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The Boys "Cleaned Up" Over There Let's "Clean Up" Over Here! Finish Your Job!
The Alliance O
RALD)
Section
One
"THE MINT If r.r 11 WITHOUT ADVERTISING; NO ONE ELSE CAN." Printer's Ink.
. .
.TOLUME XXVI.
ALiy y - .Jui, BOX BUTTE COUNTY, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1919
NUMBER 2
Sixteen
Pages
4.
IM1
WALTER REISENWEAVER, SEVENTEEN YEARS OLD, SAYS
HE COMMITTED FOUL MURDER OF CHARLES F.
JOHNSON ON NIGHT OF APRIL 8th.
STORY IS TOLD WITH VERY CLEAR VOICE
Circumstantial Evidence and Developments from Car Robberies En
able the Officers Ho Secure Complete Confession Held
f to District Court, Without BaiL for Trial "
Walter Reisenwever, sevente .
years of age, Saturday afternoon
'confessed having committed the
gruesome murder of Charles F.
' Johnson, at the stockyards in Alli
ance on the night of Tuesday, Xpril
8th, and Tuesday morning of this
'week entered a plea of guilty to a
; charge "of first degree murder in the
county court of Box Butte county,
lie -will be held for trial hi the dis
trict court and from which court
sentence will be paused. Until such
trial he is held, without bail, on the
order of County Judge Ira E. Tash.
During the several days prior to
the confession and through a long,
hard examination this young mur
derer at no time showed any signs
of emotion, nor has he since admit
ting his guilt appeared frightened or
even . disturbed. His statement,
. though brief, was plain and a com
plete confession, even to the extent
of his moves both before and after
the killing. At the outset, after
confessing the murder, he steadfast
ly denied having robbed his victim,
but later admitted taking the dead
man's pocketbook and finally reveal
ed the disposition he made of the
same.
At the time of the discovery of the
murder and the Identification of the
' body, suspicions were had that Rei
senwever had knowledge of the as-
saselnatlon, but nothing more than
5 circumstantial evidence could be ob-
UUiU ila. had-been aeen. byline.
amn)nvfM nt th pommlssarv early
in the evening, but had disappeared
several hours . before it became
known that Johnson's lif had been
taken; and was not seen by the of
ficers until the time of his arrest,
the morning following, on another
tkarge. He had been quite inti
mate with the slain man and from
jibe very apparent fact that the mur
der had been committed by some
one who knew Johnson's habits and
' come one who knew that be often
carried considerable money on his
person when he left the place of
business at night, the officers derived
their first clue. For some weeks
cars standing In the yards were bro
ken into and robbed and while in
pursuit of evidence that would lead
to the conviction of the robber, Bur
lington Officer Smith found' that
Reisenwever had sold a pocket-knife
that answered the description of one
taken from-the way car of Conductor
McKenzie. This together with the
fact that the same tool which had
been used to open the cars was em
ployed to break the lock at the com
missary, convinced Smith that Kel
aenwever knew more of the murder
than he was telling. It also proved
to be the rorce wmcn nnauy wroupm.
from Reisenwever the 6tory. of the
worst crime ever committed in this
section of Nebraska.
In relating the story of the murder
the youthful murderer said that he
bad taken supper at the Grier board
ing house, after having finished his
day's work, and had gone to his
room at the Nebraska House and
changed his clothes, putting on a
suit of blue serge: then he went to
the library where he Intended to re
turn a book he had borrowed, but
upon finding the library closed he
returned to his room with the book.
He next went to the commissary and
shortly thereafter Johnson left in
the direction of the west commis
sary. Looking after Johnson he no
ticed, he said, a colored man follow
ing Johnson and the idea of striking
him on the head entered his mind.
After looking for some sort of wea
pon he walked to the stockyards and
awaited the return of his victim and
xkan ha uw Johnson aDDroach he
iid behind the large gates and made
fnr hA hlow that killed John-
eon. As he was going through the
dead man's pockets and In which he
first declared he found bat a hand
kerchief he again saw the colored
fellow .who It appeared had follow
ed Johnson the entire course of bis
walk, and again went to the com
missary, which be this time broke
into and robbed. From the commis
sary he claims to have gone east
along a string of cars until he came
to the viaduct, where he hid the
money and discarded the pocketbook
by throwing It Into a coal car stand
ing near, where It was later found
by the officers. He then proceeded
toward the Nebraska House, across
tracks, and after a thorough wash
that eliminated every particle of pos
sible evidence retired for the night.
