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VOLUME XXVII.
ALLIANCE, BOX BUTTE COUNTY, NEBRASKA, TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1920.
NUMBER IX,
ft
L E LACKEY
BOI'ND OVER TO
mm court
mST ANSWEK CvV ,"5! OP MVR
I) Ell OF DAl$u V ,
i Attorneys for Prosecution' Breaks
Down Testimony of Divorced
Wife of Accused Man
"In review of the evidence sub
1 mitted In this hearing I have weighed
' and balanced to the best of my
Ability each point and I have come
to the conclusion that there Is suf
1 flclent evidence as to the guilt . of
Lawrence II. Lackey to. warrant a
- trial In the district court. The court
therefore rules that he be bound over
to the district court and confined in
the county Jail of Box Butte county
at Alliance, Neb., until the June
term of court or until such time as
the district court convenes." Judge
Ira E. Tash.
At the resumation of the hearing
of Lawrence II. Lackey at noon to--day
Dr. Blak was recalled. The de
fense objected to his testimony as
telng repetition and the court' sus
tained the objection. Sheriff Miller
"was then sworn in as witness to this
conversation,' which took place on
or aboutDecember 26, in Mr. Basye's
office.
Mr. Basye informed Mr. Lackey
that a chemical analysis of the
stomach of Pauline had been re
ceived by him. The following' con
versation ensued:
"That looks pretty hard on you,
Lackey."
"You wouldn't think I'd kill my
own child, would you?"
When told the child's Btomach
contained strychnine Lackey said:
"That's what I expected."
In order to allow Mrs. Lackey,
wife of the defendant, to testify, W.
C. Mounts, county clerk of Box Butte
county, was called to produce the
court memorandum to establish a
date that the court could accept as
the date of the decree. Mrs. Alra
Maud Lackey, wife of the accused
man, was the next witness . called.
When questioned as to whether she
had received letters, from Lackey, re
garding the custody of the children,
Mrs. Lackey answered vaguely and
"'didn't remember" of any.
Mrs. Lackey was then taken from
the stand for a few moments and
her mother, Mrs. Meda A. Kelly,
and sworn in. Mrs. Kelly admitted
taving received a letter from . Mr.
Lackey and said she sent it to her
daughter. Mrs. Kelly was excused
and Mrs. Lackey recalled. Having
proven she received one letter she
was asked by the state if she showed
this letter to Lee Basye. She said
she "thought" she did. In Mrs.
Lackey's testimony it was brought
out that on page 7 of this particular
letter it says, "I'll use my own judg
ment as to when you get the chil
dren." At the close of the testimony of
Mrs. Lackey the state and the de
fense closed and the court asked for
the pleas. County Attorney Basye,
representing the state of Nebraska,
made a brief review of the facts
proven by the testimony and laid his
case in the hands of the court. When
the defense was called for, Mr.
Mitchell declined, stating that, the
court had already balanced the evi
dence and his mind was made up.
After a brief pause Judge Ira W.
Tash, who presided over the hearing,
made the rulings of the court, name
ly that sufficient evidence had been
introduced to bind Lackey over to
the district court, and that he would
be confined In the county jail of Box
Butte county until such time as the
district court convened.
Tuesday Morning Session
The hearing of Lawrence Lackey
was resumed at 9:30 this .morning.
Both the defendant and his wife en
tered the court room apparently
bright and optimistic, despite the
seriousness of the charges preferred
against Lawrence by the state of
Nebraska.
Wilma Lucky, the eight-year-old
daughter of Lawrence Lackey, was
the first witness called. After the
little girl had been sworn she took
the stand and in a clear, childish
voice told what she knew concern
ing the death of her little seven-year-old
sister. The state, in en
deavoring to prove strychnine poison
administered by her father in a piece
Following the ruling qf the court
a silence swept the entire room. Mrs.
'Lackey broke down and the defend
ant in the case seemed depressed. In
a few seconds the room that only a
short while before had been a scene
of tense interest was deserted.
THE WEATHER.
For Alliance and vicinity Gener
ally fair tonight and Wednesday. Not
much change In temperature.
of candy, received this statement
from her:
"Pauline saidier candy was bit
ter and I was afraid mine was, too,
so I throwed it down."
The little girl says Bhe loves her
father and that she has never been
mistreated by her father. She says
also that he loved Pauline and that
she also was very fond of him. Dur
ing the little girl's testimony both
the defendant and his wife wept and
the court room was noiseless, seem
ingly cognisant of the occasion.
Miss Cleda E. Beatty, teacher In
the Alliance public schools, was next
called to the stand and stated she
was at the school house during the
sickness of Pauline. She said Pauline
clung to her hand and, did not want
her to leave so she accompanied her
to her home, remaining until sho
died. .. .
Mrs, Lawrence Lackey, former
wife of the defendant, was then
called to testify. Her testimony was
contested by the defense, as a wife
cannot be forced to testify against
a husband. Mrs. Lackey was with
drawn from the stand until the court
records are produced to show the
date of her divorce decree. After
that Is done It is 'probable she will
be allowed to take the stand.
(Continued on Page 5.)
