I
Historic Society
'r P St
Ueto. State
VOL. NO. XLVHI
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, DEC. 1, 1932.
NO. 88
Henry Of e, Sr.,
; Old Resident of
This City, Dies
Honored and Respected Citizen
Passes Away After Illness of
Some Duration.
Henry Ofe, Sr., 69, one of the long
time residents of this city, passed to
the last reward Tuesday morning at
10:40 at the family home on North
i-ourtn street, death coming as the
result of heart trouble from -which
he had been a sufferer in recent
years.
The passing of Mr. Ofe removed
one of the honored residents of the
community, one who had in his quiet
way assisted in the development of
the city and its advancement in the
years that he made this his home.
Coming here as a young man he
had by his sterling qualities made
himself a place in the community as
a model citizen, a kind and loving
husband and Sather and a friend to
the many who had known him in
the passing of th9 years.
In his younger days he entered the
services of the Burlington in the lo
cal railroad shops and where he con
tinued his services until ten years
ago and since that time he had de
voted himself to his private business
Interests as long as his health per
mitted. Mr. Ofe with his sons or
ganized the Ofe Oil Co., which owns
and operates their service station in
this city, one of the model establish
ments of its kind in the state. It had
been a pleasure to him that he had
seen his family grow to manhood and
womanhood, to become Eplendid men
and women and worthy children of
the rplendid parents.
Henry Christian Ludwlg Ofe was
born July 2...163.,.at Ruehn, Meck
lenberg, Germany. He spent his early
years in his native land, later com
ing to the United States with his
brother, Herman. They located in
the northern portion of Nebraska
and on January 3, 1885, he was
united in marriage to Miss Henrietta
Saehtjen, coming after their mar
riage to Plattsmouth. For forty
eight years they have lived in this
community and have lived out these
years of happy wedded life.
Mr. Ofe is survived by the widow,
four sons and one daughter, William
H. Ofe and Edward Ofe of Omaha,
Mrs. Alice Haffke, Henry and Carl
Ofe of this city. There are also six
grandchildren surviving, one brother,
Herman Ofe of Oakland, Nebraska,
also mourns his loss.
The funeral services of this splen
did citizen will be held on Friday
afternoon at 2:00 at the Sattler
Funeral Home at Fourth and Vine
streets.
REPORT CAES DRAINED
In the past few days there has
been reports of several auto owners
having the gasoline drained from
their cars. One case occurred last
Tuesday night to a party of young
pepole who were attending the junior
class play at the high school, the
car having been parked on Main
street near the school. Others have
reported that cars that they have
been in garages have been emptied of
gas. It is thought that the gas rob
bing is probably the work of local
people who take this means of sup
plying themselves with gas for their
cars. It is hoped by the officers to
discover the parties and bring them
to justice, altho this is a difficult
matter owing to the fact that the
cases that have occurred are largelp
from places in the residential section
where the police are unable to keep
a constant watch.
SHOWING IMPROVEMENT
The many friends of Fred Mc
Maken will be pleased to learn that
the young man is now doing nicely
at the Lincoln General hospital. Mr.
McMaken was taken there last Wed
nesday from Dorchester, suffering
from a sudden attack of appendicitis.
When operated on it was found that
the appendix in a few hours would
have bursted. Fred has rallied nicely
from the operation and has gained
so fast that it is thought that he
may return home by the week end to
recuperate under the care of the family.
DOING VERY NICELY
The reports from the Methodist
hospital at Omaha are to the effect
that Henry F. Goos, who has been
there for the past ten days, having
undergone an operation, was doing
very nicely. Mr. Goos had two oper
ations at the one time and has rallied
very nicely from the effects of the
ordeal and it is thought i3 showing
just as pleasing a progress as was
possible in this short time. It is
hoped that he may soon be able to
return home and take up his usual
activities at his shoe store.
Mr. and Mrs. E.
J. Richey Observe
Anniversary
Entertain Group of Friends in Honor
of Passing of Wedding Anni
versary Saturday.
The beautiful home of Mr. and
Mrs. Emmons J. Richey was the scene
of a very charming 7 o'clock weddin
anniversary dinner on Saturday eve
ning.
