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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 1937)
a MONDAY, DECEMBEE 20, 1937. PLATTSMOUTH SEMI - WEEKLY JOUENAL PAGE TWO the Plattsmouth Journal PUBLISHED SEMI-WEEKLY AT Entered at Postoffice, Plattsmouth, MRS. R. A. BATES, Pushr SUBSCEIPTION PEICE $2.00 A YEAS IN FIEST POSTAL ZONE Subscribers living in Second Postal Zone,: J2.5Q per year. Beyond 600 miles, ?3.00 per year. Rate to Canada and foreign countries, S3S0-Der Tear. All subscriptions are payable strictly in advance. Bullets and Law Write Finis to Crime Record of Infamou Purple Gang in Detroit Area 'Tough Guy Youngsters Activity in 1919 Until End of DETROIT (TP) Eighteen years ago, when the war was still more than a memory, a group of Detroit youngsters, only one past 18, decided they were "tough guys." They stole fruit, "rolled drunks," waylaid pedestrians late at night, and broke into stores. "They're tainted." a bearded, old Jewish fruit peddler once said. "Those hoys are discolored. They are pur ple." The name stuck. Ten years later in 1929 the group, then known throughout the middle west as the Purple gang, had a death-grip on Detroit's underworld, and maintained lucrative crime con nections all over the country. Last mouth! police picked off a tavern" floor the bullet-riddeu body of the last known member still oper ating. Harry Millman. 2S. had big j fists, a ready trigger-finger and a thorough criminal education begun; in, 1919 when he trailed the "big j boys" of his neighborhood as they annoyed the merchants. Gang Once Numbered 50 Odd With his slaying, the last of the ; 50 odd hoodlums was accounted for. All were either dead, in prison or missing so long that they were for gotten. The gang took solid form ia 1926 when gamblers supplied them with funds in return for protection from a St. Eouis extortion ring. A year later they began their kill ings in earnest, Abe Axler and his pal. Eddie Fletcher, machine-gunned three rivals to death in a treet before their apartment. Axler . And Fletcher were inseparable pals even in death. Their bodies, hands joined, were found by police in 1933 after a battle for the mob's leadership. Late in 1928, when the gang was at its greatest period of power, two situations arose which greatly affect ed its strength and its future. First, a cleaners and dyers war broke out, marked by daily acts of violence. Murders, bombings, thefts, sluggings, all the crimes in the books combined to hurt their prestige. Thirteen "Purples" finally beat a conspiracy charge in court. Sought More Territory Secondly, and more important, they branched out from Detroit. The Oakland Sugar company be came their financial stronghold. From it, they supplied corn sugar to local moonshiners. With the money they opened speakeasies and night clubs. Then they began shipping liquor to Chicago and New York. Law finally succeeded where rival gangs had tailed. In 1933 the Little Navy gang from Chicago tried to ''muscle in" here. Its leaders Izzy Sutker, "Nigger Joe" Lebkowitz and Ilyjnie raul all were slain in an apartment one September night. But within two months three Pur ples had been sentenced to life terms in the Marquette branch prison for the killings. In 1933 the gang's power was on the wane and the repeal of prohi bition struck the death knell for it. Profits shrunk and the smart mem bers drew away, some into legitimate Thomas Walling Company Abstracts of Title Phone 324 - Plattsmouth J. TRAD 4 .-.- When cough due to m cold plagues you give your throat peace 'with a Smith Brothers Cough Drop. Black' or Menthol 5 tf. Smith Bros. Cough Drops are the only drops containing VITAMIN A Thif is the vitamin that raises the resistance of the inucous . membranes of the nose and throat to cold and cough infections. PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA Neb., as second-class mail matter is Began Their Lawless and Flourished Prohibition pursuits, others to retire on their riches. Most of them are dead now. Irving Shaperp. who tired of his job as a tailor's helper and joined the mob as a "gorilla", when he was 15. was taken lor a ride in 1929. Frank Klayman died in the Ohio state penitentiary in 1930. He was an expert hijacker. Jack Selbiu was shot to death in a saloon in 1929. One Convicted of Murder Phil Keywell began a life sen tence in Southern Michigan prison in 1930. He was convicted for mur dering a Negro boy he caught snoop ing around one of the gang's dis tilleries. Maurice Raider 13 in the same prison, serving a life sentence for murder. Earl Pasnam was "rubbed out" iu a gang gun fight in 1931. Henry Shorr. oldest member of the Purples and the group's financial ex pert, disappeared two years ago. He had been with another gang ster in a Detroit restaurant, but after the two