James White: Assault To Murder

James White was born in 1871 in Oregon to C.M. White, who was living in Moscow, ID at the time.



Inmate: #730 Idaho State Prison
Rec: 5 Dec 1899
Crime: Assault to commit murder
Age: 28
Occupation: Farmer


Below is a link for a newspaper article on the shooting.

 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61175037/james-white/





James was working in a saloon and I believe he either had been drinking and mistook James Whittaker as someone else, or Mr. Whittaker lied. Either way this case goes to trial and James White is found guilty and sentenced to 3 years. What's a farmer doing working as a saloon keeper??? No idea, guess ya gotta make a buck somehow.

I found James in the 1900 census in prison. I also think I found his father in a city directory, as James prison record states he was living in Nez Perce, ID.


NAME: C M White

RESIDENCE YEAR: 1908

RESIDENCE PLACE: Lewiston, Nez Perce, Idaho, USA


Does the C.M. stand for Charles M White??? might be him.

NAME: Charles M White

RESIDENCE YEAR: 1908

STREET ADDRESS: Elm SW cor 16th

RESIDENCE PLACE: Lewiston, Nez Perce, Idaho, USA

OCCUPATION: Fruit Grower

PUBLICATION TITLE: Lewiston, Idaho, City Directory, 1908

See map (Looks like today)


According to the 1900 Census his father was born in New York and his mother in Oregon, of course it may not be correct, as us genealogist know all too well Census records are just a helpers aide and people didn't always record accurate info.

This is all the genealogy information I found. I must say that James looks younger than 28 to me. I love his mugshot, his eyes are big and bright. I hope he stayed out of trouble after this, he was so young he should of started a family and lived a long old life.


His records can be found on Ancestry and Idaho State Archives.

730 White, James

File: AR42 / 20072405 / 1004.3-3 / 730

Year: 1899 Approx. age: 28 Born: circa 1871

Jurisdiction: Nez Perce County

Crime: Assault with intent to murder

Notes: Includes photographic material.

AR42/20072470


You can also Google and download some index records for the prison available online in PDF.




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