, 1 ebr. State Historical Society VOL. NO. XLVIH PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, MONDAY, JULY 11, 1932. NO. 47 jr wit il Given a 3-Year Prison Term -Lir.o iancr. Kansas Youth. Cirtrtred - o With Attempted Exertion fieri. HiL2.ee Fanilv. .r.f'-'.Iay afternoon in tho dis- i "Tourt before Judge James T. -!ty. Elmo l:r.b:-r, charged with t : : 1 1 : f - tor;i( i and blackmail ii- n.ry Kr.abe and Edward Kr.abe. ,r- given a sentence of three years the state penitentiary. T-. the charge of blackmail and tor; lor. pi cf erred by County At--I'ey V. G. Kieck. the defendant :; auv.i gui.ty 2: re at or. ;(', id was givi-n ms e-en-tko severest rei:alty of the law being given. This ends a darin.sr attempt to lorce Mr. Ib r.ry Knabe. one of the v. eal: hy am! pion.incnt farmers of :.d hi.- son. Edward, to to Omaha and leave it i' the threat note, later -bier. "f IrKer at Omaha bed on Sunday. June brir. -: f 1 .'. ' i r the writer iv v a led as 1 T?" captur v.r..- ace :; ;! d 1 e p: e.-ente d some fast ar.o '..vt-r work on e pa it of iei Ed W. Thkr.can of Cass county, who had the e -cp ration of the Omaha I-'diCv in the handling of the actual i. r rest. iimaan had ;;! a" i!:e a panic HO of the I blackmail leitcr as far as the di;ee- f.-.u to ccii-.v-r the Y. M. C. A. at Omi ii.ir called lor. the kage to the ; i-.a.-e l-t-iin a to await be - r.a ne s to leave t'..e paeh.r.' a:.-', at on-e gt a 1 ot"i :.: c :rv. T! e he rif: had the car con- U 1 1' raining the Knabe- foiioued by b:swa r vi car. wh..i UeSiie Tiumgan. a s n. in the role of a hitch-hiker, was I icked up hy Knabe along the high wr.v r.rth of this eitv, these settings be p:;cn i.i case tne riae Kiniaer - 1 on a sudden sth kup of the jvere lyinp in small bundles in the v. kn man before the delivery ofir.0i,,.. ,-0,,..n v,. ,i t.. ;ac!:age. As soon as the package delivered Mr. Krabe and fdii r::.t-d home. leaving the pTioney ; : at Omaha. V.'iien a taxi urive-r j r-d f-.r the packace s as traced' lb" !ien.:.aw kul where ImbL-r , b, f.'Uiid aiid atten'pted to claim t ..e was placed under he taxi driver who had called i tae i.a.kage s.ared tnat he .'rcunior. extending over the week-end . ., e .1.... r: c--.r:i::u.t.-ic::t".t io can iu. A' companied y the po.icc : ! rt tv: ;.e d to t:ie He:::. u aw hotel s-a:.i. -..h'.-e I.nLb. r eam-t up and '.aimed the package as the Omaha p arrested him. The prisoner i ! a lady companion who was. how ever, u.ir.id to be innocent of any part in the attempted extortion. I:..hder - as l- en here in the- coun-j tv jail shr" the arrest i:i (ir.aha to 1 await trul. having a first decided .d no: ruiltv, but later cha' i' ing the idea. Tent o? Letter. The b-ttei received by the Knab?3 i:.r; in part: "H'nry Krabe and Son: Do rot notify the law or you will be sorry "lor the rest of your day;. Io as. ou are instructed and nil will tie veil. V.'e know that yea have money. 'Ve have spent a ior.se time looking you up. and several others around there- two to be correct. "You're the first to gt a let ter, and whatever you decide to elo v. ill help os. If you refuse and notify police we will make an er.anijde of you for the rest. "Sui' yourself, we win either wry. Your house and phone are b iiiir v-atched night and day. and you are being watched have been for over a month.. V.'e will have plenty of time to get even. ' i'ou pet 10 thousand dollars in ca-h. Have at least half of it in ?1'0 bills. Buy two large boxes o: candy, open them care fnlly. remove bottfm layers and put the money in their place, tie box's back up as. before, get wrapping paper and v. rap both well. Tie and with ink write the name cf Mr. Fred Peterson, rare .f Y. M. C. A.. Omaha. Icin't mail, but on Sunday, June If, at 4 p. m., take the package to the Y. M. C. A. in Omaha and iet've with party in charge at that time, and tell them that Peterson said he would call for it. Several Threats. "Then pet the hell out of tovr.. Don't fail. Put this letter along with money. If you fail it may he five years from now that we rru'v ge t you. 'Here is just a few ways we have of doing it: "You might get picked off with a pun a? you are walking about ycur house. "You misrht get blowed up. or v e miaht kidnap you and hang you ... to a tree. "Your ear might blow up, or go off the road and kill you. "You might die of poison. 