The home was arranged in the
decorations of the golden chrysan
themums to add to the beauty of the
setting, the flowers with gold candles
being used in the decorations of the
table, presenting a most attractive
scene.
The evening was spent in visiting
and enjoying the pleasantness that
the occasion marked.
During the evening the members
of the party also enjoyed contract
bridge and in which Mr. and Mrs.
Albert Krug were the prize winners.
Those who enjoyed the delightful
hospitality of the Richey home were
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Buckingham,
Mr. and Mrs. D. K. Ellingwood.Mr.
and Mrs. Allan Faulkner. Mr. and
Mrs. Albert Krug, Mr. and Mrs.
Austin Brown, Judge Charles E. Fos
ter, all of Omaha; Mrs. Edward
Young of Lincoln; Dr. and Mrs.
Farnk L. Cummins, Judge and Mrs.
James T. Begley and M. J. McCloud
of this city.
VETERAN OFFICIAL HERE
From Monday's Daily
With the opening of the session
of the district court this morning
for the November term, a familiar
figure appeared at the court house,
William Atchison, of Elmwood, bailiff
of the court. Mr. Atchison has held
this position Eince 1923 when he was
selected as bailiff for the grand Jury
which was called that year. His
services have been so excellent that
he has since been called each term
to function as the official guardian
of the Jurors when they are on duty.
With the genial bailiff in charge, the
task of the jurors is made much more
pleasant and his watchfulness In
handling them assures that they are
protected from annoyances while de
bating the issues of the various cases.
It is the bailiff's duty to see that
the jurors are properly fed and when
out on criminal cases that they are
kept together until reaching a ver
dict or discharged. Mr. Atchison has
enjoyed the work of the jury term
and when he arrives here from his
duties on the farm he is having what
he terms his "vacation."
BASKETBALL PRACTICE
From Monday's Daily
With the passing of Thanksgiving
the football togs have been laid aside
and the athletic inclined youth of
the high school are turning their at
tention to basketball. Starting today
Coach Rothert will have his squad
out for tryouts. Basketball has al
ways proved the most popular sport
at the local school and large num
bers are out for tryouts each season.
Of the team that carried off the
Southeastern Nebraska regional hon
ors last year, Coach Rothert will
have Arn, Rummel," Ronne and Mc
Cleary, back for the seasonal work
out. There will be a large number
of other candidates for the team that
may make a hot contest for places
on the first team and which includes
Armstrong, Porter, Hirz, Yelick,
Rhodes, among the contenders.
The first game of the basketball
season will be held in this city on
Friday, December 16 th when the Ash
land team will be here to face the
Platters.
Second Degree
Murder is Held
Against Daniels
Jury Ddibsratizj from 11:30 to
4 :S0 Wednesday Brings in Ver
dict Against Defendant.
Everett Daniels, fifty-six year old
fruit farmer of this city, v:az found
uilty by the jury in district court
Wednesday of second degree murder.
The case of the State of Nebraska vs.
Everett Daniels, was submitted to
the jury at 11:30 a. m. and the ver
dict rendered at 4:45 p. m.
The defendant had been charged
with first degree murder by stabbing
to death James Zoubek, Jr., in a fight
on Lincoln avenue on the night of
Monday, September 5th.
The hearing of the case had at
tracted much attention and many
waited around the court house for
hours after the jury had retired to
deliberate on the evidence submitted
to them.
The jury signified that they were
ready to report and Mr. Daniels was
brought from the jail to the court
room, a large numbered gathered to
hear the verdict. As "the verdict of
second degree murder was read, the
defendant did not show any emotion,
though the decision of the Jury might
mean many years behind the prison
walls. Immediately after the read
ing of the decision of the jury, the
attorneys for Mr. Daniels. W. A. Rob
ertson and C. A. Rawls, prepared for
the submission of the motion for a
new trial.
The case occupied two days in the
hearing and a large number of wit
nesses were heard for both the state
and the defense. The chief state wit
nesses were Mr. and Mrs. James Zou
bek, Sr., parents of the young man
Daniels was" charged"-with killing.
and Earl Newton, companion of Zou
bek on the night of the stabbing.
