cDr. State Historical Society
lbs
VOL. NO. ini
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA., MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1937.
NO. 21
Bandits Who Shot G-Man at
Topeka Captured by the Cass
County Sheriff and Brother
Unidentified Lincoln Car May Have Played Important Part
in Surrender of Two Gun-Men Plattsmouth Streets
Prove Hopeless Maze to New Yorkers.
Two bandits who shot their way out of a G-Man trap in the
postoffice at Topeka. Kansas, seriously injuring one federal man,
were captured by the Cass county sheriff. Homer Sylvester, and his
deputy. Cass Sylvester, without the firing of
a single shot by either the officers or des
peradoes. Friday evening at 9:45. The New
Yorkers found themselves hopelessly lost in
the maze of Plattsmouth streets after turn
ing off Highway 75 near the Ilild service
station, and drove over the hills and through
side streets.
A general alarm early in the evening
took the Sylvester brothers to the Rock
Creek tilling station on Highway 75. just
east of Murray to watch for the grey Chev
rolet bearing the license 34-43 Kansas. At
nine o'clock the car came along the highway.
The officers trailed it. The fugitives attempted the part of drunken
drivers, weaving across the road, slowing down and speeding up,
evidently attempting to force the sheriffs car to pass. The sheriff
waited his time.
Stop at Underpass
As the cars came into Plattsmouth
the bandit car went up 8th street
over the hill down to 7th, over into
the north part of Plattsmouth and
finally down 4th street to Main, then
east. An unidentified Lincoln car
with a man and two women was park
ed at the Burlington station.
The bandits realized they were
off the highway at the under
pass and stopped. The sheriff and
deputy jumped out on either side and ;
ordered them out of the car. Evi-J
dently believing themselves trapped!
by two cars the men surrendered
w ithout a shot. Their auto rolled on ,
down the incline to smash into the J
side of the underpass. The bandits,' J
armed with .3 8 hammerless Colt j ,
automatics were marched up Main j J
street to the street light where they j
were searched. Eleven thousand dol-; ?
lars in cash was found on their per- ,
sons later. j
Crowd Gathers j
A crow d of 500 gathered on the j
street and at the court house within
a few minutes. 'Upon questioning the
men gave their names as Robert
Suhay, 2G; and Alfred Power, 45.
Both men wore dark grey business
suits and hats. They appeared un
ruffled except for the blood stained
bandage on Suhay's arm.
The 'men admitted readily they
were wanted for the Topeka shoot
ing. When questioned on the New
York bank holdup Suhay asked "What
holdup" and then retorted "What
they goin' to try to pin on us next."
Powers refused to talk. The pair also
admitted that they had taken Dr.
Hibbard's car after he had dressed
Suhay's wounded wrist. '
Buick Purchased in Cleveland
A grey overcoat with, a blood
soaked sleeve in the back seat of the
Chevrolet revealed a bill of sale and
insurance policy for a 1937 Buick
business coupe purchased the first!
part of April in Cleveland, Ohio by a
James Hackett at 1022 Statler Hotel
who was supposedly a salesman for
the Fleetwood Sales. $800 were paid
in cash and a check given for the bal-
A NICE PIECE OF WORK
The capture and arrest here of Robert Suhay and Alfred
Power?, gunmen wanted in the shooting of a G-man at To
peka, Kansas, as well as bank robber suspects in New York
state, is a piece of work for which Sheriff Homer Sylvester
and Deputy Sheriff Cass Sylvester deserve the fullest credit.
The local officers showed good judgment and fearless
ness in the handling of the pursuit and capture and added a
very fine contribution to the record of law enforcement in
Cass county.
The bandits arrested were listed as real "bad men," will
ing to shoot their way out if cornered, but they were carefully
bottled up and forced to surrender without a shot being fired,
rlthough in their pockets were found guns, one of which bar!
a few hours before wounded a federal operative.
We feel, as will all of the residents of Cass countv, that
the sheriff and deputy are to be commended on their Friday
night capture.
( : )
a-- w . y
0
Homer Sylvester
CHIEF OF THE 'G' MEN
GIVES HIS COMMENT
J. Edgar Hoover, Chief of J
'G' Men, in Washington to- r
day gave out the following -lr
statement in regard to the 4
daring rapture of the two
bandits here Friday night : v
'It v;as a grand piece of '?
work by local officers. The r
capture of these men shows r
what can be done by tinsel-
fish co - operation between j
Federal and local officers, -j
We received magnificent co
operation from state and lo-
cal officers throughout the -l
brief hunt for the fugi- 4
tives."
