Iblattsmoutb
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Semi- Weekly
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Semi - Weekly
EIGHTPAGES
ourma
volume xx vi n
IVLATTSMOUTII, NEBRASKA. TIHJKSDA V, FEIMt IT AK V 27, IDOS.
IE
ATlnl rano A
I1IE IF
J. J. Kurtz, a Burlington Enginer, and a Son
of Adam Kurtz, of This City Gets Hold of
Wrong Bottle Death Results.
Sunday night at about the midnight
hour, Adam Kurtz received the sad
intelligence of the death of his son,
John, at his home n Lincoln, where
through mistake he had taken a dose of
cresolene, a highly poisonous substance.
The father could give no further parti
culars than that he had taken the
poison through mistake. The father
departed this morning for Lincoln. The
Lincoln Journal of this (Monday) morn
ing gives the following account of the
sad accident:
J. J. Kurtz, a Burlington engineer,
living at 814 North Thirteenth street,
died last night about 11 oclock, from
the effects"of poisoning by cresolene,
a highly poisonous substance that it
is presumed he took by mistake. He
was thirty-six years old and leaves a
wife, two children, a father, brother
and sister. J Coroner Matthews decided
that no inquest was necessary.
Mr. Kurtz came last night from his
run from Ravenna on No. 46 on the
Burlington 'and reached his home on
North Thirteenth street about 10
o'clock. He went into the bedroom
and asked concerning his wife and
children who had returned yesterday
afternoon from a visit to Omaha. Mrs.
Kurtz, after assuring her husband that
all was well, asked him if he wished
some whisky that she had brought from
Omaha. She said that the bottle was
standing on the dresser. He reached
for the bottle, but on account of the
dim light made by a lighted lamp in
the adjoining room he was not able to
distinguish or to see that there were
two bottles. When Mrs. Kurtz saw
how soon it was that he began to drink
she suspected that something was wrong
for the whisky bottle was sealed and
had not been opened.
Wife Summons Physician.
She arose and followed him to the
kitchen where she found him rinsing
his mouth with water. She gave him
some of the whiskey and some milk.
She called Dr. Metheny, who arrived
as soon as possible. Before the physi
cian arrived, however, the man had
fallen from the chair. A stomach
pump was used, but to no avail. He
died in a few minutes after the doctor
got there.
Dr. Metheny gave as his theory that
the acid had perforated the walls of the
stomach before he got through pumping
the stomach, for towards the last the
pump drew blood.
Before the man had died, but after
he had lost consciousness, Coroner
Matthews, who was called by the phy
sician, arrived and learned all the par
ticulars of the death from the wife
and from the neighbors- There was
Mr. Bryan Returns Home.
A special from Lincoln, under date
of February 24, says: "After a month
of speech making in the south and east
William Jennings Bryan returned to his
Lincoln home this evening for a stay
of two days, when he will go direct to
Mississippi. Mr. Bryan came from
Kansas City tonight especially to ad
dress on Wednesday the Nebsaska
Editorial association. Mr. Bryan declin
ed to discuss politics, but said he was
feeling well and would be active in a
political way for some time. After his
trip to Mississippi, which will be brief,
he will return to Nebraska for a stay
of several days. His present plan is to
attend the democratic state convention
at Omaha March 5."
In District Court.
Last evening a divorce was granted
to Nellie Robinson from her husband,
Edwin Robinson, of Avoca.
This morning a divorce was granted
to Otto J. Rennwetz from his wife,
Emma L. Rennwetz.
Bertha Leppold was granted a divorce
from her husband, Jake Lippold, and
given custody of the child, a little girl,
and her maiden name, Bertha Cole, re
stored. By the death of John A. Donelan,
who was guardian for Grace May Cast
ens,she was without a guardian, Emmor
Marshall was appointed with bonds
placed at $3,000.
nothing, the coroner said, that pointed
to suicide and he thought for that
reason no inquest would be necessary.
The neighbors who were present testi
fied that the members of the family
idolized each other, and there was not
the least suspicion or. that point that
would warrant the man in ending his
life intentionally. From the fact, too,
that the room in which the bottles
sto J was nearly dark and especially
names on the labels of bottles would
be indistinct, Coroner Matthews was
of the opinion that it was a case of
making a mistake in the bottle. The
bottles were not the same shape, but
the one which contained the cresolene
was about the shape of an ordinary
whisky bottle.