These witnesses testified to seeing
the defendant do the killing.
The defense had as their chief wit
nesses the defendant himself, and
Mrs. Daniels, the latter claiming to
have accompanied Her husband to
the scene of the struggle between
Zoubek and Newton and her sons and
William Falk. The testimony of
these witnesses was that there had
been no weapon carried by Mr. Dan
iels and that he had not participated
in any struggle with Zoubek.
At the close of the trial and In
structions to the jury, Judge Beg
ley gave the Jury several forms of
verdict from the first degree to ac
quittal and which they were to use
in determining the degree of the
crime.
The second degree verdict will
mean a sentence of from ten to twen
ty years in the state penitentiary.
County Attorney W. G. Kieck fol
lowing the receiving of the verdict
withdrew the complaint against Wil
liam Falk, who had been charged
with the Daniels, Falk having been
one of the witnesses for the state in
the trial. Mr. Falk was released and
allowed to return to his home in
the south part of the city.
First Day.
The first day of the offering of
testimony In the case of the State of
Nebraska vs. Everett Daniels, charged
with the murder of James Zoubek,
Jr., was featured by the telling of
th story of the slaying given by the
mother and father of the dead young
man. These witnesses, while dra
matically describing the death thrusts
with the knife as they claimed in
the hands of the defendant, Everett
Daniels, were given a gruelling cross
examination by Attorney W. A. Rob
ertson of the defense and who led
the witnesses Into a number of con
flicting rtatements as to the direc
tions at the scene of the crime or
the situation of all the parties at the
time the stabbing occurred.
William Falk, one of the defend
ants charged In the crime was call
ed to the stand and described the
struggle among the parties on Lin
coln avenue, denying that he had
any part In the fatal stabbing of the
unfortunate young man. He stated
on examination that he had been
promised leniency for his testimony
in the case. He also stated Everett
Daniels had a knife such as described,
by William Ferguson.
One of the high lights of the case
was when the father of the dead
man. Jams Zoubek, Sr., was called
to the stand and told of hearing the
disturbance and coming to the road
way where John and Ival Daniels
William Falk and James Zoubek and
Earl Newton were battling. He told
of seeing Everett Daniels, the de
fendant, approach along the path
north of Bryant street, into Lincoln
avenue to where he had attacked
young Zoubek. The father dramati
cally told of Daniels striking ZoubeK
with a club held in his left hand
and thrusting at Zoubek with a knife
which the witness claimed to have
seen clasped in the, right hand of
the defendant. After the blow with
the club the witness claimed that
ho had seen Everett Daniels strike
ycung Zoubek with the knife, Zou
bek sink to his knees and then rise
and hit the defendant and who had
recovered and returned to again stab
James Zoubek, Jr., who ha3 sunk to
the ground and where he was struck
over the chest by the club. He also
stated that Daniels had attempted
to strike Mrs. Zoubek, who had hast
ened to the scene but Earl Newton
had struck Daniels down. The wit
ness elated that Daniels had left the
scene to return a few moments later
and inquire what was the trouble
and who had called for help. He
stated that the defendant had order
ed his two sons and Falk from the
scene.
On cross examination by Mr. Rob
ertson, the father of the victim of
the fray stated that James Zoubek,
Jr., and Earl Newton had returned
home about 9 o'clock on the night of
September 5th, that they had again
started for town at 10 a. m. His at
tention was first attracted by the ap
pearance of a car in Bryant street,
west of the Zoubek place. He stated
that the Daniels car had moved into
Lincoln avenue and that the car was
in a place where the Zoubek car, par
tially out of the driveway of the
place was about the center of the
Daniels car with a part of the road
way open between them. '.The witness
made conflicting statement as to
whether Newton and Zoubek were
cut of the car at the first time he
arrived on the scene, but the lights
and engine of the Zoubek car were
operating. Witness stated that Falk,
John and Ival Daniels had gotten out
of their car and started toward that
of James Zoubek, James had come
out of his car on the left hand side
of the car. Witness stated that a
hedge as well as a fence was along
the west side of his property between
the house and Lincoln avenue. Wit
ness testified that he had seen Dan
iels, the defendant, come from the
west along the north side of Bryant
street, that Daniels had a club in his
left hand and a knife in his right.