, ,
J L
a nee
The Buick was evidently the j
one wrecked near Sabetha.
Suhay admitted serving in the
penitentiary in New York state four
years on a 4-12 year sentence. Pow
ers told that he had been sentenced
on two counts, serving five of a ten
year sentence and another one year
term. Powers was also deported to
England for parole.
Federal men arrived from Omaha
shortly after ten o'clock and took the
men into Omaha at midnight. They
were taken today to Topeka.
Shooting in Topeka
Hayne W. Baker, 27, federal bu
reau of investigation agent, was
critically .wounded by four bullets
fired at Topeka yesterday morning
by one of the men captured here last
night. The shooting occurred after
the two fugitives appeared casually
at the postoffice and one of them
called for a package which fed
eral agents had marked. There were
three agents who had posted them
selves in separated positions for
three days.
Baker stepper forward, covered the
suspect. The second fugitive opened
fire, shooting the agent in the back.
Two Bandits
Captured Here
Face the Chair
W. W. Baker, G-Man, Shot Friday at
Topeka, Dies of Wounds In
flicted by Bandits.
Alfred Powers and Robert Suhay,
whose capture here Friday night by
Sheriff Homer Sylvester and Deputy
Cass Sylvester, proved a national sen
sation, are to face a murder charge.
W. V. Baker. 27. the federal oper
ative that was shot by the men in
Topeka, Kansas, died Sunday of his
injuries and brought the statement
that the federal authorities would at
once move for a murder indictment
against Powers and Suhay.
The two bandits, taken to Omaha
from here at 11:30 Friday night,
were taken early Saturday to Kansas
city where they have since been held.
In addition to the funds found on
the men at Omaha, a later search at
a Kansas City hotel revealed some
$7,000 in currency which apparently
tied the men up with a Katonah, New
York bank robbery on which they
were being sought when they shot
Baker.
United States Attorney S. S. Alex
ander at Kansas City following the
death of Baker, announced that
prompt steps would be taken to have
indictments prepared charging the
men with murder and that the death
penalty will be asked by the govern
ment. The case will be brought in
the federal court at Kansas City.
Baker is the tenth federal oper
ative to have been killed since 1925.
Congress recently passed a law that
provided the death penalty for the
shooting oZ federLl operatives.
Baker whirled and anotlier bullet
struck him in the chest. Two more
struck him In the legs. O. D. Davis, a
bystander, was shot In the foot.
Suhay was shot in the wrist in the
fray.
The men were sought in connection
with a New York bank robbery. Af
ter fleeing from Topeka the bandits
wrecked their car about seven miles
north of Sabetha. '
Call Doctor
I A short time later they stopped Joe
Garver, a farmer and forced him to
i drive them to his home. There at the
point of a gun, they ordered him to
call a doctor. Dr. S. M. Kibbard'of
Sabetha was summoned. In front of
the farm house he was confronted by
the refugees. While the injured man
guarded the farmer, his companion
forced Dr. Hibbard to drive back to
Sabetha for antitetanus serum.
In Sabetha they stopped at the
curb in front of a drug store, arid
while the bandit covered Dr. Hibbard
with his gun, the doctor had an un
suspecting drug clerk bring the
serum to the car. They then returned
to the farm house where the wound
ed man was treated.
While at the house they forced the
farmer's wife to fix them a lunch.
Then they drove off in Dr. Hibbard's
car, to be picked up in this county.
HERE FOR GOLDEN WEDDING
From Saturday's Dally
Mr. and Mrs. James Wooster of
Windsor, Missouri, arrived in the
city today to spend Sunday here at
the home of relatives and friends.
They are here especially for the gol
den wedding observance of Mr. and
Mrs. Joseph Novatney, parents of
Mrs. Wooster. All of the members
of the family are expected here for
the observance. The bride and groom
will be honored at the 8 o'clock mass
at the Holy Rosary church and later
a family dinner will be held.
In addition to Mr. and Mrs. Woos
ter and family, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph
Kvapil and family, Mr. and Mrs.
August Kopp and family of this city,
Mr. and Mrs. Anton Vitersnik and
family and Mr. and Mrs. Emil Stenik
of Omaha.
MARRIED IN IOWA
J Miss Alberta Wright, daughter of
pirs. Elizabeth Wright, and Fcrdin
and Detlef, son of Mrs.Frank Dellef,
I were married at Glenwood, Iowa,
i Tuesday, April 13. The young people
have lived in this community for a
number of years. Mr. Detlef Is en
gaged in work on the river.