WILL CONSIDER
APPOINTMENT
Highway Commissioner Will Prob
ably Be Selected by the
County Board
The board of county commission
ers are in session this week. Rou
tine business matters will be dis
cussed, and the question of appoint
ing a highway commissioner will be
considered. Division Engineer Mc
Lean of Scottsbluff has intimated
that unless such an officer were ap
pointed, prospects for going forward
with the federal and state road pro
gram In Box Butte county will not
be the brightest.
There are two candidate 'men
tioned or the position. , Jake Bick
n ell' has presented, a petition with a
large number of signatures. It is
rumored that a remonstrance against
his appointment, with a consider
able number of signers, has been
filed.
The other candidate Is Jack Burns,
who has been a resident of the coun
ty for a number of years, and like
Mr. BIcknell, has considerable ex
perience with road building.
ANNUAL MEETING OP
FAIR ASSOCIATION
The Box Butte county fair asso
ciation held its annual meeting at the
Community club rooms, last Satur
day evening. ' The stockholders
elected fifteen directors, who in turn
elected officers for the ensuing year.
All old directors were re-elected, and
hey proceeded to re-elect the follow
ing officers: President, L. H. High
land; vice president, C. A. Newberry;
secretary, W. E. Sponcer: treasurer,
W. C. Mounts.
There was a discussion of proposed
Improvements to the fair grounds,
but at the suggestion of Mr. High
land, this matter was postponed until
the present or next board of direc
tors of the Community club, which
has held a lease on the grounds, in
dicate their desires in the matter.
FEATURE PROGRAM AT
IMPERIALWEDNESDAY
An especially good program has
been prepared for the enjoyment of
Imperial patrons Wednesday eve
ning. A really amusing photoplay,
"A Misfit Earl." is the chief film
attraction, an dit deals with the ad
ventures of a cowboy in the land of
titled artlstocracy. You can imagine
ho wa real cowboy would behave
under such circumstances, and Louis
Bennison made a lively and exceed
ingly humorous production of it.
As an extra attraction, the man
agement will presetn The War Play
ers and Singers, a group of four
Yankee soldiers who bring the world
i ip music. The program contains
a lot of fun as well as tragedy. Every
member of the quartet saw overseas
service, and one of the features of
their performance Is a little sketch
of trench life. A Fatty Arbuckle
comedy completes the program.
On Thursday evening, the attrac
tion will be Maurice Tourneur's lat
est thrilling picture, "The Whits
Heather."
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THE NEBRASKA RIFLES
WHEREAS, The president of the United States, and the
members of his cabinet, arc convinced that a prave
danger exists in the form of a revoTutionary organ
ization, threatening the stability' of our government and the
overthrow of established law and order, and establish in place
thereof, a Russianized or soviet form of government, and.
"Whereas, They have called Upon the governors, and the
people of the several states, to form local military organiza
tions, to uphold the law, and assist tho regularly constituted
officers in the enforcement of latv, the protection of life and
property, the suppression of riots and mob rule, by revolu
tionary elements,
As loyal citizens responding to the call of our governor
and regularly constituted authorities, to form a temporary
military organization, of citizen soldiery for the purposes above
Bet forth, we deem it important, and highly, advisable, to give
to all the people, a plain statement and DECLARATION OF
PURPOSE, in order that there may be no misunderstanding,
or misconception of its aims, objects and purposes.;
Paragraph I. The sole purpose of this organization shall
be to assist the governor of this state, and the duly elected
peace officers thereof, in the enforcement of existing laws, to
maintain peace and order, and prevent rioting and the destruc
tion of lifo and property by lawless' reds, rioters, or "rev
olutionists. Paragraph II. It is positively asserted that this organ
ization is representative of all law abiding and loyal people,
and is in no wise antagonistic to organized labor, and is not
organized for the purpose of suppressing, or preventing reg
ularly called and peacefully and lawfully conducted strikes of
organized or unionized labor. ?
Paragraph III. .The reason for the formation of this
emergency organization is because of the fact that the present
available strength1 of the regular" army has been reduced by
demobilization to" about 25,000 men, being the smallest army
in time of peace since the close of the civil war, and for tho
further reason that there is no national guard in the state of
Nebraska, and because it is deemed to be the concensus of
' opinion, that it is best and wisest for all concerned, that the
dignity of the law be upheld and order maintained by all the
loyal citizenry of the country. '
Paragraph IV. The period of enlistment in this organ
ization is for six months unless sooner discharged.
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WHEELER VS. CANNON
THURSDAY NIGHT
A wrestling event will be pulled
off at the city armory on Thursday
evening, when Steve Cannon, weight
152. will meet A. B. Wheeler.. who
tips the scales at 212 on the mat.
The grapple promises to be one of
the most interesting that has been
pulled off in weeks. The last time
these two men tangled, Cannon re
ceived a couple of damaged ribs,
after they had battled for forty-five
minutes without a fall.- This is a
finish match in every sence of the
word, and those who come out ex
pecting to see a lot of action' will not
be disappointed ' r
The match is for a side bet of
100, and the winner will take all
the gate receipts. This means that
both of these men have confidence In
themselves. Cannon has been train
ing and Is in as fit physical condi
tion as he has ever been. . Wheeler
is ready for the toughest kind of mat
work. Wrestling fans are expecting
to see a game battle, and the two
contestants are ready to give it to
them.