'We're g:ung to make an ex ample of ycu if you tell the law. The iv-t will come through after they tee what happens to you. Your every move is being watch ed, so don't be a fool. "We have every reason to think that yen can pet this amouiit without trouble or we would reduce it. D.m'i keep the numbers of the bills if you don't want someone to flip up behind you and cut your throat or s'lip a knife in your ribs. "Tls' law is dan; smart, but so are we. Tell the law and ou b"tn v. i:l be dead sooner or later. Remember, make only one package." The letter war. unsigned. Heavy Wind Sweeos Over Easi Nebraska Some Damage to Crops and Farm ZJuildirfjs Reported in Soth Part cf Ci County. A strong v. ind blowing from the couth and taut beast early Wednes day evening did some Email damage to crops and farm buildings in sev eral part? of the county, reports reaching here state. T The wind storm was general in e southeast part of the state and the noriheast and northwestern jov a rc.a-n,.(i t!ie height of a small torr.adr.. In the v: initv of Nohawka, re- a great eieal of corn whipped by the wind and rmail farm buildings isuHered at the hands oi the wind. In this locality the wind was a hard straight blow for ome two hours. or,, ,v:rh n-wi i.,t ir.o, mt nn,i some euses being blown into the road. In some of the localities farther south a rain followed the wind storm but here only a slight sprinkle of rain i rcicded the wind, the rain not jiifTicient to lay the dust. PLEASANT REUNION - i t: :y closed the pleasant family at tt: I on e of Rfv. and Mrs. II. G. I... . . l .. .v . . -. .-1 . . . , , I .uvv ;.eii Hie M-te'iui (.ur.-if r T.. , .n ,,,.; TAC,rv hnniw respective The gathering included their daughter, Catherine, who is attend ing the summer session of Hastings college; the four Fisters of Mrs. Mc Clusky. Mrs. A. T. Aller and Miss Fredda Hugb.es of hindsborg. Kas., Mrs. R. Ik Elliott and son. Marvin, of St. Jc-seph, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. II. E. Fridlund, of Craig. Neb., and her brother, Mr. C. 11. Hughes of Fort Worth, Texas. The days spent together were fill ed with varied pleasures. The bro ther and s.isters have not gathered in complete numbers since the death of their mother, twenty years ago, for with her going, the parental home Lecame only a place of memory. The occasion which brought them tosrother at this time was the 25th wedding anniversary of Rev. and Mrs. McClmky. FUNERAL OF MRS. KALASES From Thursday's Pally The funeral services of Mrs. Jose phine Kalasek was held fiiis morn ing at 10 o'clock from the Holy Ros ary Catholic church on west Pearl street. The service was attended by a very large number of the old friends of the departed lady and of the family. The funeral mass was celebrated by Father Marcelles Agius, partor of the church, assisted by the chcir. The larre number present and the beautiful floral remembrances silent ly attested the eTeep feeling of sor row felt at the taking away of this long time resident of Plattsmouth. The interment was at the Catholic cemetery in the west portion of the city, the body being borne to the last resting place by six of the grand sons of the departed lady, John and George Kalasek. Robert E. Sedlak, Robert and Carl Ilronek of Poca tello, Idaho and Thomas J. Walling. Journal Want-Ads get results! School Teacher Ends Life Friday; Burned to Death Miss Gertrude Kortenscn, Teacher in Plattsmouth School Committed Suicide Fiidav at Home. Miss Gertrude Mortensen, 'JO, teacher in the Plattsmouth rublic schools for the part two years, com mitted tukide Friday at her home in Herman, Nebraska. Miss Mortensen had given no in tention of her rash act and had quietly gone into the yard of the family home, saturated her body and clothing with kerosene and then ap plied a match to the garments, in flicting injuries so severe that she died early this morning. The unfortunate young woman lived through hours of intense suf fering before dath came to her re lief and she regained consciousness enough to request the attending phy sician to notify the Plattsmouth board cf education and the pastor of her church. Rev. O. G. Vv'ichmann of the St. Paul's church of the trag edy. The message of the suicide came as a great fchock to the friends here. She had been one of the hard work ing members of the city teaching! force, having taught the second andlXo. 