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
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