left together, he was never seen again. The other man had an ironclad -alibi. Charlie (professor) Auerbach died naturally, with his "boots off." The Fleisher brothers and Joseph Stein fan afoul federal authorities in 193G for operating a $150,000 dis tillery. All were convicted, and one is in Alcatraz prison. End to Millman at Last "Alter that Harry Millman began fd grow in stature. A small-timer, formerly he gained notoriety from his fistic ability. Iu 10 years he was arrested 2S times, but wa3 sentenced only twice both time3 on traffic charges. His number went up in August. A bomb w as planted in his car. Mill man escaped, though a Negro door man who went to get the car for him was killed. After that Millman avoid ed public places and spent most of his- time in a neighborhood tavern. Early Thanksgiving morning he was there, chatting idly with friend3. Two strangers walked in, ordered drinks. A moment later they walked toward Millman, flashed a pair of .4 5 revolvers and began shooting. The Purple gangster's body was pierced by nine , bullets. Four other men were wounded. Thus ended the Purple gang. SECTION HAND ROBBED OF $1,580 KEARNEY, Neb., Dec. 17 (UP) John Kainz, a section hand who lives in a box car bunKIiouse at Alfalfa Center, reported to c:ner of Police Lloyd Frank today that he had been robbed of $1,5S0 which he kept in boxes. Kainz said the loss consisted of $1,080 in cash and $500 in post office checks, the savings of 11 years. Kainz said that when he lost $700 in the failure of the City National bank here in 1926 he thought it would be safer to save his money in boxes. JAPS RAISE NAVAL FUND TOKYO, Dec. 1G (UP) Japanese sailors are raising a fund of 500 yen, approximately $1500 which will be contributed to the United States navy fund as a gesture in connection with the Panay incident the navy an nounced today. Policy will Cut State - Highway Aid State Engineer Tells County Officers Only $3,284,000 Federal Funds Will Be Available. OMAHA, Dec. 16 (UP) State Engineer "A. C. Tilley informed Ne braska county commissioners v and supervisors today that only $3,284, 000 in federal aid funds will be available to Nebraska between now and June SO, 1939, if President Roosevelt's recommendations for cur- tailment of United States government j highway expenditures are accepted J by. congress. In 1940, Nebraska's share of fed eral aid would be only $2,500,000 under the president's proposal, he said. "If Nebraska's unfinished highway system is to be adequately completed, we should be vitally interested in re taining the national policy of federal aid for highway construction," Tilley said in an address before the annual convention of county commissioners and supervisors. The high point in federal highway aid in Nebraska was reached in 1931 when allotments aggregated $11. 8S4.000. The total in 1936 was near ly as much, $11,003,000. he said. He estimated total expenditures for construction in 1937 at $6,125,000. Tilley 6aid he had instructed dis trict highway engineers to consult with county boards about the location of federal feeder roads. The legis lature made $528,000 available for that purpose. It will be left with federal funds. The state engineer said that when work now contracted is completed Nebraska will have 2,475 miles of paved highways, 5.S09 miles of gravel roads and 310 miles of earth roads maintained by the state. PINOCHLE SCORES The result of Wednesday night's play at the Recreation Center was as follows: Lee Phillips Mrs. W. H. Puis Mrs. F. G. Konfrst C010 5650 5560 A. J. Koubek 4970 M. W. Harmon 4S20 C. M. Manners 4820 Mrs. Bourne 4740 Federal Frank Kvapil 4700 I A delicious lunch was served, pre- Rose Kopp 4660 sided over by Mrs. James E. Warga, Bhea Edgerton 4620: Mrs. Ernest Hutchison and Mrs. Ray Mrs. Fay McClintock 4580Wileg refreshment committee. c!o'. CarlSurg'"!!!".:::::::: 10 I 1 Table orations were in keeping Dr. O. Sandin Z . 4370jwith the holiday 'spirit. The center- Frank Rebal i 4320 Mrs. Frank Rebal -tJr- T '4320 Gus Kopp- '' ' 4220 w u rnis ' 4nn Tommy Mendenhall 41(0 Mrs. Lee ee Phillips 4110! Wall 4100! Donald Edna Carlburg 4040 Mrs. C. O. Carlburg 3990 Mrs. H. Walters 39S0 Mrs. J. F. Kvapil 3950 Mrs. O. Sandin 3820 Harry Walters 3640 Glen Carlburg 3540 Esther Whitely 3530 The holiday rush or activities has overtaxed the capacity of the Re creation Center and it is necessary to suspend pinochle night on Wednes day, December 22. to be resumed again Wednesday, December 29. FARMERS BENEFIT BY "CO-OP" More than COO farmers and stock men obtained loans during the first 10 months of the year from the South Omaha Production Credit association. according to records in the office of the credit "co-op.