ADVANCEMENT IN SANK
Upon the recommendation ot
Scoutmaster Raymond Larson, the
Scout Troop committee of the Amer
ican Legion is announcing advance
ment in rank of John Rishel, who
is moved up from Senior Patrol
Leader to Junior Assistant Scout
master, and Billy Rosencrans, who
advances to Senior Patrol Leader.
Both the advancements are well
merited and come as a result of the
boys' interest and work in Scout
ing. Eight Mile prove
School Presents
Excellent Record
!
Fifteen Stndents From School West;
of Mynard Now Students
of High School.
The Eight Mile Grove school, dis
trict No. 25 of this county, has a
record it is very proud of and justly jmen and 55 women. During the past
it should be. ' jweek, April 5-10, 56 placements were
It now has fifteen students. Ella 'made. This week Miss Solomon ex
Mae Ruff ner, Dorothv Runner. Betty ! Pts the number to be larger. Nine
Ann Ruffner. Margaret Ann Vallery. ! calls came into the office for farm
Whipple Leonard. Kathleen Nolte. j laborers Monday alone.
Helen Louise Blotzer, Lauretta Cof- I The office also interviews employ
felt. Dorothv Beverage, Lorene Bev-! e. A close contact is kept with
erage, Mildren EngKlkemier. Alice . farmers throughout the county, con
Vinduska. Adeline Vinduska. Robert ' struction jobs, etc., for possible open
Vallery. and Howard Baker attend- in&s. Placements have also been
ing high school. Of these fifteen, all; made in Iowa and in Sarpy county
but Dorothy Ruffner. Dorothy and ; from the Plattsmouth office.
T.nfl Rpvpmrp arp attending! A number of the applicants are
Plattsmouth high school; and of the
other twelve, Ella Mae Ruffner,
Lauretta Coffelt, Mildred Engelke- 1 cases clearance placements are maue.
mier. Alice Vinduska. Adeline Vin-jA copy of the registration card is
duska and Robert Vallery are mem- sent to the state office in Lincoln
bers of the senior class, but only j which in turn seeks an opening for
Ella Mae Ruffner and Robert Vallery the individual. Examples of such
.-..,3 iy-v. a r. iinmn;iiii:cnieuts v. c -re six men from this
from Eight Mile Grove school.
These fifteen students represent
more than half of the families of the
district, and the district i3 proud to
say that most of its young people are
high school graduates.
MAY POSTPONE DISTRICT
SCOUT ACTIVITY HERE
At a
recent Arbor Lodge district
Scout meeting held at Nebraska City j jtex York of the Ganile store in
plans were discussed for holding a j Plattsmouth was also a visitor at the
district Scout activity of some sort j ciub meetlng. He was introduced by
here in May, and it was tentatively Q. Minor. Mr. York explained
decided that it should be a modified briefly the Gamle sti res. The stores
camporee. with the overnight camp-jare independently owned and have
ing requirement eliminated and thejaDQUt 1500 Dranches over the United
various contests held under the flood
lights at the athletic field during the
evening instead of the following
morning as at regulation camporees.
This plan has not been much in
favor with the local troop committee
however, and it was thought best
to arrange an activity more repre
sentative of Scouting, with prefer
ence for a merit badge exposition,
which requires a lot of preparation,
but shows the results of Scout train
ii . as no other activity can.
Scoutmaster Raymond Larson and
Elmer Webb, chairman of the troop
committee here, accompanied Willis
Elliott, Scout Executive of Lincoln,
to Council Bluffs Saturday night to
attend the merit badge exposition
being held there at the city audi
torium and were much impressed
with its possibilities in this district,
tut agree it is too late in the sea
son to start work on this sort of an
activity, and if given, the date will
have to be either late this fall or
next spring.
The local committee is recommend
ing to Arbor Lodge district that its
next inter-troop activity be a merit
badge exposition to be held in this
city any time from six months to a
year hence, and that preparations
be started now to train the various
patrols for their part in putting on
the show.
1935 s district activity was a
Scout cirrus at Nebraska City, while
last year a similar circus was held
at Auburn. The merit badge exposi
tion offers a fine display of the work
pccomplished in Scouting and shows
the. Scouts at work doing the var
ious things Scouting teaches them.
RECOVERING NICELY
Ed Steppat of this city who un
derwent a minor operation of the
throat is reported to be getting along
nicely. It is hoped he may recuper
ate soon and be able to resume his
usual activities within a short time.
Chamber of
Commerce Holds
Regular Meeting
Miss Edith Solomon of the Nebraska
State Employment Service Tells
of Work of Office.