Used Poison for Fumigating,
The cresolene is a liquid that Mrs.
Kurtz kept in the house for the pur
pose of fumagating the rooms to guard
the children from ailment. Last night,
after the two girls had retired, she
used the substance by burning it over
a small lamp for that purpose. The
lamp was standing on the dresser in
the bedroom. After she had used all
that was required for the fumigation
she set the bottle containing the rest
of the poison back on the dresser. She
had cautioned the children many times
that they should not use the contents
in the bottle, but the idea of her husband
using it failed to enter her mind until she
suspected it from the fact that it took
him such a short time to get the bottle
to his mouth. Before she could stop
him, however, he had taken to much
for his system to withstand.
The cresolene is a compound of tar
that is about as strong as carbolic
acid and is used only for fumigating
purposes and for out ward applica
tions. Air. Kurtz has been a resident of the
city for two years. He has been in
the employ of the Burlington railroad
for eighteen years and has been an
engineer for ten years. He was a
medium sized man. with sandy hair
and a small mustache. He was not
disfigured from the effects of the poison,
except on his chin, where the liquid
had touched in his effort to throw it
off.
He leaves a wife and two children
in the immediate family, besides a
brother who lives in Lincoln. His sis
ter, Lizzie Kurtz, who is a trained
nurse in Omaha, was apprised of the
death of her brother by telegraph and
she was to arrived on No. 13 on the
Burlington. His father, Adam Kurtz,
lives in Plattsmouth. His brother Henry,
who lives in Lincoln, is an engineer on
the Burlington.
Out on a Business Trip.
The News of this city of Tuesday con
tained an article regarding the disap
pearance of J. II. Edmisten, chairman
of the populist state committee. It was
not published as a news item, but more
as a "slur" upon the populists gener
ally. Now comes the Lincoln Journal,
from which paper the item originated,
and says: "United States court officials
at Omaha have received word-f rom at
torneys for J . H. Edmisten saying that
they had a misunderstanding as to the
time the case was to be called in federal
court, and that they will get word to
; their client and secure his appearance
i in court. As Mr. Edmisten is in the
! land business and frequently take?? trips
! outside the state, it is not held to be
strange that he should be out of the
! city at a time when the case was called,
j when there was a misunderstanding as
to dates."
Will Remain For the Present.
W. J. Lorenz came in last evening
from his former home at David City,
and expects to remain here for the
present. He called at this office this
morning and stated that the reason he
quit business at David City was because
the building he was occupying was sold,
that he had to give immediate posses
sion and could secure no other suitable
building. Jim has many friends in
Plattsmouth, who welcome his return.
Plattsmouth Talephono Company
stock pays dividends in cash every
three months. '
Told Location of Watch
L. C. Buckley and wife came in from
Omaha Tuesday and in conversation
with the reporter said, that yesterday
Professor George, a clairvoyant, had
found a watch for Joy E. Hargus, who
formerly lived in the city, and which
had been lost about three weeks. It
seems that during a visit at a certain
hruse two blocks from where Mr. Hargus
was stopping, the watch had slipped
out) of his pocket and worked under
the bottom of a sofa which he had been
sitting on. How he was able to tell is a
mystery, but Mr. George told the part
ies where to look and there they found
the watch.
PETRIFIED PLANK
WAS FOUND
Which lias Been Under the
Ground For Forty Years
Near Ileisel's Mill
Just a little southwest of where the
Flattsmouth Milling plant stands, in
the early days of Plattsmouth stood a
saw mill, and from which the present
mill grew. Here imbedded in the earth,
Martin Buttery the engineer for the
milling company found a slab which
had taken off a log in straightening it
up, a number of feet in length, which
had been petrified. The bark shows
every curl and convolution, while the
inner side where the saw cut can be
seen the saw teeth marks, and a knot
as plain as when the board was first
sewed. Col. H. C. McMaken has a
piece about eighteen inches in length
in his collection of curios.
WERE MARRIED
AND NOV HAPPY
A Couple from the West Gome
To Plaffsmouth to Plight
Their Troth.
