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About The Alliance herald. (Alliance, Box Butte County, Neb.) 1902-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 4, 1920)
1 ,4 i A 4 ALLIANCE, BOX BUTTE COUNTY; NIJHRASKA, TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1920. NUMBER 45 r. " LACKEV TRIAL ON IN kT COURT Difficulty Antfclp. Jury for Case- L ipaneling Lawrence Lackey will be placed on trial for his life rt th pie-ent terra of district court, which began Monday morning, with Jurge. Bayard Paine of Grand Island on the bnch, Judge Westover having exchanged with him for the May term. Lackey was arraigned Monday afternoon, And entered a plea of not guilty. At the arraignment Monday, it be tame apparent that there would be considerable difficulty In selecting a Jury that would be satisfactory to the defense and prosecution. A list of twenty-four talesmen had been called for 11 a. m. today, and Judge JPalne inquired if this would be suf ficient. William Mitchell, attorney for the defense, asked to look over the list, and having done " so, an nounced' that he doubted if four of the twenty-four would qualify. All of them, he said, lived in the city or near it, and it was likely that all of them had been present at the prelim inary hearing and formed an opinion on the case. iwt7; " to noon Tuesday, ten Jurors bad bee examined and accepted by t a . state, but as all of these men must be passed b the attorneys for the defense, tl is probable that the Jury is not that near complete. The defense has twelve peremptory chal lenges that can be used on any tales man. It is probable that it will take at least another day. possibly two or three days, before the actual trial will begin. '- 'f-- Judge Paine directed that twenty four additional men be called, and if it is impossible to select a jury from this number, others will be directed to appear. . ..., Monday morning was spent in ar ranging the docket. . There are four criminal cases to be tried at this Jtemi, the State of Nebraska vs. ZLawrenCe Lackey, charged with the .murder of his seven-year-old daugh ter by admnlisterlng . strychnine to .her concealed In a piece of candy; ithe State vs. Charles Brown (color ted), charged with felonious assault on Willie Foster; the State vs. Toni Rubis, charged with sodomy, and the State vs. John Fought, charged with passing a worthless check and with forging the name of his mother. Airs. Addie Dumond, to the check. A fifth case, the State vs. Dwight Zedlker, charged with the theft of a farm wagon from the Farmers' Union association the first of March. The criminal cases will be tried in the order given, after which the civil cases, of which there are over eighty, -..will be taken up. . .. . . ARRANGING RROGRAM FOR ELKS CONVENTION The committee on arrangements has been making ready for the state convention of Elks, which" is to be held here June 23 and 24, and al ready a tentative program has been outlined. New attractions are being secured every little while, and when the program is finally completed, the visitors and the citizens of ths town in general will have something to remember. . rT Chief Justice Morrfssey of the state supreme court, it is announced, will be one of the speakers. A box ing match has been arranged, the fight to take place on the roof gar den of the new Lowry & Henry ga rage. Grand Exalter Ruler Frank L. Rain will be present during the meeting. A number of lodges -from out in the state will send large dele gations. There will be banquets, dances, a smoker, vaudeville per formances and other attractions. RECRUITING OFFICE CAPTURES PENNANT The Alliance recruiting office has again won distinction. Tuesday morning official notice was received that this office led the state during the month of April, and that it would be privileged to display the pennant for the coming' month. Twenty-one recruits were secured by the Alliance office during April. Major Morrison of Camp Funston, In charge of recruiting for the Sev enth division. Is spending several days at the Alliance office, in the in terest of the Fifty-fifth Infantry, which will be recruited from Nebras ka. The war department has changed front, and now seeks to encourage state pride by recruiting regiments from the various states. For Alliance and vicinity Mostly cloudy tonight and Wednesday Probably showers in east portion. Not much change in temperature. ALLIANCK ODI FKMWS CKLlHJItATK ANMVKRSARY Alliance Odd Fellows and their families celebrated the one hundred and first anniversary of Odd Fellow ship in America last Friday evening adoui zuu people enjoyed the pro gram. JohnR. Snyder, grand chief patriarch of Nebraska, gave the ad dress of welcome, and related some of the facts concerning the first sub ordinate lodge in the United States. Mrs. E. C. Drake, noble