When asked If his rest wai disturbed
by the thoughta of what he had
done, he said that he alept well, and
teemed astonished that such a ques
Uon should be asked. . The follow
ing morfilng he appeared for work
at the stockyards as usual, and it
was here that he was picked up by
the officers. What became of the
money, taken from the pocket of
Johnson and which Reisenwever
claims to have hidden at the viaduct,
mav never be known, at least the of
ficers were unable to locate K Bfter
a thorough search.
The theory that Reisenwever had
an accomplice in the horrible deed
was shattered when he told the of
ficers that he was unaided and add
ed that he needed no assistance.
The young man's preliminary
hearing was held Tuesday in Judge
Ira E. Tash's court and upon bis
plea of "guilty" was bound over,
without bail, to the District court.
He gave his home as Sheridan, Wy
nn.inr ami Raid t' at he had but a
short time ago been discharged from
the services of Uncle Sam.
The Sheridan Post, of Tuesday,
this week, has the following to say:
"Following a confession to author
ities in Alliance, Nebr., to the mur
dering of Charles F. Johnson, man
ager of the Grier Commissary at
that place, Walter eltisenwever, age
17, son of John Reisenwever, a boil
er maker residing at 1155 North
Custer street, this city, was placed
in Jail to await trial for his grue
some deed. Mr. and Mrs.
John eltisenwever are very well
known in this city and are held In
high esteejn.by all who know. -them.
Both are respected members of fra
lamii nreaiiizattona in this city, and
f MTrHelsenwererhas been a trusted
employee or the uurnngion lor many
years. Young Reisenwever, when a
young lad, never revealed any of the
desperate characteristics which have
now landed him In Jail, and it is be
lieved that he fell into disrepute
while shifting for himself since be
left home."
THE PAVING ENGINEER
TAKES UP HIS WORK
t'ity Council Hold Special Meeting
Tliat Work May He
Kkedlted
Engineer William Grant, or the
firm or Grant & Fulton. Lincoln, ar
rived in Alliance Wednesday morn
ing and Jias already begun his oper
ations as consulting engineer and
inspector for the city in the paving
work that is soon to be done.
Last evening Mior A. D. ltodgers
called a special meeting or the city
council ror the purpose or going ov
er matters preliminary to the pav
ing and at this meeting Mr. Grant
was present and made a rew sugges
tions. One or the first things done
was the appointment or a paving
committee, composed or Councilmen
Harris, Highland and Johnson, by
the mayor. This committee is to
have charge or the preliminary work
and will make such suggestions to
the council as It deems advisable.
The width or the proposed pavement
whs next taken up and aUer much
consideration and discussion, the
suggestions of Mr. Grant were adopt
ed. The engineer suggested a 60
foot pavement and 20-foot walks on
streets of one hundred feet width,
DO-foot pavement and 15-root walks
on 80-root streets, and 40-root pave-
i ment and 10-root walks on 60-root
streets. On First street, which Is
really but one-halt a street In width,
the paving will be 22 leet in
width with seven and one-half feet,
on the one Bide, for walks. It was
the sense or the meeting that the
above specifications would provide
ample width ror the handling of all
traffic that is now or ever will be
necessary over the pavements and
that the additional width of the side
walks will prove very beneficial. It
will also lessen the cost to the prop
erty holders in that, the cost ot lay
ing sidewalk is less than that or the
pavement. The white-way system
will necessarily be changed by the
action and the clusters placed six
feet toward the center of the streets.
The city attorney was instructed
to draw an ordinance creating a
drainage district comprising that
section of the city which is to be
paved. Storm sewers will without A
doubt be provided also.
The actual work on the paving
now promises to commence within a
very short time. Bids for the vari
ous kinds of pavements will at once
be asked for and upon the expiration
ot the time specified by law for the
designation of the pavement to be
used and the privilege of filing ob
jections to any certain kind, the
council will at once proceed to let
the contract.
