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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 1939)
MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1939. -PLATTSMOUTH SEMI - WEEKLY- JOURNAL PAGE FIVE CMta ,w""5 Ithe Crnssroaf (3 W Ml i -j.jj j i &9 irnest L.Reeker The Christmas Story of Jimmy Blaine Jimmy Blaine, only 16, "hooking" a ride on a train in a southern state about five years ago, was ar rested and thrown into jail. A day or two later he was brought before the judge of the place, promptly con victed, branded a criminal, and sen tenced to pay a fine, in default of which he was committed 4o jail. There was no investigation of his reputation among his townsmen in Madison county, Nebraska. There was no communication with Madison county officials nor with any mem ber of his family. Jimmy telephoned a brother living in Kansas, explaining his plight, and begged his brother to send him $53.00 with which to pay his fine and buy a ticket home. The brother air mailed a registered letter containing the money. The sheriff in that south ern state received the letter the day after Christmas, but 'Jimmy never got it. Instead, the letter was sent to Jimmy's invalid mother. Across the face of the envelope was writ ten, "Inspected, returned by request of sheriff, party gone." A chain gang system existed in that state at that time, and Jimmy was shipped to a prison camp to serve a sentence at hard labor. The story of his treatment on the chain gang is indeed a pitiful one. Investigation showed that although he was ill. Jimmy received no med ical care. He could not eat the camp food. Brutal assaults at the hands of g-iards when Jimmy was so sick he could hardly stand contributed in a large measure to his untimely death which occurred in the chain gang camp soon after he had been sent there. Today he rests in an un marked, unknown grave somewhere in the South. Was the case of Jimmy Blaine unique? No! Except for the tragic ending, all the circumstances are be ing repeated every day in this great country of ours. Many a hitchhiker you pass on the public highway is another "Jimmy Blaine," inexperi enced, irresponsible, perhaps a little wayward, but in no sense criminal. The results of his adventures may be worse than death itself. Young Jimmy should never have been imprisoned or sentenced to a chain gang. How many of you read ers, young or old, fathers and grand fathers, have not stolen a ride? And yet for this slight offense, Jimmy was thrown into prison and in a few short weeks died a terrifying and agonizing death away from his rela tives and friends. The most condemning thing about it all is the neglect of many would be courts of justice to provide means for learning the past records and true characters of "Jimmy Blaines," and their failure to protect and help them. Here is what happened in a some what similar case in Madison county five years ago: 1 There was an investigation by the court- 2 The court communicated with the officials of the boy's home com munity and his parents. 3 His character was ascertained. 4 He was ordered to make resti tution for a small amount of prop erty taken and was placed on proba tion and given a chance to earn the money,. paying it off in install ments. 5 He was assisted in getting a job and eventually to reach home. The results of our efforts were dis closed in a letter received from him about twelve months ago, as fol lows : "Dear Judge Reeker: I am still loafing around the country, but in a much safer manner. I completed my flying course last year, and will be a relief pilot for some six to twelve months. Thereafter I hope to become a chief pilot, and I am looking for ward to the time when you will make the trip from Chicago to New York City and return with me by air. Sincerely, Benjamin." Our method proved to be the bet ter, both for individual justice and for protecting the public. TO BUY UTILITIES NORTH PLATTE, Dec. 15 (UP) The city council last night author ized Guy C. Myers, New York pro moter to try to purchase North Platte facilities of the Northwestern Public Service company. If a reasonable price can be ar ranged the purchase will be made, otherwise the council will study steps toward instituting condemnation proceedings, it was stated. Myers was promised a reasonable commis sion if the sale is completed. Subscribe for the Journal. Jm ?wr :&r 5 J ; ,v..