The witness testified that after Dan
iels had struck the second time with
the knife at Young Zoubek that he
had raised the club hands as to strike
but the knife was not visible. James
was southeast of the Daniels auto at
the time that the stabbing occurred
the witness testified. Aftr the stab
bing witness testified that Daniels
had gone west in the direction where
he had ii.-bt appeared and as wit
ness called for help, Daniels had re
appeared and asked what was going
on and who had called for help. The
defendant had told his two sons and
Falk to go on home, they had gone
to their car and driven away. New
ton had gone to telephone to the au
thorities and Mrs. Zoubek to the home
of her daughter and son-in-law, some
distance south of the Zoubek place.
Freeman McFarland, photographer,
wa3 brought to the stand and identi
fied photographs of the scene which
chad made on September 23rd at
the request of the county attorney.
Objection was offered that the photo
graphs did not represent the scene as
of September 5th, which was over
ruled.
Mrs. James Zoubek, Sr., mother of
the dead youth, was called to the
stand and stated that she had known
the Daniels family for the past six
years when they had been negihbors.
The two families had some trouble in
the past months. Witness stated that
her son and Earl Newton with Mr.
Zoubek, Sr., had fixed up a pig pen
and shed on Labor day. Boys had
been shooting some sparrows with an
air rifle on her premises, that she had
seen Daniels in his orchard across
the- road from the Zoubek place and
he had claimed that someone was
shooting at his place, that he had
swore over the shooting. Daniels had
gone to town to secure officers in
regard to the shooting but that no
officers had appeared. James Zoubek
and Earl Newton had gone to the
main part of the city after supper
They had returned home and later
had again left for town to secure
some tobacco. The witness was in
the kitchen and husband on the rear
porch when the two young man had
left. Mr. Zoubek had tc!d witness
that James' car had stopped and they
had cone out to investigate. Wit
nes3 stated she had sen John and
Ival Daniel3 and Falk get out of car
and start toward the car of Zoubek
The witness stated as had her hus
band of seeing Everett Daniel3 come
from the direction of Bryant street
carrying a club in his leit hand and
a knife in his right, that Daniels had
struck James with the club and also
slashed at him and James bad sunk
to his knees, that he again attacked
Daniels and when the defendant had
againstruck with the knife. She had
rushed to the scene and stated that
Daniels had attempted to strike her
and Newton had struck him down.
Witness leaving her seat showed with
the club or cane to be the weapon
used, how she claimed Daniel3 had
struck ycung Zoubek as he lay in the
highway.
The witenss became confused on
the cross examination of Mr. Robert
son, stating that the time the two
young men had started for town had
been close to 9 o'clock. The witness
stated that when she had arrived in
sight of where the parties were lo
cated that James Zoubek had got
ten out of the right hand side of the
r as had also Newton. The wit
ness was much confused as to direc
tions and stated that she had come
around the north side of the Zoubek
car in the driveway. She stated that
John Daniels was swinging a tire
chain and that Jchn and Ival Dan
iels had struck James down. She did
not know whether or not James had
been struck down by the tire chain.
The witness did not know where John
and. Ival Daniels were, standing, at
the--time of hte stabbing. She re
peated the story of the stabbing as
given in the direct examination but
had not seen what had become of
the knife. She had not seen the
Daniels car come from Bryant street
to Lincoln avenue. On questioning
by Mr. Robertson Mrs. Zoubek stated
that she had talked the case over
with her husband and Earl Newton
twice, she had also talked of the
matter with the county attorney.