THE
rvi
MltS. K. W. IIK1.L PASSU)
AWAY TIIVItSHAY NIGHT
Mrs. E. W. Bell, for twenty-six
years a resident of Alliance, passed
away at the home at 710 Laramie
avenue, last Thursday night, follow
Ing an attack of uremic poisoning.
Un Thursday afternoon Mr! Bell
went to the dental office of Dr. J. M.
Kennedy and It was while waiting In
the reception room of the offices that
the attack was first apparent and al
though medical aid was at once sum
moned and she was taken to her
home, she succumbed to the attack,
at about nine o'clock that evening.
The deceased was a native of Scot
land, having been born at Ellens-
burg in 1867, but coming to Amer
ica at a very early age. In 18SS
she was married to E. W. Bell, who
survives her. One daughter is also
left to mourn the loss of an always
kind and loving mother. ' She Is
Mrs. Bernard Phclan. Two brothers
and a sister also survive.
The funeral services were held at
the home at 9:30 Saturday morning
and the remains were shipped to
Friend, Nebr., for burial.
WOULD CONTINUE ALL
STATE JOME GUARDS
Adjutant General II. J. Paul Notifies
t'iMiiMiiiy t 'oiimiiuider that Gov- ,
ci nor Do.Iivn Organizations .
Hoy C. Strong, captain of the
Box Butte Home Guards, has receiv
ed the following communication rel
ative to the state Home Guard or
ganizatious, from II. J. Patil, adju
tant general of the state of Nebras
ka: i
Having been Informed that a let
ter had been sent out prior to my
having taken over this office request
ing that Home Guard companies con
tlnue in service uutil further orders,
hut receivln's numerous inquiries as
to the desires of t' e governor on thlsi
ubJecXthe following for our infor
mation is deemed necessary
It is Governor McKelvle's wish
that all Home tJuard companies con
tinue to be a live and active organ
ization. Bubject to call, up to the re
organization and acceptance of the
National Guard, after which time the
governor looks with favor upon the
continuance ot the organization as a
social and semi-military organize
tion, but without military authority,
and believes that much ueneni anu
good wll come from such continu
ance.
This office has secured a quantity
of blank discharges that will be fur
Dished upon application or company
commanders, which will give to each
member leaving the service some
thlne to show for valued . services
rendered.
Upon completion of 'the reorgan
ization of the National uuara eru
Home Guard company will be noti
fled of same and they can then elect
to continue as suggested in para
graph two or disband, and in case
dlsbandment Is chosen a specific date
should be set and same should be ac
complished with some ceremony in
which this office will be glad to ren
der every assistance possible.
It is requested that this circular
letter be read to all members at the
next regular meeting alter its re
ceipt. ALLIANCE TEACAERS
ARE EMPLOYED AGAIN
School Hoard Arranges for Instruc
tors in School for Com-
Ing Year
The scarcity or school teachers is
already felt in the schools or Alli
ance, that is, the demand has al
ready been apparent. This week,
the board entered Into contracts with
those or the present staff who bad
not already signed up and the corps
for next year promises to be an ex
ceptionally efficient one. The fol
lowing teachers are those re-employed:
High School Mjt. Prince. Miss
Bargey, Miss Keith, Miss Elliott,
Miss Beal.
Central ' school Miss Johnson,
Miss Crocker, Miss Lock man, Miss
McCollister, Miss Williams, Mrs.
Kase, Mrs. Emerick.
Emerson school Miss Ganson,
Miss Soper, Miss Jennings, Miss
Hledik, Miss Beats, Miss McIIugh.
From the Omaha Bee: Louis Xul
akofsky of the Central Market was
calling on . Miss Helen Levy in the
Adelaide apartments at Forty-ninth
and Dodge streets, when the storm
hit this section, carrying off the
front portion of the apartment house
and wrecking Kulakofsky's automo
bile which stood in front of the
building. The former borne ct Miss
Levy's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Saul
Levy, in the Bemls park section, was
demolished In the tornado six years
ago.
F. H. Bronkhorst, In charge ot the
supply affairs for the Elks fair, left
Tuesday, for Denver, where he pur
chased a line of articles for tho fair.
