100 years ago in Spokane: Former lawman sentenced for murder

Charles Palmer, former justice of the peace and deputy sheriff in Milan, just north of Spokane, was sentenced to 10-20 years for second-degree murder.

Palmer had been convicted months before, but the sentencing had been delayed during various legal maneuvers.

When this relatively harsh sentence was passed, Palmer “looked defiantly about the courtroom.” Yet he saw not a single friendly face, according to the Spokane Daily Chronicle.

“Not a friend or relative was there in the room, not even his wife or his children.”

The shootings occurred in March 1917, when Palmer went to a Milan pool hall and became involved in a brawl with several men. After he went outside, he drew his revolver and fired at a crowd of men, killing Nels and George Verbeck, a father and son.

He was acquitted of killing George but convicted in a later trial of killing Nels.

In both trials, he claimed self-defense – and he was still claiming self-defense.

Moments after the sentencing, Palmer unburdened himself to a Chronicle reporter:

“They had me like that (throwing his arms around the reporter’s neck and jerking backward). They had my arms, my legs. They were overpowering me and in another minute I would have been dead. Who was it there that had murder in their hearts? Man, I am just waking up now, I have been asleep – dazed. I am just starting to fight. I will win my liberty. I am trusting in my God, my attorneys, and my own fighting power.”