This 1942 photo is of the Centralia High School band and majorettes. Centralia High School operated at the downtown location which became Centralia College from 1912 to 1969, when the old high school was torn down. The first Centralia College classes of 15 were held in the right wing of the old Centralia High School beginning in 1925. This photo is from volume 1 of “Our Hometowns: A historical photo album of Greater Lewis County.”

OUR HOMETOWNS

A Look Back in Time: Officials Investigate ‘Tragic Slaying’ of a Lewis County Area Farmer in Hunting Accident in 1952

This 1942 photo is of the Centralia High School band and majorettes. Centralia High School operated at the downtown location which became Centralia College from 1912 to 1969, when the old high school was torn down. The first Centralia College classes of 15 were held in the right wing of the old Centralia High School beginning in 1925. This photo is from volume 1 of “Our Hometowns: A historical photo album of Greater Lewis County.”

OUR HOMETOWNS

Posted Friday, October 28, 2022 5:32 pm

Compiled by Matthew Zylstra / matthew@chronline.com

Lewis County authorities were examining the “tragic slaying” of Charles Erickson, a 72-year-old farmer, in what appeared to be an accident during a deer hunting “mishap” on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 1952.

Martin Huhta, the 39-year-old neighbor of Erickson, was believed to have fired the shot that killed Erickson. The two were on a hunting trip with Erickson’s son, Lauri Erickson, near Erickson’s home in the Independence Valley area.

Huhta had attempted to shoot a deer that Erickson and his son had flushed out but had missed.

“Erickson and his son, (Lewis County Sheriff Frank) Thayer said, had entered a canyon to flush a deer, Huhta remaining on higher ground. The officer said Huhta told him he saw a deer, fired and missed. Moments later he saw the elder Erickson laying on the ground,” The Chronicle reported.

The bullet, described as a “30-30 caliber rifle slug,” struck Erickson in the head, killing him instantly.

Huhta faced manslaughter charges that were mandatory under a law governing hunting deaths. However, Huhta was not in custody and was “released on his personal recognizance Tuesday.”

On the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 29, Thayer was joined by Game Protectors Norman Ellswroth and Luther Morgan to discuss the case. That afternoon, the three were joined by Lewis County Prosecutor John Panesko who went with them to visit the scene of the death.

Erickson was born on March 18, 1880, in Finland and had lived in Lewis County for 63 years. He was survived by his son, a daughter and six grandchildren.

Saturday, Oct. 29, 1932

• August Titzy was arrested on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 29, becoming the first person arrested under Centralia’s new ordinance requiring barber shops to close at 6 p.m. except for on Saturdays. In court, Titzy entered a guilty plea and was fined $10. The warrant for Titzy’s arrest was based on the sworn testimony of another barber, J.M. Louden.

Posted Friday, October 28, 2022 5:32 pm

Compiled by Matthew Zylstra / matthew@chronline.com

Lewis County authorities were examining the “tragic slaying” of Charles Erickson, a 72-year-old farmer, in what appeared to be an accident during a deer hunting “mishap” on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 1952.

Martin Huhta, the 39-year-old neighbor of Erickson, was believed to have fired the shot that killed Erickson. The two were on a hunting trip with Erickson’s son, Lauri Erickson, near Erickson’s home in the Independence Valley area.

Huhta had attempted to shoot a deer that Erickson and his son had flushed out but had missed.

“Erickson and his son, (Lewis County Sheriff Frank) Thayer said, had entered a canyon to flush a deer, Huhta remaining on higher ground. The officer said Huhta told him he saw a deer, fired and missed. Moments later he saw the elder Erickson laying on the ground,” The Chronicle reported.

The bullet, described as a “30-30 caliber rifle slug,” struck Erickson in the head, killing him instantly.

Huhta faced manslaughter charges that were mandatory under a law governing hunting deaths. However, Huhta was not in custody and was “released on his personal recognizance Tuesday.”

On the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 29, Thayer was joined by Game Protectors Norman Ellswroth and Luther Morgan to discuss the case. That afternoon, the three were joined by Lewis County Prosecutor John Panesko who went with them to visit the scene of the death.

Erickson was born on March 18, 1880, in Finland and had lived in Lewis County for 63 years. He was survived by his son, a daughter and six grandchildren.

Saturday, Oct. 29, 1932

• August Titzy was arrested on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 29, becoming the first person arrested under Centralia’s new ordinance requiring barber shops to close at 6 p.m. except for on Saturdays. In court, Titzy entered a guilty plea and was fined $10. The warrant for Titzy’s arrest was based on the sworn testimony of another barber, J.M. Louden.