grand of the Iiebekahs, gave a very interest ins address on the organization ani growth of the Rebckah degree. George Gadsby gave a short address on "Odd Fellowship," and told of the growth of the order. Lee Moore, chief patriarch, gave a history of the first encampment. F. O. Roe, cap tain of the Patriarchs Militant, told of the organization and progress of this branch of Odd Fellowship. The music was furnished by Andy's or chestra and was enjoyed by everyone present. . - t'. . BANKER DISCUSSES . FINANCIAL SITUATION W. B. Tagg, a banker in Hay Springs, has issued the following statement on the latest ruling pf the federal reserve bunk board which gives in a clear, concise way the nature of the new regulations and the probable effect on the livestock industry: Farmers and stockmen will be vi tally Interested in a ruling recently issued by the federal reserve bank board, which became effective In this district on April 19th, by reason of which interest rates on loans will be higher and money harder to get than it has at any time during the last few years. . In an effort to curtail speculation and to cut down the amount of re discounts placed with the federal reserve- banks by the member banks, they' have inaugurated a plan of re discounts placed with them on the basis of what is called a progressive rediscount rate, so that flow on es sential industries like farming and raising live stock will be forced to bid for money in competition with those industries that are. making big profits out of the manufacture and sale of luxuries and non-essentials. A basis amount of credit deter mined by the member banks aver aged reserve balance and capital ctock payment has been set and loans made by member banks in ex cess of this amount will be subject to an increasing discount rate. For instance, if the normal discount rate is 6 per cent, & member bank using Credit in excess of this reserve wiU have to pay 6 per cent on the first 25 per cent in excess of its reserve basis and 7 per cent on the next 25 per cent excess loans and so on up. To a bank who handles a large amount of livestock popor anl is familiar with livestock conditions and Is trying to help the live stock men in its territory it means that they are liable to be charged any where from 7 to 10 per cent on the money they borrow or on the paper they rediscount at the federal re serve bank, and the harder they try to help out the livestock situation the higher the rate they will have to pay and they In turn will be com pelled to increase the rate to their customers, and we are afraid that the banks will decliae to make the loans rather than to be forced to charge their customers an exorbi tant rate of interest. This progressive rediscount rate was made effective in order to curb credit extension by making borrow ing more difficult and is part of a move on the part of the federal re serve board at Washington to curb the ase of money for speculative purposes. It was not aimed partic ularly at the farmer - or livestock man, bul it Is going to affect them more seriously than any other com mercial or industrial factor, because they will have to compete for money with the people who are taking big profits and who can afford to pay high Interest rates. The republican county convention will be held at the court house in Al liance, Neb., next Tuesday at 2 p m. At the convention the delegates to the state meeting will be chosen. The delegates were chosen at the pri mary, and both- men and women will be represented. The platform to be written' will probably endorse Gov ernor McKelvie and his admlnlstra tion. W. R. Harper, county chair man, will call the meeting to order. IS BURNED TO DEATH John llarroff, Kigtity-flve Years Old, Receives Fatal Injuries When n Lninp Kxplosodcs. John Harroff, eighty-five years old, received burns from which he died shortly after 2 o'clock last Fri day afternoon. Mr. Harroff, Who was very feeble, had been making his home with his son's wife, Mrs Mary Harroff, near Angora, for over a year. Abount 12:30 p. m. Friday, Mrs. Marroff and little son went to An gora with R. B. Sween. Returning about 2 o'clock, as they neared the home they Eaw smoke coming out of the doors and windows. They found one room burned and the aged man lying beside the stove, badly burned about the face and hands, and un conscious. He died soon after. The origin of the fire is unknown. but the theory is that Mr. Harroff built too hot a fire. Mrs. Horroff had left the fire in good shape, tell ing him it would not need replenish' ing until her return. The belief Is that he made the fire up again, and that the room became so hot that a lamp, which was on a nearby table, exploded, throwing Are over the en,, tire room. ttSTS I T2v& i I ? That Mr. Harroff tried to extln gulsh the blaze