3 ar.d Xo 4 iiavc abo mads third grades of the Columbian school for the past two years. Untiring in her school work and also in the var ious organizations of the St. Paul's church, friends here ascribe the rea son for the suie ide a a sudden break down and nervous strain. Mis Mortensen is survived by the parents and a brother and sister, all residing at Herman. The sister had been here for the last week cf school and accompanied the sister home where Miss Mortensen had planned to spend the vacation and return here in the fall. While here Miss Mortensen had made her home with Mr. and Mrs. C. X. Rawls and who had found her a most charming and cultured Chris tian lady, one who had won a host of friends for herself since coming to tnis city That she had suffered a sad !cn breakdown was felt by those vd.o knew her best, a3 the caue of the rash act KELPS BEAUTIFY CITY In late years the tendency to de vote more time to the landscaping and care of the grounds and sur remndings of homes, has become much more pronounced and today has resulted in the city having a iarge number of beautifully arranged and well kept lawns and gardens. One of the attractive places on high school hill is the formal garden at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jess F. Warga, at llth and Vine streets. The west lawn has been land scaped and has as one of the chief features a large fish pool, which is stocked with some 200 of the gold and silver fish. The pool is large enough to permit the growing of water lilies and cat tails, the fish finding the shade of the plants a feature that they enjoy to the ut most. A largo concrete garden seat near the pond also adds to the charm of the scene, while leading to the rear entrance to the home is a heavy grape covered arbor, a spot of joy and com fort on the hoi days of the rummer. The formal garden has a large bed of varied hued snapdragons while beds of asters, gladiolas and other of the later summer flowers are coming on and will lend their beauty to the general appearance. Mr. and Mrs. Warga have devoted a great deal of time to the garden and fell well repaid in the pleasant and attractive surroundings have brought to their home. the ANNOUNCES ENGAGEMENT Mrs. B. W. Livingston entertain ed at a ten-thirty breakfast at her home, announcing the engagement of her daughter, Vivian, whose mar riage to Henry A. Hild will take place at their home on July 20th. Eight of her most intimate friends attended. The out of town guests were Misses Marie Robertson and Catherine Flynn of Omaha and Mrs. Burr R. Davis of Wayne. WIDENING OUT STREET Lincoln avenue .near the scales and unloading platforms cf the Nor folk Packing Co., 13 bing widened out so that the delivery of raw ma terial to the packing plant can be made without blocking ti e traffic on the avenue. This work will ghe the company an easy access to their plant and which w ill be bad'y needed as the season for the delivery ol sweet corn is at hand. The dirt that i3 being removed in the widening of the avenue is being placed to good use in the filling of the south Fifth street hill from the alley to Pearl street, as well as on Granite street from Sixth to Seventh. These streets have been waslieel badly by rain.:- and it had become difficult to travel and the new f:n,a 1:11 reaucuon oi niieen per cent in will greatly aiel in the improving of the roadway. Burlington Makes Changes in Train Scnedole Under Nev Arrangement No. 6, Easthound to JIake Bcular Stop No. 26 to Serve This City. The P.urlington railroad which ban just annciunetel the discontinuance of two of their Chicago-Omaha trains. several adjustments of their service to cover the taking off of the train.". Under the changes proposed, to he effective at once, this city v ill have a really Letter service than they have? had in the past few months, having an early morning train for the cast and an afternoon westbound train. Easthound train No. C, due here at 7:33 a. m. will make this city a regular stop in the future instead of a fag f-top as before:, riaking it pos sible for perrons from