- - 7 1 1 VA 1" Ji"h Vy TWA i I Vl rlMnvrirFUjn a 7H.oFfVTT ThTTtI . ' ?J& t - ,5 V , 1 1 i'f1 IjCxV VfV point n tnc nnacie oil f-j W'.V ft g fc yf56" setter, owned by Fred C, Jordan of Atlanta, on Cedar Creek. A covey of quail was shot into as they rose from the bank of the creek just ahead of Timerson. NORCO, CALIF. SANTA CLAUS RECEIVES BEAU TY TREATMENT Old Santa Claus seems to be enjoy, ing the beauty treatment he is receiving from lovely Jean O'Connel (right) and Marjorie Moore, (left) while he was taking a vacation before his annual Christmas rush. aBKM:::-.-.- i ,v - if I ' , ! ft - l, iiii,;i,-il,iiiirfwiiiniiJr i '-"arU'hMiiifci -iv Toft- -w " I .-S . - X jyJ''MERRY CHRISTMAS! MY LITTLE CHICKADEE" Wa H-g ll5S3 mlht well be the Holiday Greeting telegram of W. C F.elds o all of his friends. One of the most prolific users o: all knds of telegrams, Fields pauses while making "My Little Chickadee, his newest production, to send his Holi day Greeting telegrams. It is the popular custom of stars in Hollywood, and people everywhere, to send greetings by living one message to the telegraph company for delivery to a who!c list of friends. ' 'sji.r. '4 ml Dark-haired and dark-eyed are Rosa Linda and Lola (left), the two charming girls who compose tne internaiionauy-iamous oam with Phil Spitalny's all-girl "Hour of Charm" orchestra, heard every sunaay niftiu on cue rauiw "- gram of the same name, tal ented and versatile, the girls music, show nite liking for ,i 'WDla all types of ht" i however a defi t 41 the classical. HER FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE Snapping the lights on and off is great fun, thinks this little fifteen months old miss. 1 ril F ..S3 . If III JBfc V ... 1 SAN FRANCISCO TOO MUCH SUNSHINE The big polar bear at the Zoo shown recently as he searched for a little shade I that fie could use to ad vantage, to escape that California sunshine. WASHINGTON SALMON GIVEN "LIFT" TO THEIR SPAWNING GROUNDS Un loading salmon from a truck into a stream which will carry them away from the turbulent waters around Grand Coulee Dam. Thousands of Columbia River salmon have been trans ported overland for miles in the.e specially-constructed air conditioned trucks to insure succeessful completion of the larg est fish-transplanting task ever undertaken in the U. S. ST.t. LOUIS, MO. NEW STREAMLINED MISSISSIPPI EXCUR- SION BOAT Pilots of old Mississippi River packets of Mark Twain's day will probably turn over in their graves when this new streamlined. fiv.rf-rkf( excursion boat is out tnto c-perauon next summer. iunnci Itvne boat, the use of to screw propeilora set in turaels in the hull E jPs? zzr- ...... f " s - f .55sr- -w--f"l VWJtrr, ; r GETS TOP HONOR Howard Hughes, millionaire oil man, pilot and movie producer, who has just been an nounced in Collier's as winner of the famous Collier Trophy, premier award in American aviation, in recog nition of his flight around the world in 91 hours and 14 minutes. Trophy, established in 1911, is given annually for "greatest achievement In aviation in America." Also shown is plane in which Bight was made. v. t - 1 NEW YORK CITY Winners of the Metropolitan Opera Radio Audition of the Air in recent years, all aani in a joint apearance in the opera bMaaon- Left to right; Mxise Stidlaan, wisaer ia 1937; Asaicary Dickey 1939, aad LacieHc grcwamg 1936. , ; ; Z NEW YORK CITY (above) Bathing Suit in Cv il Shade Fit-the-iiiiure lines feature thii new bathing suit of Cela nese jersey in a coral shade. The bat, of the same material and emphasizing a combination snood and bandanna goes with the suit in PREDICT MUCH BUILDING- The building business schedule for 1940 maintains the more active In terest In one-and two-family houses. Home Owners' Catalogs predicts that $983,000,000 will be spent next year for materials, equipment and labor to be used in building one-and two-family houses throughout the 37 states east of the Rocky mountains. The publication's "educated guess" includes a favorable margin of nine per cent over the expected 1939 final- figure of 1905,000,000. It is signi ficant that new homes to be built-to-order for the occupancy of the own ers will be more numerous next year. Readers of the Plattsmouth Jour nal who are planning to build homes for their own occupancy during 1940 can secure personal copies of Home Owners' Catalogs without charge or any other obligation. The one-Tol-ume library of home building infor mation is available to all families whose homes will be built In this area at costs of $4,000 or more. It will be sent postpaid to those who qualify on application to the pub lishers, F. W. Dodge Corporation, Kansas City. CLOSE AG MEETINGS FREDDY WINS ROUND HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 16 (UP) Freddy Bartholemew, who has epent almost as much time in court as in front of the movie cameras since coming to America, was a first-roiini winner today in a suit to end all suits. The boy star was granted a tem porary injunction enjoining his par ents. Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Bartholemew rd tnree lawyers from proceeding with pending law Fi.its against him. "These suits will remain in status rjuo until a hearing has been held on Freddy's suit which alleges that con tinued law suits are jeopardizing his film career. Freddy's parents asked $1,000,000 damages, the payment of $40,000 they claim is owed them, and $7,S00 for attorney fees. LINCOLN, Dec. 16 (UP) Profes sor John Ise, University of Kansas economist, closed the fifth and last day's session of organized agricul ture last night with an address urging closer organization of farmers in order to compete with increasingly organized labor and capital. He spoke at the final general meet ing of representatives of the principle farmers' organizations in the state on the agricultural college campus. "Farmers are more and more in a market where they sell goods produced under severely competive conditions. While they buy goods produced under conditions more or less monopalistic." Professor Ise said. He emphasized that the maturing of thc nation's economy had stimulated organizations in every branch of business and in dustry but that relatively scattered and indivdualistic farmers are at a disadvantage in dealing with such organizations. FILLING STATION IN JESSE - JAMES HOUSE PLANNED ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (UP) The house in which Jesse James was shot to death soon may become part of a super-service gasoline station. For many years the house, located on a hilltop within the city, has been a mecca for tourists. It also has been a subject of public contro ersy, many townspeople contending that it did the city more harm than good f "I that it- advertisieg value was dcubtful. Recently, the home was purchased by a development company which in tends to move it intact to a new location on a highway east of the city. Then, they say, the curious can see the exact spot where Bob Ford killed the notorious outlaw, and at the same time get their gasoline tanks f.lled. Subscribe for tne Journal. CHRKTHAS JOHNSTON'S or GILLEN'S DELICIOUS Chocolates, 2-lb. Box . IS 8 1 I GIFTS THAT MEN WILL APPRECIATE Bill Folds $1.00 Key Cases , $1.00 Cigarette Lighters $1.00 Ccmb and Brush Sets.$1.00 Tie Sets, 500 and $1.00 Leather Traveling Sets at $2.00 to $4.75 Box of 25 50 Cigafs$1.15 Bex of 50 50 Cigars$2.25 Ice Tubs and Tongs at 350, $1 and $1.25 Book Ends.. $1.50 to $5.50 Crystal Ash Tray Sets at 500 and $1.00 Single Trays250 and 350 Cigarettes in Gift Package AND FOR THE LADIES, WE SUGGEST Toilet Sets $1 to $5.50 Nail Polish Sets, at..250, 500 and $1.00 Manicure Sets..$1.65 to $5 ConiFacts.5O0, $1, 1.25 Crystal Sherbets or GoWets, set of 8 $3.00 Fancy Box Stationery at 250, 500 and $1 Cedar Chests filled with Stationery $1 - $2.75 Vases at 250 to $3 Perfumes and Toilet Water $1.00 Powder Puff Sets250 - 500 Musical Powder Boxes at $3.25 and $4.25 I BIBLES, a fine line at 50c to $3.00 DICTIONARIES at 15 to $1.00 A year's Magazine Subscription would make a fine Christmas gift! We take 'em at Lowest Prices! A COMPLETE LINE OF CHRISTMAS CARDS Also Relative Cards, Birthday Cards, Sympathy, Convalescent and German Cards. There's still time to have then imprinted. DRESS UP YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFTS What a difference it makes, and the cost is trifling. We have Wrapping Paper, Ribbon, Seals, Stickers and other Dressings. 1 . 8 OVEN WEAR BAKING DISHES j !! $an j X !) A FINE LINE OF LAMPS Pin-Up Lamps, use anywhere. .... .$1.15 to $1.65 8 I Bed Lamps, assorted shades, special at .$1.50 H Tl-1 I ' m m C O Table Lamps at. ..... . . : SI. 25 io 4.5tf 8 Bed Room Lamps, Sets. . . , S3.25 and S5.50 h b Glo-Lite Trees, green or white, with bulb. .$1 and up The Store ci a Thousand Gift Suggestions . 8 BATES 0K 8T0 V000CCO8000O00000OgCOOCOGO0Q0QOQ5GCOOCgCO05O0COgOS)00