is evident from the condition of his hands. When they picked him up, the. flesh dropped from his hands and arms. ".. The coroner was summoned from Bridgeport, and the body was taken to that city. The remains were sent to Missouri for burial. i Mrs. Harroff has, for more than a year, had the care of two almost helpless men, her husband, the late B. F. Harroff, and his father, whose tragic death occurred Friday. HARRY t MOORE ... OVERDREW ACCOUNT .'ixznsr ; Harry E. Moore, salesman fW the5 Eraerson-Brantingham company, left Alliance some days ago for Omaha, where he had been transferred. At the time he left the city, his account with the First State bank was ovir- (drawn in the sum of 173. His at tention was Called to this, and a promise given that settlement would be made, but nothing came of It County Judge Ira E. Tash, at a hearing Saturday doming, gave the bank Judgment for the amount Mr. Moore was overdrawn, and an execu tion was issued. Sheriff Miller pro ceeded to put a padlock and chain on an automobile belonging to Mr. Moore. The following morning an other member of the Moore family, who Intended to drive the car to Sid ney, discovered that the chain an chored it. The Judgment was paid ns soon as the Judge could be reached. I SOME PROGRESS ON IMPROVEMENTS The sanitary sewer Is nor nearly completed. The last of the pipe line was laid this week and as soon as half a dozen manholes are installed this will be a finished chapter of the city's Improvement program. Work on the storm sewer is tem porarily held up, awaiting the com ing of more suitable weather. Most of the moisture of the past two or three weeks has drained down into the western part of town, and the sewer gang, which had been work ing east on Fifth street, is awaiting the coming of better days. The cor ner inlets, also have been held up pending a conference with Mr. Grant, who will be here in a week or ten days. The paving is maintaining the sta tus quo nicely. The paving force is expected to begin work within the next ten days, just as soon, in fact, as it finishes with a contract at Mitchell. Mr. Sprague or Sprague & Nicely, the contractors, is in the city today. L. T. Burrows, who has been for the past eleven years in the employ of Glen Miller, Tuesday morning took up his new duties with the Burlington railroad, where he has accepted a position In the bridges and buildings division under Fore man Van Velzen. John McCarthy of Antloch, who is employed at the Alliance potash plant, was In Alliance Sunday on his way to Denver. H. E. Wells was called to Lake side Sunday to the home of the late J. XL Lunaford. ANGORA MAN JOHN PILKINGTON ISN'T INTERESTED Pitiful Plight of Wealthy Spanish IVIsHtner Itoiesn't Move lllm i the I-enst Hit John rilklngton cut Lis eye teeth some years ago, aud, consequently failed to fall for the old Spanish prisoner gag this week, despite the fact that it held out a glowing prom ise of wealth. Not every man is strong enough to resist the tempta tion to take a trip to sunny Spain and come back with $120,000 simply by putting up a few thousands in or der to reRcuo some man from Jail. In Monday morning's mail. Mr. rukington received a letter from Madrid. It was written in a fine hand, and told the story of a nian who, though Imprisoned for bank' ruptcy, was possessed of a fortune The letter follows: MADRID, April 1, 1920. Dear Sir: Being Imprisoned for bank ruptcy, I beseech you to help me to obtain a sum of 360,000 dollars have in America, being necessary to come here to raise the seizure of my baggage, paying to the registrar of the court the expenses of mi trial and rccoyer ray portmanteau con. Uinlng a secret pocket where I have hidden two checks payable to bearer, for that sum. ""-i",i,';wk As a reward I will give up to you the third part, vis., 120,000 dollars. "I cannot receive your answer in the prison, but you can send a cable gram to a person of my confidence who will deliver it to me, addressed as follows: "Rovlrosa Calle RomanlHlausause, 72 Capl. Cludad Lineal. Madrid. "Awaiting your answer to Intrust you all my secret, now I sign only . R. de L, First of all answer by cable, not by letter." .