should accomplish what might reasonably be expected, should keep the community mindful of its obligation-which is the search for cause of such a crime as well as the reform of the youthful offended.
    "He who does not prevent a crime is guilty of it." This pre-adolescent youth was not more guilty than his parents and the kind of hom training he had or the possible influence of boy companions, or the community environment which brought him to such a pass.
    The responsibility of the community does not end with his conviction. It has just begun. Much could be written about the increase of youthful crime since the war. The growth of organized banditry due to changed social conditions, the flagrant display of crime motion pictures and the casting of murderous gun-toters and infamous crooks in the roles of gallant outlaws, have all had their influence in lessening the value of human life in the minds of impressionable and susceptible youths.
    The crime of the Washington boy may well serve as an incentive to his community to give introspective study of its own negligence and guilt.

November 21, 1931
Helena Independent, Helena Montana
    WOULD HELP BOY
    Responsive cords of sympathy in many hearts were touched the other day by the kindly offer of Rev. E.J. Flanagan of Omaha to take the 12-year-old boy, Hubert Niccolls, serving a life sentence in the Washington state prison for shooting dead a sheriff, place him in a boys' home at Omaha, headed by Father Flanagan, and make an effort to train him to become a God-fearing, law-abiding and useful man.
    There are people who will agree with Father Flanagan that "no 12 year old boy can be a murderer at heart even though he has killed," or in other words that no boy of that age, even though he fully understands that it is wrong to kill, is sufficiently developed mentally to fully or even greatly appreciate the heinousness, cruelty and deliberate malice in what the world recognizes as murder committed by an adult.
    Father Flanagan left Omaha for Washington to ask the Governor to parole the boy into his hands for the purpose stated. Even though it be admitted that deplorable leniency toward criminals and failure to enforce the climinall[sic] laws in America, is largely accountable for the widespread crime, it is hard to see what good it will do to keep this boy behind prison walls all his life, and set aside what seems an opportunity to save him from such a terrible fate and make a good man of him.

November 22, 1931
Helena Independent, Helena Montana

NOTED PRIEST TO TRY TO HELP BOY SLAYER
    Seattle, Nov. 21-Father E.J. Flanagan, famed "boy's friend" of Omaha, Neb., said tonight he would confer here tomorrow with Governor Hartley over the case of Hubert Niccolls, 12 year old boy slayer.
    Father Flanagan, founder and head of a Middlewest boy's school, who made the trip to the Northwest after requesting the boy be placed in his care, explained that he had requested an interview with the governor.

July 18, 1933
Oakland Tribune, Oakland California

YOUNG KILLER GETS FREEDOM
Walla Walla, Wash. July 18-Hubert Niccolls, 14, burglar who killed a sheriff two years ago, saw new hope today, for the Governor, the Lieutenant-Governor and others have interested themselves in his release.
    Gov. Clarence D. Martin from Olympia announced that after two visits to the boy who slew Sheriff John Wormell of Asotin County, he had decided to appoint a clinic of experts to examine the boy and determine whether he would not be of more value to society in a training school with the possibility of parole ahead, than serving a life sentence.
    The boy interested in music and aviation, was delighted by a visit of Lieut. Gov. Victor A. Meyers, who left his dance band in Seattle----------------- Victor Junior.
   

June 3, 1938
Evening State Journal, Lincoln Nebraska

GETS DIPLOMA IN PRISON
Hubert Niccolls Serving Life Term for Murder.
Walla Walla, Wash.-Hubert Niccolls, 18, received his high school diploma in the first commencement program ever held inside state prison here. Supt. W.A. Lacey gave the address; H.R. Holm, school board chairman, presented the certificate and the prison orchestra supplied music. Niccolls was 12 when he killed Sheriff John Wormell of Asotin county. He was sent to prison for life. During the last six years he has advanced from the sixth grade thru high school and has started an extension course thru Washington State College. 

Unknown Date

Unknown Paper

Common Law Marriage Annulled

Marie E. Powers-Winfield S. Powers

OLYMPIA, Oct. 8—Annulment of the common law marriage and award of property in Asotin county to Marie E. Powers by the Asotin county superior court was affirmed recently in a supreme court decision. Evidence showed that she was the common law wife in Minnesota of Winfield S. Powers, who had been married before and not divorced, although she did not know of it. He later returned to his former wife and appropriated the common property of Maria Powers and himself, which the lower court refused to allow.

Submitted by Cathy Danielson

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