-" Everett Spangler, secretary-treasurer of the association, reported that during the period loans were made to 323 farm operators in Burt, Dodge. Washington, Saunders. Doug las, Sarpy and Cass counties. A good . share of the credit was advanced to farmers who plan to use the money for feeding livestock, Mr. Spangler said, while others applied the funds to expanding or improving their operations. Plans will soon be completed, he said, for the association's annual meeting of stockholder- members, to be held shortly after the first of the year. See the goods you buy. Catalog descriptions are alluring enough, but how about the goods when you net them? GIVE AN There's anlngersoll for every member of the family watches for pocket, wrist or handbag at prices from $1.25. You can buy them at stores right here in town. RIST-ARCH $3.95 MERCERVTLLE SCHOOL NEWS The Mercerville school has been quite active this year and are carry ing on a number of very interesting projects. Their attendance record has been unusually good with sev eral children with, perfect attend ance. They have the room beauti fully decorated for Christmas and invite the parents to come totheir program next Tuesday afternoon. The following pupils have attend ed every day 6ince. school started: Grade 1, Gordon Hanika; Grade 2, Dwight lies; Grade 3. Eunice Baum art; Grade 4, Kathleen Snyder. Our room looks very pretty with ill its Christmas decorations. We have a Christmas tree at school too. We have ueen ,.-2,.:ng st0re in arithmetic ciass.. Hei e are some new- words we learned: cash register, bill, receipt, counter, credit. It is fun learning how to make change and write out the bills. We are having a good behavior l contest at school. The room is divided into two sides, the Reds and the Blues. The Reds are ahead. Each day we save a:; our papers. At the end of six weeks we make a cover for them and fasten them to gether so they-will form a book. We take them home and show them to our parents. The Mercerville school wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas! SOCIAL WORKERS FLOWER CUTE The Social Workers Flower club held their annual Christmas party at the pretty home of Mrs. Julius Pitz The Pitz home was a scene of beautiful and artistically decorated rooms, Christmas colors and spirit having been carried out, which was very attractive and an ideal setting for this happy occasion. After the regular business meeting a clever play, "Reading the News paper" was given by Mrs. Ernest Hutchison, Mia. James E. Warga and Mrs. J. L. Stamp. For this playlet, Mrs. John Schutz sang several num bers. "Trimming the Christmas Tree' another short playlet was given by Mrs. Albert Wheeler and Mrs. Mike Kaffenberger. Little Marilyn Irene Warga gave a Christmas poem. Christmas carol were sung by the club members. After Ithe interesting program, gifts were presented to everyone by Santa. 'piece was tiny reindeers among pine trees. - ' The next meeting will be an all ua quiuing pariy ai ine nome oi Mrs. James E. Warga, Jan. 12, 193S. JUDGE PARSONS DIES DES MOINES, la., Dec. 16 (UP) Justice James M. Parsons of the Iowa supreme court died here today after a long illness. He was 79 years old. He had undergone an operation De cember 5. Justice Parsons' was elected to the supreme rourt in',l'934. He had plan ned to retire when his term expired January 1, 1941. An Iowa farm boy, he was admitted to the bar in 18S0 and served for 25 years as general counsel for the Iowa State Bankers' association. He was primarily a trial lawyer and most of his professional time was spent in court. He was a democrat and twice was a delegate to demo cratic national conventions. SUPPORT JUDICIAL COUNCIL LINCOLN, Dec. 18 (UP) Clinton J. Campbell, president of the Ne braska Bar association today lent his support to the movement for es tablishing a judicial council in Ne braska. The proposal probably will be dis cussed at the annual meeting of the association in Omaha December 28 and 29, Campbell said. A judicial council, a fact-finding body usually composed of practicing attorneys and judges to study faults in the judi cial system and to make recommen dations to the legislature and su preme court for their correction. Campbell said a counsel can be formed either by the legislators or by court rule. eze&k il . YANKEE $1.50 POCK ITEMS Laccy McDonald and family went to Lincoln last Thursday, where they did some Christmas shopping. - . Merideth Weddell, who resides in Lincoln, where he has a position, will be at home with his father and sister on Christmas day. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Heinemann were in Lincoln Thursday of last week, where they looked after busi ness and did some shopping. While Mrs. Zabel was looking af ter the store Friday of last week, Mr. Zaebel made a trip to Lincoln after a truck load of goods for the store. The Extension Hub of Murdock and vicinity met at the home of Mrs. William Eisele last Thursday. The regular meeting was followed by a most enjoyable Christmas party. August Bornemeier and wife de parted last Thursday for the north ern part of the state, where they went to look after business matters. They made the trip in their .car. Harold and Louis Luetchens were delivering corn to the Murdock ele vator, having shelled their 1937 crop, and although the volume was not so large, they are well pleased with what they received. Carl Buck and Bobbie Miller were hauling baled straw for Paul Socks who has been busy of late baling the same, delivering it to a number of customers about town and in the immediate vicinity. Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Tool are look ing forward to a very pleasant Christmas daw which they will spend at the home of their daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. George Work and family, in Omaha. Herman R. Schmdit was called to Plattsmouth to look after business matters at the court house. On his return home, he came via Wabash, where he visited with the family of Louis Schmidt for a short time. Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Craig and Miss Orland Parriott were in Lincoln on Thursday of last week where they secured some supplies for the barber shop and beauty parlor and also did seme of their Christmas shopping. Mrs Albert Straich. daughter Miss Lydia were in Lincoln last Thurs day, where they did some trading. The weather had beeu bad before that and they took advantage cf the fine day to make the trip Thursday. Charles Campbell, a former resi dent of Cass county, when he resided between Murdock and Greenwood, ac companied Ed Leach Lincoln travel ing salesman and brother of P. J. Linch of Alvo, on his -trip. tp ,Mur doCk this past wcekr," enjoying meet ing old friends of this vicinity. Residents of this vicinity seemed to have contracted an epidemic of wood sawing last Thursday. Many were thus engaged and others who were desirious of getting their wood out of the way for tho winter were delayed by not being able to secure help and the necessary equipment. Miss Sara McCrorey, a:io is a mem ber of the Senior class of the Mur dock high school, entertained the members of the class at her home on Friday evening of last week. Games, music and refreshments made the oc casion a most enjoyable one. Arranging: for Historical Meeting Dr. G. H. Gilmore of Murray and A. A. McReynolds of Nehawka were in Murdock Thursday arranging for a meeting of the Cass County His torical society to be held here in the near future. They were interested in securing further data and infor mation on what was known as the Mullen ranch, located at the edge of where Murdock now stands, which v.as a stopping place for overland trains as they crossed the prairies in the early sixties and seventies. These gentlemen havej been doing a great deal of research work and are engaged in writing -a history of the days before this generation came up on the scene. Visited in Southwest Messrs and Metdames Carl and Herman Schlaphoff, who visited at Oatman, Arizona, for a - couple of SMe Tested and Certified We have for sale Iowa Hi-Bred No. 933 Yellow Dent Corn. This com has been certified by both the states of Iowa and Nebraska. If you want to grow more corn on less acreage, see us and we will tell you all about it and guarantee seed corn true to all our claims. The Farmers Elevator Company Henry Carsen, Mgr. Murdock, Neb. weeks, returned home last Saturday. While there they visited with Elmer Schlaphoff and sister, Miss Doretta, who are making their home there for the winter. They report a splen did visit and say they were much im pressed with the country and climate there. Mrs. Bessie Hite Very. Ill Mrs. Bessie Hite has been very ill at her home in Murdock for some time, her condition becoming bo serious that the children were all called to her bedside. They are: George, of Oakland; Louis of near Walton; . Mrs. John Amgwert,. of Lincoln and Floyd Hite of "Weep ing Water. They have been doing all possible for her care and comfort, when we visited Murdock grave fear was ex pressed for her recovery. Will Entertain Christmas Day Mr. and Mrs. Henry A. Tool will entertain at their home in Murdock on Christmas day, when they will be joined by Mr. and Mrs. O. E. Brad ford and their daughter of Beatrice and Kenneth Tool and wife of Wahoo. If it is possible Richard Tool and wife also expect to be here, but that will depend on the condition of the roads and weather. Departed for West Coast John Bornemeier and wife depart ed Thursday for the west, with Los Angeles as their destination. They expect io wan nine uici uic nu"- days, and will also visit at nearby j rejoicing over the arrival of a ball points where they have