the west and Lincoln to reach this city. The "Schuyler" train or No. i!C. which operates over the short line from Omaha to Ashland via Louis ville, will be routed into this city. reaching here from Omaha at .'1:15 p. m. and will after making the stop here resume its schedule to the west to connect at Ashland with the west-I bound trains. BOARD STILL 117 SESSION From Thursday's Dally The county board of equalization. composed of County Commisr-ioners Gorder, Fariey and Chapman, Coun ty Clerk George R. Sayles and Coun ty Assessor W. II. Puis, i.i still in session at the court house, busy in checking over the various complaints received as to the tax assessment. also in checking up the possible re- j(:uclion in the valuation oi' real cs- tate in the county. There lias been an exceptionally large number of pieces of real estate to look over as; the requests tor ad justment of taxes and this has oc cupied the board for some time since the opening of the session on June ICth. The board is expecting to get their w ork of checking completed this week and will then be able to announce the result of their investigations and determination as to valuation reduc tions. TAKEN TO PENITENTIARY From Thursday's ra!ly This morning Deputy Sheriff Raj Becker departed for Lincoln, taking Elmo Imbier, convicted blackmailer, to the state penitentiary to start serving his three year sentence. Mr. Becker wa3 also accompanied by Clerk of the District Court Ledgway, Leslie Thimgan, and E. G. jsrrellen barger. who will make a trip through the state prison and look over its ac ticities for a few hours. HAVE LARGE CROWD From Thursday's Daily The regular Wednesday special bargain festival of the local mer- chants drew one of the largest crowds so far this season and last evening there was an unusually large number out to participate. The streets were filled with cars while several hundred of the residents of the community crowded the sidewalks in the main business section of tue city. Reduction of Land Values in Cass County Flat Fifteen Per Cent Reduction on Real Estate and Improvements ; Exempt Fraternities. The board of equalization of Cass county, which cine1 June 10th has bca considering the claims of tax reduction from individuals as well as 1 i-1 .a t . f t b a fniinti in ft whole, is now closing their work. The board voted Thursday to make the value of real estate and improve- meats in the entire county which had been reeommended by the coun ty assessors at their meeting in April. A resolution was alio adopted in which it was voted to make a re duction of five per cent on tracts of five acres or more in all high school districts of the county. This was made under a recent supreme court decision involving this question and which was brought to the court from Saline county. This is not a flat re duction over the county, however, and the following reductions in the various, districts war, voted: District No. 1 12 per cent. District No. 17 G per cent. District No. 20 G per cent. District No. 22 10 per cent. District No. "2 S per cent. District No. Sfi 10 per cent. District No. J 5 9 per cent. District No. 10" S per cent. District No. 102 G per cent. District No. 104 10 per cent. Di urict C-7 G per cent. This reduction in high school dis trict applies to tracts in the incorpor ated cities and villages a3 well as the precincts. It was also VGted to exempt from the tax list the property of fraternal societies where the property is used for exclusive religious, charitable or educational purposes and where such properly derives no revenue . County Assessor Puis and his as sistants, are checking the figures of the land values and the reductions jPPesed and expect to have the same roacl-v L'' thc fmt oi the v-'cCk v,hen the' v' in havc thc o:act "Sures of :the value of the lands and the amount that w Ml be taken off by the reduc tions. The board has a number of indi vidual complaint3 to pass on and after making these reductions will itakt' off tho cr CCKt in the school districts and then make the flat fif teen per cent reduction HOLD CONFERENCE The fourth quarterly conference of the Methodist church was held last evening at the church and at tended by the head.s of the various church societies and organizations. The conference