Ed W. Thimgan was called to the
stand and stated that he was sheriff
of Cass county on the night of Sep
tember 5th, that he had been called
to the scene of the alleged murder
and that he had found the body of
Zoubek lying to the east and south
of Lincoln avenue where it had been
dragged by the relatives from Its for
mer position in the roadway. Ques
tioned by Mr. Robertson, Mr. Thim
gan stated that all of the Daniels and
Falk had blood or small wounds on
their faces or body when he had
taken them in custody. Witness iden
tified cane which he stated he had
found in the Daniels home between
the kitchen cabinet and the wall of
the kitchen. Questioned by Mr. Rob
ertson he stated that someone of the
party had found a cue or billiard ball
in the roadway and turned it over
to him. Witness stated that no one
had found or turned over to him a
stocking or sock. The witness on
cross examination stated that he had
not found the knife that was sup
posed to have been used in the com
mitment of the crime. He had not
searched members of the Zoubek
family or Newton at the time of
being called to the scene. The night
was very dark and clear the former
sheriff testified.
Second Day.
At the opening of second day court
this morning Ed W. Thimgan was
recalled to the stand for cross-examination,
having brought with him
the gear shift handle ball which had
been picked up near the scene of the
fight. He was shown both this and
the watch of Ival Daniels and stated
that both had been handed him at
the scene.
Dr. L. S. Pucelik was called to
the stand and described in detail the
wounds on the body of James Zou
bek, stating that there was a small
contusion on the forehead of Zoubek,
a small cut across the chest and the
penetrating stab which was an Inch
or an inch and a half in length. -On
cross examination Dr. Pucelik stated
that Zoubek was well developed and
his height five feet ten inches. In
response to the questions of Mr.
( Continued on Next Page)
HERE FROM UNION
From Monday's Daily
G. S. Upton, cne of the pioneer
residents of Union, was a visitor in
the city today, motoring here in com
pany with William Hull and Fred
Clark. Mr. Upton has been a leader
among the farmers of Cass county
and was for many year3 an out
standing leader in the democratic
circles cf Liberty precinct. While
here he was a caller at the Journal
office to visit with the publisher for
a few moments and also looked after
some business in the city.
Will Award 1932
Football Letters
at Banquet Date
Basketball Season Now Ready
to
Start and Schedule cf Games
for Season Announced.
While the victory over Nebraska
City on Thanksgiving day marked
the close of one of the most success
ful football seasons in the history of
the school with a record of seven
victories, one loss and one tie, the
football year will officially close on
the evening of December 9th when
the community banquet for the team
will be held and the letters awarded.
But already the basketball Epirit is
beginning to take its place to de
throne the pigskin in favor of bas
ketball. Coach Rothert will get his
prospects into the gymnasium this
week as the first game will be play
ed with Ashland here on December
ICth.
The brilliant season of the blue
and white five last year will be re
called as that quintet went through
the regular season with only one de
feat at the hands of North and a de
feat by the champion Crete team In
the' second round of the state tour
nament at Lincoln. While Coach
Rothert will not start the season
with a guard the class of Forbes or
center the equal of Donat nor a
better floor player than Knoflicek,
yet he will have veteran performers
in Rummel, Ronne, Arn and Mc-
Cleary. With these four as a nucleus
of the team in addition to promising
material which shows up every year.
in
the squad, Plattsmouth high
school can expect to have a good?art class of wi,jCh jiiss Marie Kauf-
team in the field this winter.
In accordance with the tendency
in many schools today, the schedule
is not as long as In some previous
years. The local team will not play
over thirteen games aside from tour
naments. Twelve of these games have
been scheduled with the thirteenth
position left open for North Omaha
high school. Practically all of the
old rivals are on the list with South
Omaha appearing on the schedule for
the first time in tjo years and a
game of an Intersectional nature
with a newcomer to the schedule,
Tarkio, Missouri, here on the night
of February 3rd.
A new scale of admission prices
whereby all pupils of the Platts-
mouth schools will be admitted for
ten cents ana an townspeople ior
twenty-five cents will be inaugurated
with the first game December 16th.
This should make it possible for
many more than usual to see the
games and good crowds are expected.
No season tickets will be sold, but
straight admissions of 10 and 25
cents will be charged for the eight
home games.
The schedule for the season is as
follows:
December 16 Ashland, here.
January 6 Nebraska City, there.
January 11 South Omaha, here.
January 20 Glenwood, there.
Januarp 27 Peru, here.
February 3 Tarkio, Mo., here.
February 7 South Omaha, there.
February 10 Nebraska City, here.