friends and! daughter born December 14 at the relatives residing. Returns from the West Mrs. Hannah McDonald, who vis ited at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Harry Eastman and family, of Sterling. Colorado, for two weeks or more, returned home late last week. She reports a most enjoyable visit. Afflicted with lumbago W. O. Gillespie and son Merle have both been troubled with attacks of lumbago, which have kept them from their work, but at latest reports they i arc said to be improving. Christmas Program at Callahan A Christmas eve program will be given at the Callahan church Friday L II 14 ill ai t.oKJ. i lie tiuie oiiiuui liaaj charge of the arrangements and in addition to the program there will be a Christmas tree with presents and a treat for all the kiddies. On Christmas day there will be a special Christmas service held at 10 o'clock to which all members and the public are invited. Will Spend Christmas at Home i Miss Dorothy Gorthey, who is at 1 tending the Normal school at Peru, will be home for the Christmas holi '. day3 and will be accompanied here i by a sc hoolgirl chum, who will visit 'at the Gorthey home over the holi j days. Shall We Have Skating Court The matter of providing amuse ment for the young people is one to command attention in every town. With the winter weather that has prevailed, thoughts turn naturally to skating, and numerous towns are taking steps to provide suitable skat- i ing courts by selecting a level piece of ground and flooding it. Elmwood. Alvo and Nehawka have provided ex cellent places of this "kind. In Ne hawka the fire department sponsored the movement, while the city pro vided the water. The question of furnishing such a place of amusement for the children and grown-ups of Murdock is being raised and as the Christmas season approaches when the children will be out of school and looking for a place to skate, sentiment seems to increase for doing the same here. Certainly w e do not want to send the boys and girls to dangerous sand pit lake3 to skate, where they run a great chance j WISHING We are extending to our customers and to everyone our very best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year Our purpose is to have you look your best at all times, and for that purpose we are here at your service at the Barber Shop and Beauty Parlor. Remember, our ear nest desire is for your best appearance. Again wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, from Eddie Craig, The Barber Miss Orland Parriott, Beautician Murdock, Nebraska of being drowned by venturing on ice that might be too thin to sup port them. Enjoyed Class Meeting Donald Rikli, who is a member of the Freshmen class of the Murdock high school, was host at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Rikli, to the members of the class on last Tuesday evening. A most pleasant time was enjoyed and his classmates were loud in their praise of Donald's ability as an entertainer. VISITS IN CITY Thomas Thomsen of Nebraska City, who is preparing to establish the new credit bureau here for the Plattsmouth Business Men's Ad club, was in the city Friday to look after some matters in connection with the the work. Mr. Thcmsen has a very highly perfected system of checking and in formation on the residents of tlu communities where his bureau is op erating and has found them most suc cessful in every way. He states that he has secured pros pective workers for the Plattsmouth office and who will be taken to Ne braska City to receive instruction and become familiar with the work of operating the office and the handling of information that may be reou'red. HAVE NEW DAUGHTER mt. ana !rs. rranK iceau ruo University hospital in Omaha. Tho little one weighed G pounds and 13 ounces at birth. Both mother and daughter are doing fine. The baby has been named Margaret. GRIEF KILLS ENGINEER KANSAS CITY, Mo. (UP) J. C. Mliliken, railroad engineer, suffered a-stroke and died here a week after hi3 locomotive struck and killed live children near Knox City, Mo. REAT 0 BE BACK AT WORK when you've found a way to ease the pains ot RHEUMATISM d do it the expensive way, too,. .You can pay as high as you want for remedies claimed to relieve the pain of Rheumatism, Neuritis, Sciatica, etc. But the medicine so many doctors generally approve the one usea by thousands of families daily is Bayer Aspirin 15 a dozen tablets about 1 i apiece. ' Simply take 2 Bayer Aspirin tablets with a half glass of water. Repeat, if necessary, according to directions. Usually this will ease such pain in a remarkably short time. For quick relief from such pain which exhausts you and keeps you awake at night ask for genuine uayer Aspirin. virtually 1 cent a tcbls? YOU ALL A ! I 8 I 8 8 8 i I) !T$G v, an I! i FOR lil -A 1 h - - : in