was presided over by Rev. C. C. Wilson, of Omaha, dis trict superintendent. The church re ports were given by the official board and committees of thc church, show ing that the church ha.i enjoyed an excellent progress in the past year despite thc general conditions which have hampered thc finances of the church to a large extent by curtail ing the contributions to the various activities. Undr the guidance of Rev. C. O. Troy, the church has made rplendid progress in its spiritual work in the community. All of the church so cieties have showed gains in their activities in the year and the close of the conference vear generally found marked advancement in all j-nc5 ENJOYS AIR TRIP Miss Helen Wescott, who is home to enjoy a short vacation from her work as secretan' of one of the large churches of Lincoln, departed for Des Moines, Wednesday. Miss Wes cott made tho trip by air, flying from the Omaha airport Wednesday after noon and in two hours was at the De Moines flying field. She found the trip very delightful and feels that this modern means of travel is one that she will take in the future when going any distance. The flying con ditions were good and the trip one of real delight to the Plattsmouth lady. The air route brought her to Des Moines many hours ahead of the schedule of train or bus. shoo From Thursday's iJr.ily 1 Mrs. R. R. Otredosky of this city, I who underwent a tonsil-ctoniy at' one of the Omaha hospitals a week I ago Tuesday, evening and if returned home last j row reported as e'.o-; a still suf fering some from th? effects of the op- j oration. Mi Otredosky returned) home a few diys after the tonsillec tomy, but her condition was rot the best jmd it was found necessary to have her taken b:-ck to the hospital for treatment anel vvhere she has been for the pa:.t week. The many friends will be pleased to learn that she has ro far recovered as to be able j iIr- adelman. I'-aJ l"" -to return home and la showing signs .ducting the Sfeakhouse. located on of imnrovemcnt. (Hollywood avenue, Hollywood, was ! found by policemen in his car on an Church Asks Return of Rev. Troy to Charge Able and Popular Pastor of the First Methodist Church Here, Is Asked to Return. Rev. C. O. Troy, who has for the past two years served as the par-tor of the Fir:t Mcthodmt church, will again serve this charge if the wishes oT the members of the congregation have any weight with the conference of the church in the fall. The close of the church year and the laat yearly conference held on Thursday, :-:aw the congregation unanimously Join in the request for the par-tor to continue the wo; It of the charge here for the coming year. The return of Rev. Troy to the church here would be a matter of pleasure to all of the residents of the city, whether members of the church or not. Rev. Troy has made many, friends in the community outside of his own congregation," who would re- j gret very much if he should not be assigned here for the coming year. He has given the church the bene - fit of his able services i;: the pulpit and the conduct of the church af- fairs and ranks a3 one of the ablest pulpit orators in the eastern section; of thc state. ENJOY FISHING PARTY There rhould be plenty of the -M'mica. and then moved to Holly finny tribe for all of the officers and v.ood where the family are now re employes at the crnirt hou.,e Satur- siding. In thc past year he has suf day, if all expectations come true.'-fered severe financial reverse.? and This morning Sheriff Ed W. Thim-h?d to his ending his life. gan and cierK oi tne District touri; Ledgway, throwing dull care away for a few hours embarked on a fish ing trip. The party left for the Platte river with a large array of poles, lines, hooks and bait to lure the elusive cat fish or bullhead from the stream. The two officials nre benches and seats, this being lookenl very fond of this sport and expect to after by J. C. Brittain. The band have a day cf real pleasure in at- tan dat Garfield park and a large tempting to catch a good mess of number of the seats and benches have fish or at least have a try. Despite been treated to a coat of the green the promises of the fishermen, how- paint that add to the general ap ever, the rest of the court house force pearance cf the