A Formal Invitation To A Hanging

SPOTLIGHT ON THE SPOKANE REGION

A Formal Invitation To A Hanging

Can you imagine back in 1892 being one of approximately 150 Spokane citizens receiving a formal, engraved invitation to a hanging? Neither can I!  I know family members, reporters and others attend executions, and that history tells us during the Middle Ages citizens watched hangings and beheadings—but an engraved invitation?  Well, that’s what happened for Spokane’s first legal hanging of Charles Brooks!  

Charles Brooks was a 62-year old black man found guilty of murdering his 27-year old Swedish immigrant wife, Christine Dohlman.   The only fact of Charles’ and Christine’s life that is known is that they were married.  It is suspected that Charles paid for his immigrant bride as was common for frontier men during that era.  It was believed that Christine thought she was marrying a wealthy man.  It was also assumed that when Christine found out that Charles was a janitor and not a wealthy mining magnate, Christine left Charles. Supposedly, then, Charles stalked her, found her on Havermale Island, couldn’t convince her to come back to him, and on July 5, 1891, Charles shot Christine dead.  Charles did have a trial, and he was found guilty.

Charles’ hanging took place on September 6, 1892, on the grounds of the Spokane County Courthouse; this was before the courthouse was built. Before 1900, executions took place at the local level and were conducted by the county sheriff.   Charles’ hanging was the first legal hanging in the county, so formal engraved invitations were sent out to 150 Spokane citizens—I assume the wealthy ones—and more than 1,000 people attended the hanging.

Charles Brooks was buried at Greenwood Memorial Terrace in an unmarked grave somewhere west of the main office, between the hillside and a row of upright headstones, near the memorial for The Greatest Human Tragedy.  His grave is unmarked because no one came forward after his hanging to purchase a grave marker.  The cemetery intends to keep the grave unmarked to avoid vandalism and disrespect.

Sources:  Donna Potter Phillips, Spokane Historical, Spokesman Review, May 11, 2015, article,Through the “gallows gates”