From Friday's Bally
j Miss Edith Solomon of the Nebras
ika State Employment Service spoke
j to the Chamber of Commerce at the
' luncheon yesterday. Judge A. H. Dux
ibury introduced Miss Solomon.
The employment service office was
established in Plattsmouth in August
1933. During. the four years it has
j functioned it has won state recog
nition for its efficiency and success in
fitting men and women into jobs for
hi n th m-eoared.
Any person, whether employed or
not, may place an application with
the service. At the present time there
are 54 C names on the active file, 491
skilled in a line of work which is not
obtainable in this county. In such
, ,1
office placed recently aa carpenters
in Nebraska City and rock pavers and
laborers in Louisville.
Vacancies run the range from scrub
women at a few dollars a week to
physicians at $7,000 per year. Con
fidence in the Nebraska state employ
ment service is rapidly increasing
both among employes and employers.
The service is given free J.o all par-
1 ties who wish to participate.
States. All operate under the same
name and receive the benefit of
volume buying.
T. H. Pollock announced that the
present river projects in Plattsmouth
will close in June and approximately
25 families will move from the city
at that time. Over a million dollars
remain to be spent in the completion
of the river projects.
A discussion was held on the possi
bility of a Smith-Hughes agriculture
course in the local high school. Com
ments were made by G. K. Hetrick,
and L. S. Devoe.
WILL MAKE WESTERN TRIP
From Thursday's Daily
George F. Swatek, of this city, who
is employed in the state highway en
gineering department, is leaving Sat
urday in company with Willis Heck,
Lincoln attorney on a trip to the west
coast.
The young men will cover a great
deal of territory on their trip, motor
ing through the southwest to old
Mexico w here they will visit the many
places of interest in our neighboring
republic and then turn northward
along the Pacific coast. They will
spend some time in Los Angeles and
other of the southern California
cities and then proceed to San Fran
cisco and Oakland and then to Port
land. Oregon, before returning to
Lincoln.
The trip will take the young men
through many states and a wide
variety of scenery from the rugged
mountains to the deserts and the
vendure of the coast country.
CARD OF THANKS
We wish to express our sincere ap
preciation to the Christian church
and the many friends for their kind
ness and sympathy in the death of
our daughter and sister. Mrs. Bert
Reed and Samuel P. Reed.
VISITS COUNTY SCHOOLS
From Thursday'3 Dally
County Superintendent Miss Alpha
C. Peterson was out in the county
today in company with Miss Chloe
Baldridge, director of rural educa
tion in the office of the state super
intendent. Miss Baldridge has long been con
nected with the public schol system
of Nebraska and has been a frequent
visitor here since her connection with
the rural education department of
the state.
Long Time Resi
dent of Murdock
Called by Death
Mrs. Elizabeth Bauer, 78 Dies Friday
at Her Home After an Illness
Covering Past Year.
Mrs. Elizabeth Bauer, 7S, died at
her home at Murdock at an early hour
Friday following an illness that has
extended over the past year.
Miss Elizabeth Weckbach was born
January 9, 1S5S at New Castle, Penn
sylvania, and came to the west when
a girl in her teens, and has grown
up in this section of the west. She
was united in marriage fifty years
ago on July 4th to Albert Bauer, who
survives her passing.
Mr. and Mrs. Bauer resided near
Plattsmouth for a number of years
in their early married life and then
located near Cedar Creek where they
made their home until thirty years
ago when they moved to Murdock
where they have since resided.
Mr. and Mrs. Bauer were the par
ents of four daughters, three of whom
survivr the death of the mother. Mrs.
Claude Twiss, Louisville, the other
two daughters at Havelock, the
daughter, Mrs. Roy Boldin, preced -
ing the mother in death. .
Mrs. Bauer has been a patient suf
ferer and has manifested a faithful
devotion to the Master. The funeral
was at Murdock with Rev. Henry
Schwab conducting the services. The
burial being at the Wabash-Mur-dock
cemetery Sunday afternoon at
2:30.
Truly a good woman has been gath
ered to her eternal home.
BOB SECORD INJURED
Robert Secord, 20, former Platts
mouth young man was relased Fri
day from the hospital at Lexington,
Nebraska. He was seriously injured
as the result of an auto accident that
occurred near there Wednesday.
Edwin Russell Tuttle, 19, was
riding in the car with Secord when
the accident occurred and w as killed
when the car overturned on the high
way a short way out of Lexington.
The two boys had assisted in driv
ing with an auto caravan from Om
aha to Denver Saturday and were on
their way home when the accident
occurred, they riding with Homer E.
Callen, of Denver who was also in
jured. Robert Secord was graduated here
in the class of 1934 and has since
then made his home with his mother,
Mrs. Elsie Boostra, 1416 Ames ave
nue, Omaha.