15)
NEW ELEVATORS FOR
FOR BOXiBUTJE COUNTY
Western Grain (Vmpny Planning to
Install forge Grain Klerator
for Handling Oopa
Alliance and llemlngford, with
probably Rerea, are to be the sites
of large grain elevators which will
be- erected during the summer and
begin caring for the enormous grain
crop of the county to be harvested
mis coming ran, according to a
promise made to The Herald repre
sentatlve by a prominent western
grain operator when interviewed on
Monday of this week. On learning
that his company expects to build a
large number of elevators this sum
mer. The Herald called his attention
to Box Butte county, with the result
that an investigation was mad
which resulted favorably to the es
tablishment or the elevators here.
The company plans to erect an el
evator at Hciningford and perhaps
Berea with a capacity of 20,000
bushels of grain and an elevator at
Alliance with a. capacity of 50,000
bushels. Alliance will be made the
cleaning'statlon for a string of e)e
valors from Billings east on the
Burlington, the grain collected at
these elevators to be shipped here
unloaded and cleaned. It will then
be re-loaded and shipped to the Opi
aha market.
The company now has several Wy
omlng elevators In operation. It
Plans to eventually have not less
than 150 of them In southern Mon
tana, northeastern Wyoming, south
western South Dakota and north
western Nebraska, with a seat on the
Omaha Grain Exchange, covering
territory approximately 300 miles
sous re.
The' company now does a large
business in alfalfa and prairie bay
buyt'tjc for large Omaha consumers
and4Istrlbutora.' They- will proba
bly erect in Alliance, fa eonuectlon
with the grain elevator, a large hsy
warehouse.
Rufus Jones, secretary of the Al
liance Community Club, is taking an
active interest In the proposition of
securing the elevator enterprise, and
is preparlng-flgures and other inter
esting facts which will be furnished
to the company in making their
plans for the erection of the eleva
tor. GRIFFITH OIL COMPANY
MAKES RAPID GROWTH
Now Han Four Producing Wells in
Kansas and l Adding to Wy
outing OH Holdings
The Griffith Oil Company, in which
many Herald readers hold stock, re
norts ranld nrocress be In a made In
the development of Its oil holdings
In Kansas' and the adding of recent
valuable holdings in Wyomlug. Wy
oming oil stocks have all been Jump
ing to high level the last" few days,
du. to the increasing activity there
and to the bringing in of new gush
ers. A gusher in the new Lance
Creek field, located twenty miles
north of Lusk, northwest .of Alli
ance, which was brought in last
Friday, is estimated to be spouting
20,000 barrels every twenty-rour
Louth. It is reported to be still out
or control and shooting oil ror more
than 100 reet above the oil derrick.
James A. Armour, ronner Alli
ance man, now secretary or the Grif
fith Oil Company, announces that the
annual meeting or the stockholders
or the Griffith Oil Company will be
held at the office or the corporation,
in the city or Deadwood, on the 25th
day or April, at 2:20 o'clock p. m.,
for the purpose of electing directors,
hearing the report or the board or
directors and ror the transaction or
such other business as may be
brought before said meeting.
The following statement regard
ing the affairs of the company - ac
companies the notice of the meet
ing: ' '
"The company has recently com
pleted a well on the DeMott lease In
Montgomery county, Kansas, and
now has four producing wells on this
tract making an income sufficient to
carry the normal expense of the com
pany. This fulfills our drilling obli
gations on this lease and makes our
title perpetual.
"Our 890-acre tract in Wilson and
Montgomery counties, referred to in
a former letter, Is attracting much
attention as a prospective gas field,
there being a large production ot gas
brought In Just recently not far dis
tant, and it is our intention to drill
our next well in this location. We
count this one of the best specula
tive chances we have ever had and
should we be able to develop a large
flow ot gas it will place the company
ni a very enviable position.
"In addition to the above we have
recently acqalred 12 0 acrei ot land
in the Wyoming fields, 40 ot which
immediately adjoins the Carter com
pany's holdings in the Bolton Creek
dome southwest of aCsper where
they are. preparing to begin opera
Ubna toon, their' rig o4 most ot the
HADN'T MKT NKCItETAHY
An Alliance business man the
other dsy expressed a little sur
prise in his not having yet met
the new secretary of the Com
munity Club. "Why. he hasn't
been to call upon me and I am
very busy," was the reply when
asked to what he attributed the
condition. True It in he Is a
very busy man, but -what
about Itufss Jones? Well, at
least, he is busy, too. Coming
to Alliance and the Community
Club but very recently, Mr.
