Daniel Sandoval

Raising kids is expensive, time consuming and arguably the most fulfilling thing people can do with their lives. We invest great hopes with the day-to-day nurturing of the next generation. Parenting was in the news for the third week of July.

100 years ago

William Auton was the leader of Casper's municipal band who quit town without so much as an adieu after 18 months, and the July 22, 1908, Natrona County Tribune's lead article said, in essence, good riddance.

Home wrecker -- Wolton resident Frank Seese was in the Casper jailhouse for threatening T.C. Fann with a dangerous weapon during a family dispute. Seese was trying to seduce Fann's wife into leaving with him and almost succeeded.

Fann discovered Seese in the process of absconding with his wife so he gathered his two children, 4 and 2 years old, took the kids from Wolton to Casper, where he also swore out a complaint against Seese for the threat.

Sheriff Sheffner went to Wolton but Seese and Mrs. Fann had already made their escape, on foot. It took the star-crossed lovers four days to walk from Wolton to Powder River. Yet the sheriff was waiting for them and Seese was arrested and Mrs. Fann was brought to Casper to serve as a witness.

Mrs. Fann was originally held in jail, but between her tears of embarrassment and Mr. Fann's tears of remorse at seeing his wife in a cage, the sheriff couldn't handle the melodrama and released Mrs. Fann to stay at the Tubbs Hotel.

Indifference -- District court was convened in Casper and the case of George Bailey received swift justice. Every time the Tribune mentioned Bailey it identified him as a colored man and the July 22, 1908, edition was no exception.

Bailey pleaded guilty to an assault charge was fined $50 and court costs. Bailey was given the option of leaving town within four hours of sentencing and the sentence would be suspended. He departed.

Whoa Nellie -- The July 22 Tribune admonished reckless riders in general and three or four riders, specifically, who nearly trampled a group of small children crossing the street in downtown Casper.

The Tribune noted there was a racetrack for horses free for use at any time less than a mile away from the busy streets.

75 years ago

Casper Mayor E.W. Rowell testified in federal court in Cheyenne, and in the top story of the July 21, 1933, Casper Tribune-Herald, Rowell characterized the charge that he was on the take with bootleggers as "ridiculous."

Reporter shot -- Jack Mann was a promising young reporter for the Tribune-Herald just weeks on the police and fire beat when he went to Lower Garden Creek for some target practice with his friend Jess Webster.

Mann and Webster bungled the hand-off of a pistol that delayed before the gun discharged. Mann was struck in the abdomen. Webster ran to get a car and rushed his friend to Natrona County Memorial Hospital.

Jack Mann, 18, died the following day. Mann was the former editor of the Natrona County High School newspaper and son of Mr. and Mrs. T.O. Mann of Casper.

Hopelessness -- A coffee salesman from New Orleans leapt to his death from the seventh floor of a hotel in Denver. John Duggan was involved with Denver resident Thelma Roberts.

Witnesses saw Duggan on his knees, begging for forgiveness from Roberts, forgiveness for keeping company with another woman.

His heart's desire unmoved by his plea, Duggan bolted over a chair and radiator and threw himself out the hotel window.

50 years ago

The Casper City Council passed an ordinance to repeal the use of trading stamps because they were adding undue burden to the cost of doing business, as reported in the July 22, 1958, Casper Morning Star.

Domestic violence -- Morton McCarthy was involved in an altercation with his ex-wife that landed him in the Casper hospital, where he was listed in satisfactory condition, and assault charges were pending.

McCarthy was thought to have entered his ex-wife's apartment and attacked her with a knife, cutting her on the face and leg. Mrs. McCarthy's 13-year-old son defended his mother by striking her attacker on the head with a hammer.

After he fled the scene, McCarthy was arrested near Glenrock by Highway Patrolman Stan Warne.

25 years ago

The lead story in the July 21, 1983, Casper Star-Tribune was about the MX missile program clearing an important hurdle in the U.S. House, which allocated $2.5 billion for the first 27 missiles.

Broad daylight -- Israel Sanchez was booked for a first-degree murder charge in connection with a noon-hour shooting that took place in downtown Casper.

Rudy Espinoza died from numerous gunshots he received while sitting in a car in the alley off Center Street between First and Second streets.

Espinoza was in the process of divorcing Sanchez's daughter.

"A Look Back in Time" is made possible with the help of Western History Archivist Kevin S. Anderson at the Casper College Western History Center, which is open to the public.