Monday evening a couple came from
Omaha on Charlie Johnson's passenger
train, and the young man, Oscar L.
May, from Cheyenne, Wyoming, left
his blushing bride-to-be at the Burling
ton station, while with a step as light
as a fawn he skipped up to the county
judge's office, to get the license which
was to permit him to wed Miss Pearl
Hathe of Central City, Nebraska.
While on the train, they had made in
quiries as to where they could find Rev.
Longhurst, and when the necessary
papers had been given them, they hied
themselves to the parsonage, and in a
very few moments had received his
blessing, which made them man
and wife, and were basking in
each other's smiles. They took a
later train train east wThere they will
spend their honeymoon. The Journal
extends the kindest of wishes and trusts
that their pathway may be strewn with
roses.
A Successful Attorney
Attorney William DellesDernier, of
Elmwood, came in Tuesday, hav
ing business in the district court. Mr.
DellesDernier is one of the ablest
lawyers that practices before the dis
trict court of Cass county, or any other
county, for that matter, and his suc
cess has been phenomenal. Here is
where the Journal casts aside its politi
cal prejudices to bestow upon one a de
serving compliment. We believe in
giving credit to whom credit is due,
when it comes to business affairs,
whether he be republican or democrat.
Will Return to Plattsmouth.
John Schaeffer, formerly living here,
and for a number of years farming the
Donelan farm, near the -county farm,
and moved to near Davenport, this
state a year since, where he purchased
a farm, and which he subsequently
sold at an advance of some three thou
sand dollars, will return. He has rented
the Vallery farm for the coming year.
Phillip Schaeffer, his brother, departed
for Bellevidere this morning, and will
assist in getting things loaded for the
return.
Miss Ina Briggs Dies
Miss Ina Briggs of Medora, Illinois,
of whom mention was made in the col
umns as being very sick with heart
trouble some days since, and who is a
neice of M. S. Briggs, died Monday morn
ing at one o'clock. A message was
received here this morning announcing
the death. The message was brief and
what arrangements have been made
for the funeral is not know as yet.
Miss Ina was known to many of the
people of this city, having visited here
with her uncle's family for some time
two years since.
WEDDING AT
BOISE, IDAHO
The Marriage of Nr. Koel B.
Rawls and Miss
Lucy Case
The following account of the Rawls- !
Case marriage, is taken from the so- I
Boise, Idaho:
A wedding of unusual interest to a
large number of Boise people was sol
emnized Wednesday at ' the home of
Mrs. Iona Case, when her daughter,
Lucy, was united in marriage to Mr.
Noel B. Rawls. The house was charm
ing with its decorations, the color
scheme being pink and white. The
parlor where the ceremony was per
formed was exquisite. The circular
bay window was draped with roses of
smilax and banked with palms and
ferns. An altar of pink and white satin
ribbon was very effective. A large
wedding bell of white carnati6ns and
ferns was suspended from the ceiling
and ropes of smilax reached to either
corner of the window. The mantle was
a bower of ferns with a profusion of
pink and white cyclamen. As the wed
ding march was begun by Professor
Bassett the bride ascended the stairs
and was joined by the groom. They
took they places before the altar and
Dean Hinks of St. Michael's cathedral,
preformed the beautiful ring service.
' The bride was given away by Judge
Dunbar. Soft music floated through
the rooms during the entire ceremony.
The bride was charming in a white
satin messaline, made simple and girl
ish. She wore a long tulle veil fas
tened in place with orange blossoms,
and her bouquet was bride roses. Mrs.
Case, mother of the bride, wore an ele
gant black silk crepe de chine. After
congratulations an elegant lunch was
served. The dining room, a large and
attractive room, was also in pink and
white. A tall cut glass vase filled with
long stemmed white carnations rested
cd one end of the table while on the
other was a silver candelabra and two
silver candle sticks with pink shades.
The centerpiece was a beautiful cake
surronnded by smilax. The archways
were all draped with smilax, which
gave a pretty effect throughout. Mrs.
Case was assisted during the evening
by her sister, Mrs. Pointer, Misses
Nancy and Susie Pointer, Ialene Casky
and Gene Orr.