Jones has been able to find am
ple occupation and In getting
the office details arranged to
comply with his desires and the
unfinished business cared for he
has found no 'line to do the
"get acquainted" stunt to any
great proportions. However,
should it occur to you that he
Is the stranger within the gates
and that it is entirely proper
that you should call upon him,
Mr. Jones will be found glad to
welcome you and to give you
such time as your mission will
require.
Call on him get acquainted
you may like him.
TWO HUNDREDTHS
HOME FROM GERMANY
Troop Train Hearing Heroes of Ai-
Konne Forest Passed Through
the City linst Night
Two hundred U. 8. soldiers, Just
returned from the battlefields and
Coblenz, Germany, where they were
stationed as a part of the army of oc
cupation, passed through Alliance
laBt night bound for Camp Lewis,
near Seattle, Washington. The de
tachment was made up of hoys from
Oregon and Washington and was be
ing sent to Camp Lewis ror uis
charge. It was a part of the 347th
Field Artillery and the 91st Division
More fortunate than some or their
rouirades who were sent overseas,
these lads saw seven days actual
fighting in the Argon no woods sec
tor and they were united In the ex
pression of thejorrors ot the now
famous battle. ' After the signing of
the armistice they were sent to
Ensch, about midway between Co
blenz and Treves, and as an indica
tion of the hardships which they en
dured, one of them told or the trip
to Brest from- Ensch. In Europe
railway cars, as many know, are
much smaller than those with which
we are familiar. In each of the
small s'ock cars, which were used
for the transportation of troops" be
cause of the inability to get others,
forty-two men, their rations, ruel for
five days, two stoves for heu.lng pur
poses and all packs and souvenir.',
carried by the men were crowded.
Sleeping was done In relays wln.t
was done at all and upon the
it r
rival or the detachment at Brest
some of the men were forced to en -
ter the hospital for treatment.
Private E. L. Frlzzell,, one 'of tlio'e
who passed through Alliance lust
night, told of splendid treatment at
the hands or the German people af
ter the cessation ot hostilities and
said that he can not Imagine what Is
meant by the claim ot a food short
age in Germany, If his experiences
are a criterion. He said the cellars
were filled with wines and liquors,
the storehouses with meats, flour
and such other edibles, and that no
where did he find evidences ot a
shortage. In telling of the treat
ment accorded them be said that
they were made to reel entirely "(it
home" and that in his case when he
would return from the city, after a
few hours leave, during the evening
hours the lady of the house would
Invariably prepare something ror
him to eat.
For a time the American soldiers
were not allowed to converse with
the Germans, arter the armistice was
signed, and the troops occupied the
towns and at all times gatherings in
public places were rorbld because of
the danger of riots and fights. One
American, in the detachment, enter
ed a German business house and
when he round the likeness or Kai
ser Wllhelm hanging in a very con
spicuous place he tore it from the
wall and completely destroyed It.
The boys arrived in New York,
from Brest. France, March 30th.
They were held in New York a tou
ple of weeks waiting upon discharge
orders. They are indeed glad to get
home again, but express themselves
as willing to do again what they
have done should the need arise.
A plain drunk paid a fine of $25
and costs, $30 in all,-in police court
Monday morning. Another fellow
arrested for .being Intoxicated gave a
cash bond and went his way.
equipment being on the ground now.
640 acres Is in the Oreary dome
northwest of the Big Muddy field and
a well Is being drilled wKhin one
mile of our holdings and Is down
more than 2.000 feet. It this comes
In a producer it will place considera
ble value on our acreage.' We have
eastern paitiea negottutlng for a
contract to dilll this tract anl may
be able to get work started in the
early rprlng. .
"There promises to be much ac
tivity in the Wyoming fields thts
year and we are exceptionally well
located In the two places as above."