$ Here's adventure for you here's romance and .wealth, but the pros pect didn't appeal to Mr. Pllklngton. Any man who has lived to his age Is pretty certain to have heard of this grand old fraud at least two or three tJti.'ts. The details change from time -to time, but the wain idea 'is the same. Usually the plot Is better laid. In most instances, the prisoner is in gaol for political purposes he has offended the . powers' that be. They hold him incommtifiteado, but he has a trusty friend who has been able to s?nd him messages by under ground means, such at. notes tmKea a loaf of bread and hid in a plug of chewing tobacco. In this instance, the prisoner is held for bankruptcy. His money is the form of checks made out to bearer, but it is in America, in a secret pocket. Usually the Spanish prisoner Is content if the victim he has selected will cable money. This man is an artist, ne prefers that he man he fleeces come to Spain, where the laws are less lax and where, if a man gets troublesome, they can knock him In too head and the police won't get too curious. These Spanish grafters have a pe culiar turn of mind. They fonSly maglne that they have fixed up a letter that sounds plausible. This ne is as full of holes as a Sweitzer cheese. Why should a man go to all the trouble to fix up a secret pocket a portmanteau, and then leave all his wealth in it ana in the form of checks ftiade out to bearer? Why should he leave his -portmanteau in America? Americans, these days of reckless spending,' arc careless with money, but they don't leave $360,- 000 lying around in portmanteaux in storage. Mr. Pilkington will not take the trip to Spain. He will not send a cable to the friend. He is perfectly willing that any of Alliance's oil magnates take a chance, if they wish. and will turn over the credentials to anyone who wants to experiment with a Spanish gentleman who must have a cablegram before he intrusts his victim with his full name. In other days these gentry were content to wait for the mall steamers. Now they want replies by cable. Even the Castlllan adventurers are getting nipped by the speed mania that is the curse of the world. The letter came to Mr. Pilking ton without warning. He has no friends In Spain. Once he knew a Spaniard, but all of us have made mistakes from time to time. It is probable that In some old newspaper they unearthed bis name. Not so very many years ago, when Mr. Pil kington was in the grain business, he was known not only in Nebraska but had an acquaintanceship that ex tended pretty well over the country as well. Just how well is Instanced by the fact that he once received within ten days a letter from Eng land addressed simply: 'John Pil kington, Nebraska." A IKMI KT ttvery muo wnue we run across someone who likes The Herald'B style and isn't a bit back ward about saying so. We don't print all the nice things that are said about us, but we like to hear thetn, and we're glad that they come fairly often. Now and then, ve come across a compliment so finely worded that we are Just numan enougn to want our readers to know about It. James P. Joceph of Chicago, secretary of the national board of fire underwriters, was one of the speakers at the Nebraska assoela lion or lire insurance agents, which met here a few weeks ago. J. W. Guthrie retiring president, mailed him a copy of The Herald with our story of the convention, and this is the letter that came back: Chicago, III. April 21, 1920. Mr. J. W. Guthrie, Alliance, : . Nebraska. Dear Mr. Guthrie; On my return, following a week's absence, I have the pleas ure of reading the "Alliance Herald." Issue of March 2th. The, general presentment of the meeting and its objects is most dearly set forth and ar above the average success attained by the Journals in larger clUes, that Is, from t' e viewpoint of population and circulation. I think Editor Burr lo entitled to a vote of thanks and if It is put consider me voting strongly in tuu affirmative and twice if peri misolble under the law. With best wis? es, believe me Sincerely yo rs, ' James P. Joseph ' l i .t.-. w cmary. j COUNCIL GRANTS A NUMBEROF LICENSES The city council UM in special session at the city h.ill Monday eve ning, and on thU occasion there was quorum present, although onu or two of the councllmen managed to remain away. The meeting was called to approve pool hall and plumbers' licenses,, and the follow ing were given the official O. K.: Pool halls: Jackson & Vallos; Vale & Simpson; Joe Smith; Everett Cook. Plumbers:' W. E. Zedlker, C. E. Brennan. W. J. Leo, J. E. Ilenne- berry, E. O. Beckwell. A delegation of east side citizens was present some eight or ten of them and they presented a plea to the council for some improvements in their part of the city. The chief kick was that in other parts of Alli ance, half a dozen citizens had been able to secure water extension, but a much greater number on tne east side hadn't been able to get results. Mayor Rodgers explained that he was in sympathy with their demand, and that as soon as an estimate could be prepared, some arrangements would be made to take care of them. Engineer White and Mr. Cham bers we-e called in, and for some minutes theie was a good deal of verbal fireworks. Mayor Rodgers and two or three members of the council objected to the way public improvements were being made, and especial objection was registered to the corner inlets for the etorni sew ers, which are being