park. Mr. Brittain are preparing to eat their regular reports that thl. morning he dlscov ham and eggs and not depend on tho ered that one of the benches, fresh- possibilities of the fish. VACATION IS OVER Chief of Police Joe Libershal this morning started in on his regular routine of duty following his two wcek3 vacation. The chief has spent; his time largely in work at home and on a visit to the w est portion of the state where he has land Inter- ests. Lc is greatly refreshed by the rert and v'as husy today on the dutit"3 of his offke' V'"1-ile Chief Libershal fnn nrt 1. in rn i I " ft l S A !lH'i(l o ai-iwu..t uiiiki i.m Ihckrcl was cngagd in looking alter the day work cn the police force and will now return to his regular night Trc i i rr ' ARRIVE FRC5I THE -JVX5T From Thursday's Dally Mr. and Mrs. Marion Duxbury and family, who are moving from their home at Oakland, California, to this! city, to reside, arrived here last even- ing. They mada the trip by auto and reached Hastings Wednesday morning and were met late Wednes-jthe day afternoon at Lincoln by Judge A. H. Duxbury and family who ac- companied them on to this city. The many old time friends are pleased to have this estimable family back in the old Nebraska home and where they are planning on making their home for the present at least. ! w J Stadelman Ends Life July 5 at Hollywood Fcmer Ecsidcst cf This City Ends Life by Shooting Himself vith Shotgun. Yv'iliiam J. Stadelman, CO, former sident of this city, committed iwi- fii t? ct Hollywood, California, on . Tue.day, July 5th, messages from l!:e California city state. isolated road early on the morning of July 5th. Stadelman had placed the muzzle oi a twenty-eight guape thotgun in his mouth and then pull Jed the trigaer, the police reports of the case state. The letter of Stadelman to the wife was. as loiiows: "Mother, I wish I could take you with me. "Dar Mary: "The world is upside down and I am on the underside, hang ing to a string that ban finally broken, but I have always loved you and you have been a great help to mc. "Through all my life I feel, on act-cunt of the miserable manner that I have attempted to care for you, that you will be better off without me. "Tell Jean to be brave as she has always been and tell Fred and Dick they pre the greatest boys in the world. "God bless you and all and may He forgive me. "The struggle is too great. "DAD." The funeral wa3 held at Holly- wood on Thursday. Mr. Snde'.man ia survived by the jw ife and one daughter, Jean, and two ronr. Fred and Dick, to whom the suicide came as a terrible shock, Mr. Stadelman was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Stadelman. Sr., old time residents of Piattsmouth and .where he had grown to manhood. He was engaged here for Fome years as the manager of the Parmele theatre when it was hrst opened and also was engaged in the operation of a ; bowling alley for a number of years. lle removed to California many years ;ago and was for some time engaged 'in the real e.-tate business at Santa DIPECVLKENTS AT PARKS The city park board is having some improvements made at the var- ious small parks over the city. The work consists of the painting of ly painted had been used by oome one, the result being that there is somewhere in the city rome no i led garments from the green paint. FEELING SOME BETTER George Klingcr, who has been ill t thc horne llt,rti fcr tJlo ,,Ptit tow lv. eek.s, last evening had a cry fa.-y ntght and felt a great deal rested to- tiEy a3 ti.e rcsult. Mr. Klin per is, however, in grave condition and must be 1:cpt riUiol nt &11 l!rnos und .... .... . acccrdingiy 13 uname to nave any visitors. The many fi lends regret to carn of l!le condition of the patient 'a:jd trust tiat iie may be able to again regain his strength and resume his usual activities. DEPARTS ON VACATION Rev. and Mrs. H. G. McCIusky are expecting to leave Sunday on their summer vacation. Journeying to New York for a stay of several weeks in Odirondack mountains in that state. While in New York they will make their headquarters at Inlet, near where G. L. McCIusky, brother of Rev. McCIusky, has a summer camp. En route east they are to top at Pataskala, Ohio, to Tisit with, relatives of Mrs. McCIusky for a short time.