An array of handsome presents at
tested the popularity of both bride and
groom. The bride is the only daughter
of Mrs. Iona Case and is a graduate of
St. Margaret's school and also took
music two years at the state university
at Moscow. She is very popular among
the younger set. The groom is a mem
ber of the reportorial staff of the Eve
ning Capital News and has a host of
friends. It was one of the prettiest
wedding that has ever taken place in
Boise and was witnessed by fifty
friends. Being leap year the gentle
men were favored in the cutting of the
cake. The ring fell to Mr. Germene,
the button to Mr. Price and the coin
to Mr. Austin. Mr. Kitchen caught the
bride's bouquet. The happy couple went
to their new home in South Boise wThere
they will live.
THE SMOOTHEST
OF THE SMOOTH
Are Married for a Month Be
fore it is General
ly Known.
1 he beautiful and accomplished daugh
ter of L. W.Nelson, J anette, well known
by every person in this vicinity, was
about a month since united in marriage
with J. M. Mickelwait, of Glenwood,
Iowa, where they are making their
home. The ceremony was performed
at Atchison, Kansas, abont a month
ago. The couple in the playfulness of
youth, thought to keep the matter a
secret for a joke, and a good one they
played on every body too. Mrs Mickel
wait has just been visiting with her
parents, and departed this morning for
her home at Glenwood. The Journal
wishes the young people a joyful. trip
through life.
Grandpa Wynn Still Very Sick
Wm. Wynn, who has been sick at his
heme for sometime, and who passed a
very bad day Tuesday, was reported
as being somewhat better last evening
and passed a very good night. Mr.
Wynn is in very poor health, and had
been confined to his bed for a long
time. We hope he may recover his
health very rapidly and get around
again soon.
OITV SIGHTS ARE
! Tl BE UDOSRED
I
I - .
So Reads a Resolution Passed by the City
Council Monday Evening, After Much Dis
cussionOrdinances Soon to Follow
Every portion of the old town was
represented in the legislative branch
of the city government Monday evening
when at the instance of Mayor Gering
the signal for order was given. The
reading of the minutes of the last meet
ing showed that a correct report of
the proceedings of that meeting had
been made by the clerk.
The first matter claiming their atten
tion was a communication from Attor
ney John L. Webster of Omaha,
representing the Plattsmouth Water
company, in which he said he had Bent
them a letter some time since which
they had noeven given the courtesy of
a reply. He said that this must be at
tended to and an adjustment made of
the charges which the company had
against the city, or action would have
to be taken for its collection much as
he regretted the matter.
He called attention to the fact of the
validity of the ordinance, extending the
hydrant rental, and as so considered by
the council by their lepealing it.
On motion by Sattler, the letter was
placed on file and arrangements were
made with T. H. Pollock, secretary of
the company, whereby a meeting should
be called in the near future when the
council and Mr. Webster would take up
the matter for adjudication, if possible,
which meeting should be as soon as pos
sible after one week from last evening.
The motion as a solution of the proposi
tion for the. present difficulties was
adopted unanimously.
The finance committee's report
showed the expenditure of a little over
a hundred dollars and was adopted by a
unanimous vote, paying the bills which
appear at the end of this article.
The street commissioner's report,
after a reading, went to the streets,
alleys and bridges committee, and was
followed by no response from the clerk,
treasurer, board of public works, board
of health, chief of the fire department
or judiciary committee.
The claims committee reported for
payment on the bill of Cass county for
$54.05, less committments amounting to
$13.50, which left the bills 534.55, and
this with a bill for $1.50 for McMaken
were ordered paid by unanimous vote.
On favorable report, by committee, of
bill for $34.00 for services of Dr. J. H.
Hall, bill was paid, with the votes of
Sattler, Lutz and Dodge against it. The
streets, alleys and bridges committee
reported O. K. on the report of the
street commissioner, and same was
placed on file.
The license committee had nothing to
offer.
The fire and water committee recom
mended the placing of a new roof on
the Fourth ward hose house. The cem
etery and hospital committees passed,
and the police committee reported the
reports of the chief of police and police
judge as being O. K.
A resolution ordering the lowering of
the streets and repaying was taken
Telegraph Offices fo Close
A special from Omaha, under date
of February 24, says: "Superintendent
Brooks of the Missouri Pacific railroad
the morning stated that while that
road was not seeking to evade the new
nine-hour telegraph law, the "Missouri
Pacific would close the telegraph offices
at twelve Nebraska towns, but would
retain the operators as station agents.