PHILLIPS ADMITS
SALE OF-BOOZE
WHENARRESfED
OWN MTOItY CONVICTS HIM OJI
AT LEAST TEN SEPAR
ATE COUNTS
Henlen Any Knowledge of Operation
i tfinrrs fineu One Thou,
sand Dollars and Oota
C. E. Phllllns. nronriMnv f k
Dew Drop Inn. formerly the Red Dia
mond pool hall, waa arrested Sun
day night by Policemen Reld urn 4
Taylor and Special Officer Smith cc
the Burlington, after a aeareh of tie
i wage touring car belonging to Phil
lips which revealed three pints vt
wnisaey. inroughout the entire
day the officers had been watching
the operations of their man, and
when he returned to his place of
business about midnight, after a
short drive, they Instituted the
search that procured the necessary
evidence. He was taken to the coun
ty Jail and on Monday morning wan
given a hearing before County Attor
ney Lee Basye. In this hearlatc
Phillips pleaded guilty to having li
quor illegally In his possession and
to having sold at least eight pint
and on as many different Oceanians.
When asked where he obtained the
whiskey be said he had purchased it
from a fellow, whose name he did
not know, from Edgemont. In this
the officers were unable to shake the
defendant and in all other questions
wherein they attempted to obtain a
clue as to the operations of other
dealers In contraband liquor, he whs
very rigid and nothing of value was
galnedi
The whiskey has been buried la -the
ground at a place about a mile
and a half from the city according
to the story told by Phillips, who
said that he had paid $40 for a quan
tity of two gallons. His first sale
was made during the latter part ot
February, he said, and that siiu-
that time he had sold at least eight
pints, the exact number he did n7t
recall, but that the three pints found
when he waa arrested was a part of
the original two gallons. In th
ear a b-1 ti tix-t tMr-rrt w -,
Martin pump gun, twelve guage, 1
a 32-20 Smith Wesson revolver.
When the trial was had in county
court Phillips entered a plea f
"guilty" in accordance with iV
statement made to the county attor
ney and Judge Ira E. Tash assessi f
a fine of $1,000 and costs, amount
ing in all to $1014.40. This whs
$100 each ror ten counts and th
costs in the case. He has, as vet.
been unable to pay the fine and is
still In Jail, but had raised a p;ni of
the amount necessary and claims Iih
will on able to get it all.
John Weaver, who It seems w x
Interested in the ftehalf or Phil'!".
' denies emphatically me cnarae m.
; lie flushed $500 for ihe bond of t,,.
accused man on Sunday night.
' admits having told the officers tli.it
. . .
"they" cotild get it ana wouia n im
bond was arranged.
Sheriff Miller, his deputy C. A.
Lalng; Chief of Police Oscar 1! VI
and his assistants and Special Oit
er Smith are firm In their declara'
that the bootlegging must cease s-i I
seem to be pursuing the proper
course to bring about the desired re
sults, r '
CITY PHYSICIANOMAKES
TESTS CITY'SiWELLS
Dr.
George J. Ha ml Takes SanipK
of Water for Anal) sin
to be Made "
City Physician Dr. Hand yesterday
Inspected the four wells in the Bur
lington yards and the city's wl!s
and took samples of the water c.jii
talneiL therein for the purpose f
huving analysis made and the true
contents of the water ascertalno.l.
While it is not thought that the wel'.s
inspected are unsafe, it la deemed
advisable to have the analysis m;ide
that any unhealthy condition, whWh
might possibly exist, may be correct
ed. In making the inspections and pre
paring for the analysis Dr. Hand has
done something that has probably
not been done ror several years. At
least, it is thought that the water
has not been scientifically tested for
a number or years.
Harold S. Thomas, located at Co
blenz, Germany, haa forwarded to
The Herald an interesting war sou
venir a genuine German Iron
Crocs, of the second class. He is al
so forwarding other interesting war .
souvenirs. Tu Herald has received
from him some pictures which show
him on the streets of Coblenz. In
one of the pictures he is shown lean
ing against a "barrel" ot beer. Th
"barrel" stands twelve feet high and
contains 22.800 pounds of beer.
"Almost enough," he says "to last
a German of Coblens for a whole
week."
The special election held in-Scot is
Bluff county on Tuesday decided the
court house bond issue light, which
was oitterly fought by those inter
estedin favor of the bonds, and a
new court house to cost $200,000
will now be erected at Geiing, the
county seat.
n