Looking Back: Former insane asylum patient accused of stealing diamond; and Idaho Falls man disappears
Published at | Updated at
IDAHO FALLS — EastIdahoNews.com is looking back at what life was like during the week of Oct. 5 to Oct. 11 in east Idaho history.
1900-1925
BLACKFOOT — A former patient at the asylum in Blackfoot was accused of stealing a diamond, The Blackfoot Optimist reported on Oct. 7, 1915.
J.E. Flaherty was accused of stealing a valuable diamond ring from a patient that was brought to the asylum by Teton County officials.
At the time it was discovered that the ring was missing, Flaherty had been discharged from the asylum by Dr. D’Orr Poynter.
“Whether the ring was stolen or lost seems the question,” the paper stated.
Flaherty denied stealing the ring and hired an attorney. He was being held on a $500 bond awaiting his court hearing on a charge of grand larceny.
1926-1950
IDAHO FALLS — An Idaho Falls man was reported missing, the Idaho Falls Post Register reported on Oct. 11, 1932.
Solon Orr, 65, who had been employed for many years in a local law office, was the man who vanished. Law enforcement said he hadn’t been seen at his office or his living quarters at the Rex Hotel since Wednesday morning.
He reportedly left his hotel room around 7:30 Wednesday morning. He went to his office but left in the afternoon, and hadn’t been seen or heard from since.
The man was a veteran of the Spanish-American war. Police said they didn’t know of any relatives related to Orr.
1951-1975
REXBURG — A music room at a local school was ordered to close its doors to students, the Idaho Falls Post Register reported on Oct. 8, 1951.
The music room was inside a school in Rexburg. It was ordered by the Rexburg city council to close its doors after fire chief Silas Clements said it was a “fire trap.”
Clements described the upper floor, which had been used for storage and as a band and music room, as having only a single wooden stairway for students to escape if a fire broke out.
“This would be a ‘chimey’ and prevailing drafts would fill the upper floor with smoke, making escape dangerous,” he said.
Clements recommend a “canvas fire proofed evacuator” which would be attached to the south window sill and down to the ground. This would allow students to slide down if the building caught on fire.
1976-2000
POCATELLO — A 23-year-old man was arrested on a charge of loitering and prowling, the Idaho State Journal reported on Oct. 6, 1977.
The suspect, Joe Matkin, was observed peeking around a brick barbecue. He was asked to cone out of his hiding place by an investigating officer.
Matkin plead guilty during his arraignment and was fined $32.50.