In this way the road will keep the sta
tions' opens, but will maintain tele
graph offices and will not be forced to
employ an extra man. Telegraph J
offices that it is proposed to close are:!
Paul, Wyoming, Mynard, Glen Rock,
Lorton, Burr, Panama, and probably
Kramer, and probably Elmwood, and
on the lower end of the line, Howe,
Padonia, Lancaster, Willis and Wol
cott." Death at Elmwood
A special from Elmwood says: "Mrs.
Sarah Stanford, an old resident, died
at her home Monday from uraemic
poisoning. She was eighty-two years
of age. The deceased had lived in Ne
braska since I860, when she came to
this state from Ohio with her hushand.
She is survived by two children."
from the table and after much discus
sion, passed. On motion by Sattler
seconded by Schuloff, the matter came
up and was opposed by Stemker, who
spoke against it.
J. M. Roberts, being present, asked
to speak, which was granted, and said
that many of those who had signed the
petition for lowering the street, now
objected. Mayor Gering said, "We do
not want you saying there are a num
ber, we want to know who they are,
and we have a right to know, so tell
us." Roberts named with himself Geo.
Dovey, W. W. Coates, C. C. Parmele,
J. V. Egenberger and L. B. Egen
berger, and with Zuckweiler & Lutz,
being in favor of an open sewer on
Pearl street, thirty feet wide.
Mayor says cause damage suits,
Roberts says Main street cause as many
damage suits. Roberts says the cost
would be less than $4,000 and would re
quire a cutting out of two blocks from
Sixth to Fourth streets and a little at
Third, with a retaining wall between
Third and Fourth streets.
Mayor told Roberts it was because he
wished to get out of his portion of the
expense that he wished Pearl street
used as a sewer instead of Main street
while he replied that he would be willing
tt pay as much or more for the Pearl
street sewer as he would have to pay
for Main street. Many of the council
spoke on the question, to which the
Mayor replied that there were a few
knockers in the city who were standing
in the way of the city's progress.
Upon calling for the yeas and nays
on the proposition the vote stood for
the proposed lowering, Schluntz, White,
Sattler, Bookmeyer, Lutz, Dodge and
Tippins, and against the proposition,
Schuloff, Steimker and Vondron.
Then came a resolution instructing
the Mayor to secure the services of an
engineer to make an estimate of the
work, the requirements and cost.
This was passed without a dissenting
vote.
Councilman Sattler called attention
to the matter of the ordinance paying
the police judge a salary, and asking
that the police committee be required
to examine the books of the police
judge and see if he had turned into the
treasury costs collected as well as fines
as required.
Bills were allowed as follows:
Public library expense ... $18.25
J. Wagner kill dogs 1.50
J. H. McMaken hose cart 1.50
P. S. Doren street work 4.03
W. R. Gardner " 4.38
W. H. Scott " 1.75
Al. Funk " 1.58
J. L. Burrows " 1.75
Al. Janda " 9.45
F. Kalacek " 1.58
Wm. Gingery " 8.23
P. Harrisson " 8.40
A. A. Wetencamp rent 13.50
W. C. Ramsey opinion 4.70
Dr. J. H. Hall services 34.00
Cass Co. board prisoners 34. 55
Called on Account of Sickness
Rev. F. H. Fruend, formerly pastor
of the St. Paul's church at this place,
but for the past two years making hi3
home at Portland, Oregon, where he
has charge of the northwest for his
church as superintendent of the work,
came in last Saturday evening and vis
ited with friends in the city, departing
on the evening Burlington train Sun
day evening for Vincenr.es, Indiana,
where he goes to visit his parents both
of whom are well advanced in age and
have been in poor health for some time.
It is hoped he may find them much im
proved. Abate the Nusiance.
It is an outrage to common decency
that parents of school children allow
them to stop at the postofflce every
noon and night to ask for mail. Little
tots that are not big enough to near
reach the delivery window have got on
to the practice also. Thus frequent
ing the postoffice is a nuisance to the
postmaster and his clerks, and it will be
well for parents to apprise themselves
of this fact. The superintendent, prin
cipal and teachers should take the rm.l
tei in hand also.