February 15 Nebraska Deaf, here
February 17 Auburn, there.
February 24 Glenwood, here.
March 3 Wahoo, there.
Date for North game not decided.
SPARKS CAUSE FIRE
This morning tne burning out of
the chimney in the building housing
the office of John L. Tidball, lum
ber dealer, caused a slight fire. The
sparks from the chimney alighting
on the roof of the building caught 'giving holiday at Evanston, Illinois,
several of the shingles but the blaze where she was a guest of Miss Alice
was soon extinguished by Mr. Tid-! Louise Wescott. Miss Tidball en Joy
ball and Ernest Porter. It was for-'ed very much the stav in the laree
tunate that the burning shingles were;city and visiting many of the points
detected as soon as they were and
extinguished with only slight loss,
High School
Students Enter
tain Rotary
Fine Program Demonstrating Many
Phases of the School Train
ing Is Offered.
The students of Plattsmouth high
J school had as their guenta Tuesday
afternoon, the local Rotary club. In
honor of the visit from thi3 rplendid
group of men, a program was pre
sented under the auspices of the stu
dent council with Emily Lorenz pre
siding and Dr. P. T. Heineman, pres
ident of the club, responding for the
visitors.
It was the purpose of the program
committee to present a representa
tive program as a cross section of
P. H. S. work as far as time would
permit. The orchestra was heard in
the first number and was followed by
the girls' glee club. Both of these
organizations include a large group
of r-jdent3 whose offerings are al
ways appreciated. A number of a
unique nature was the rhythm dem
onstration of members of Mr. Jor
dan's beginning typewriting class
showing a part of the splendid work
being done in the commercial depart
ment under Mr. Jordan. Those who
participated were: Marvin Tritsch,
Emily Lorenz, William Woolcott,
Glen Puis, Edward Lorenz and Kath
ryn Hough.
Two new musical groups were also
presented. A brass quartet composed
of Marvin Tritsch, Franci3 Libershal
and James Comstock, trumpets, and
Stuart Porter, alto; and a string
quartet composed of Lois Bestor and
Alice Hiatt, violins; Rachel Robert
son, viola and Marjorle Tidball,
cello.
Numbers by the girl's sextette com
posed of Lois Bestor, Mary Ann
Roscncrans, Gertrude Brink, Helen
Gilmour, Virginia Trively, Velma
Wells, and the boy's gleo club and
popular P. H. S. band completed the
program. Miss William3 trained all
of the musical groups with the ex
ception of the band which is direct
ed by a Rotarlan, L. D. Hiatt. Vir
ginia Samek assisted as accompanist.
At the conclusion, the chairman In
vited the club to see a demonstration
work work done in the commercial
mann is the teacher. ,
The committee which arranged
the program was composed of: Mar
vin Tritsch, chairman, Carl Hula and
Gcraldine Griffin. It was interesting
to note that practically all of the
children of Rotarians in the high
school, were represented on the pro
gram. The visit of these community
leaders to P. H. S. wa3 greatly np
preciated by both faculty and stu
dents. Preceding the visit at the school,
the regular luncheon was held at the
Brown cafe and at which time Robert
Hirz, senior, and William Jensen,
Junior, gave their Impressions of Ro
tary and its work and the pleasant
.tjme tnat tiiey nave na,i as auxiliary
,ev,era f month Th
club also had a3 a luncheon guest,
William Thomas, better known as
"Big Bill," state secretary of the Y.
M. C. A. work in the state and who
was here to look after the interest
of the "Y" in thi3 locality.
WILL VISIT IN COUNTY
From Monday's Dally
This morning Robert F. Hunkeler,
representing the society of the Re
demptorist Fathers of St. Anne de
Beaupre, arrived in this city to look
after the interest of the homes main
tained by the society in this country.
The society has twenty-four homes
in this country in eddition to the
parent home in Quebec, Canada. It
is expected to visit each of the Cath
olic homes in the county in the in
terest of the society.
ENJOYS HOLIDAY VISIT
Miss Ruth Tidball, teacher in the
Wintersteen hill school, returned
Sunday from a visit over the Thanks-
of interest in Chicago -while visiting
there.