constructed of brick, instead of concrete. The con tract was brought out and read, and it was discovered that the contrac tors could use either of these mate rials. Later it was announced that these inlets will be rebuilt or rein forced. The council requested that Engi neer Grant be asked to meet with the council at its next session. A committee was appointed to in vestigate sewige disposal, the idea being that this should be carried as far away from the city as possible. Councllmen Moore, Hills and Hacker were appointed to mak the Investi gation. Mayor Rodgers announced that under the state laws, councllmen were required to give bond in the sum of 11,000, and that unless this requirement were fulfilled, council men would be disqualified. Most of the councllmen have attended to this, but one or two have not con sidered It necessary. At the close of the meeting, the board of health, which consists of Cquncilman Moore, chairman; Coun cilman Sturgeon, Dr. Hand, city phy sician. Chief of Police Baylor and Mayor Rodgers, ex-offlelo member, held s meeting. 1 AFTER RAMSEY SECRETARYSHIP Oininber of Commerce Directors It fluent AmarillM, TexH Man to Come to Alliance.' S. M. Ramsey of Amarlllo, Tex wlll be the new secretary of the Al liance Chamber of Commerce If ht accepts an offer telegraphed to hint Monday evening after the regular weekly meeting of the board of di rector. Mr. Ramsey has been re quested to accept the position for s period of three months, at the expir ation of which, if his work look! good to' the Chamber of Commerce) directors, he will be offered the place) permanently. At noon today no tele graphic reply had been received from the Amarlllo man. Rufus Jones, retiring secretary of the Chamber ' of Commerce, who leaves Alliance to enter business for himself in Denver, informs Th Herald that Mr. Ramsey is an able) secretary and newspaper man. Not long ago he surrendered the secre taryship of the Chamber of Com merce at Amarlllo to get back lota newspaper work, but finds himself anxious to return to the secretarial field now. He Is a close personal friend of Mr. Jones, who recommend ed him to the Chamber of Commerce directors, and in addltUn the Ulrecr tos received several telegrams fronT leading business Interests . of the) Texas town concerning Mr. Ramssy ' A telegram received bv ' Rufus Jones early Tuesday , afternoon brought word that Mr. Ramsey would' accept the offer of the cham ber of commerce and that he would arrive in Alliance Monday or Tile day. JI?f Jones, who, has been iery Ing until the arrival of his successor will leave within a few days to take up Ills duties with a Denver invest ment concern wherein be has pur chased a half-interest. ,. T COLORED MAN HELD .. . fli I annrntr On receipt of a wire from Scotts- bluff police authorities, Chief or Po lice Taylor arrested Raymond Hitch cock, Colored, Monday evening. The- prisoner Is held for Scottsbluff au thorities. A tailor shop In Scott bluff wasjrrobbed earlier in the eve ning, at which time one tailored suit of clothes and some ten yards of broadcloth taken. Suspicion fell on Anderson, who decided to leave town shortly after the robbery wa e"tn- mltted. With the description fur nished, Chief Taylor ricked up his man the minute he alighted from th train, and he Is row co""n"1 'n th city bastile awaiting the arrival of the Scottsbluff officers, whi will take M'n back for trial. Hitchcock say he worked in Alllpnc fo o'j v -a and denies all knowledge of tho crime for which he Is held. POOR PROSPECTS FOR 'CHEAPER CLOTHING Marcus Frankle of the Famous Clothing House, who r"tiirn"d the flrnt of the week from a four weeks buying tour In eastern markets, in cluding New England and New York city, made extensive purchases for his winter stock. He reports that there is little indication that prices will be cheaper. In fact, a number of lines show marked advances. Especially In the good grades of merchandise Is there no tendency for prices to come down. It Is possible, Mr. Frankle says, to buy cheap grades of merchandise, but the val ues are so poor that merchants will not stock them. The cheap, shoddy stuff Is going begging, buyers refus ing to stock up on stuff that will not sell, no matter what price Is put on It. There Is still a shortage of good stuff and the demand Is increasing, but the poorer lines are going beg ging. The Alliance Packing Company have moved their offces to the room over the Rumor Motor Co., 301 Box Butte. Judge L. A. Berry and family moved into their new residence at 936 Laramie the last of the week. Mr. and Mrs. Lemon-f Belmont visited with the family of Henry Clayton, returning home Monday. Mrs. Arthur Moore of Omaha fa visiting Mrs. Redmond of this city. J. H. Liston and wife returned from Rochester, Minn., the last of the week. . .... (