He is a grandson of Mrs. Elizabeth
Schubeck of this city and with whom
he made his home while attending
school.
RECOVERS DAMAGES
A juhy in the district court at Om
aha on Wednesday gave Jesse Scurto
of this city, a judgment for $6,050
against the Nebraska Power Co., and
Melvin E. Johnson, an employe of the
company.
The verdict was based on injuries
that Scurto had received in an auto
accident that occurred on December
30, 1935, on highway No. 1, three
miles w est of Murray.
Scurto was at the St. Mary's hos
pital at Nebraska City for several
weeks as the result of the injuries.
SELECT GENERAL CHAIRMAN
From Friday's Dally
The committee composed of repre
sentatives of the various craft3 at the
j local BREX shops, last evening ee -
; leered the general chairman of the
j organization, naming Edward Koh -
rell to head the committee.
Legion Auxiliary
Outlines Program
for TB Campaign
County Convention in Nehawka Wed
nesday Afternoon Attended
By Sixty Women.
Sixty women representing the units
of the American Legion Auxiliary ot
Cass county attended the convention
in Nehawka Wednesday afternoon.
Plans were made for the campaign
for tuberculosis prevention which is
being sponsored by the auxiliary.
Mrs. Eugene Nutzman, president of
the Nehawka unit, acted as general
chairman for the covered dish lunch
eon which opened the meeting at
noon. Mrs. Nell Dowler of Mauley
presided at the afternoon session.
The address of welcome was given
by Mrs. Irene Ross of Nehawka. Mrs.
Amick, secretary, gave the report of
last year's meeting.
Mrs. Irene Ross was elected coun
ty president for the coming year.
Greenwood extended the invitation
for the county meeting which is to
be held next fall.
Mrs. Cozander, Lancaster county
tuberculosis chairman, presented 11
health program for the eradication
of tuberculosis in children. Sh
stated that Nebraska rates 4Sth iu
health programs but that the lowest
death rate is found in this state.
Three sets of pictures on the pre
vention of T. B. were shown. Mod
ern weapons invented by modern sci
ence for the control of tubercuosis
were explained. Skin tests were ad
vised and close cooperation with the
city and county doctors was urged.
Miss Helen Dudley, district presi
dent of the auxiliary, gave an iii-
spiring talk on the work before tto
j posts. A review of the book. "TLo
! Country Kitchen", by Dtlla Thump
son Lutz was given by Mrs. Nelscn
Berger. Miss Betty Ross furnished
two vocal selections. She was accori
panled by Mrs. Kunz.
Distinguished guests present were
Mrs. Helen Dudley, district chair
man; Mrs. Olga Webb, state chair
man of child welfare; Mrs. Shrader
of Lincoln, district secretary and
treasurer; and Mrs. Cozander. Lan
caster county tuberculosis chairman.
Mrs. A. H. Duxbury and Mrs. H. L.
Gayer represented the Plattsmouth
unit.
FAIL TO REACH VERDICT
The jury that was de liverating on
the damage suit of Donald Whitmer
vs. Raymond Norris, failed to agree
on a verdict and late Thursday after
noon were dismissed by Judge W. W.
Wilson, it f.eing evident that they
could not reach a verdict. This is the
second time the case has been tried
in the district court and the secend
a disagreed jury. The case will be
remanded for trial at the next term
of court.
The jury after receiving the case
retired to deliberate Wednesday aft
ernoon were deadlocked and unable
to reach a verdict
The suit was one for $1,000
claimed, by the plaintiff as the re
sult of an accident at O and F.rst
street in the city of Lincoln' on July
4. 1935. The plaintiff contended
tl at the defendant bad failed to
exercise the proper care and the
defense contention was that the
plaintiff riding his bicycle disregard
ed the safety rules and that the de
fendant was not io blame for the
accident.
In the hearing of the case in the
county court on February 5. 1!)3C,
the court found for the defendant
Norris and from this decision the
case was appealed to the district
court.
The first trial of the case in the
district court resulted in a disagree
ment of the jury and made neces
sary the retrial of the case.
VISITS AT LOUISVILLE
.Mrs. Ralph Wiles, of Plattsmouth,
visited at the home of her daughter,
Mrs. Melvin Schliefert last week and
was the guest of Mrs. Schliefert at
i the Happy Hour dinner Friday eve-
ning. Louisville will remember Mrs.
1
j Wiles as the former Mrs. Golda Noble
jBeal, for several years register of
!deeds at the county scat. Louisville
Courier.