Cannon has a series of three
matches scheduled for January, and
there are plenty more opportunities
for bouts after be meets Joe Stakes
at Scottsbluff on January 21 and
Pete Buzukos in a posaponed match
on the 28th.
Adam Wlckman and Gus Kruger
will stage a preliminary bout previ
ous to the main event.
APPEAL FOR FUNDS
FOR CITY MISSION
Authorized representatives of the
various social and religious organ
izations of Alliance, appointed to con
sider ways and means of continuing
the city mission, met Monday eve
ning. It was decided that the pro
posed plan, to have the mission sup
ported by voluntary contributions
from these organizations as a whole,
was not feasible, there being a per
ceptible lack of Interest on the part
of the delegates which may or may
not reflect the opinions of the vari
ous organisations.
A committee from the general
committee will this afternoon appear
before the county commissioners and
urge their support of the mission.
Another delegation will attend the
meeting of the council this evening
for the same purpose. Upon the ac
tion taken upon these appeals the
fate of the mission rests.
Mr. Rose of Rose Peterson of
Kansas City was an Alliance busi
ness visitor Saturday.
GOOD START TOWARD
ANJLLICIT STILL
After two or three weeks of com
parative inactivity, the police court
will again have something to do, un
less it is -decided to, pass the cases
a to county court. Chlefof Police
Nova Taylor, Sheriff Miller, Deputy
Oscar. Heed and .Burlington Special
Agent T. J. Smith have been work
ing to gether harmoniously this
week, and the result is a nice grist
of prisoners.
Several days ago, S. P. Lohr, em
ployed in the local freight house, had
stolen from him a pocketbook which
contained not only $140 or $150 in
bills, but two Burlington pay checks
for $52 and $67, as well as coupons
clipped from Liberty. bonds to the ex
tent of $14 or a trifle more.
Saturday last, Joe Price, colored,
attempted, so the officers say, to
cash one of the checks at the First
National bank. Shortly afterward,
he attempted to cash the Liberty
bond ceupons at the First State
bank. Jay Walker told him that it
was impossible to cash the coupons
and proceeded to hunt up the sher
iff, who arrested Price as he was
about to leave town. He is now in
the county Jail, but due to the activ
ities connected with the Lackey
hearing, no charge has yet been filed
against him. .
Mr. Price, the officers say, impli
cated one Alonzo Isaiah, also col
ored, and Chief of Police Nova Tay
lor . gatheerd him in Sunday night.
Judging from the appearance of Mr.
Isaiah's room, he was about to en
gage in the manufacture of some
thing or other. The officers report
the presence of a glass jug of corn
and a stone Jug filled with the same
cereal. In process of fermentation.
The paraphernalia was taken to the
city Jail, where Isaiah now reposes,
awaiting the filing of formal charges,
which may be made by the United
States district commissioner, who
has been notified.
Last Thursday, on a search war
rant, the Alliance hotel annex was
searched, and one Jesse Jensen taken
Into custody. In Jesse's room was
found a. Quantity of intoxicating
liquor, together with several empty
bottles. He put up cash bond of
$110 for appearance Tuesday, and
although it is possible that he
showed up, the county officers were
too busy with the Lackey bearing to
know It if be did.
The fogs of London bare a pic
turesque quality that is lacking la
the fogs that bang about the capltol
at Washington. Long Island City
Star.
If men were serpents women
would all want to be professional
snake charmers.
A (iOOD PLACi: FOIl
YOCIl OLl CM)TIIIN(1
Alliance residents who havo
In tholr porsoRHlon clothes that
hnvo homo wnnr lrft In them
will be doing the less fortunate
pooplo of tho city a good turn
by taking them to the George
D. Darling store, where they
will bo distributed free of
charge to those who need them.
Nearly every home has an
assortment of clothing that Is"
doing no one any good. It does
not entail any sacrifice beyond
the labor of sorting them out
and taking them down town
and you can be of material as
sistance to those lens fortunate
than yourself.
Do It today while you are
thinking of it. It's an easy way
to lend a helping hand. This
sort of relief goes exactly
where It's needed. Help it
along.
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While the allies are debating what
to do with Bill Hohenbollerv. we'd
like to get the loan of him to chop
wood for a spell. Columbia Record.
Men flatter merely, to protect
themselves from women who flirt.
FIREMEN TO VISIT
ALLIANCE FRIDAY
Several Delegations From Conven
tion to Hot urn Home by
Way of Tills City
J. W. Guthrie received a telegram
the flrBt of the week from President
Tobln of the State Volunteer Fire
men's association, which said that a
special train of four Pullmans, two
cars from Fremont and one each
from Columbus and Ord would re
turn from the Scottsbluff convention
by -way of Alliance. They will ar
rive in this city early Friday morn
ing and spend the day with the city.
. Community club directors and
members of the Alliance fire depart
ment will meet together tomorrow1
to discuss the question of entertain
ment as well as to take' up'the mat
ter of a special train from Alliance.
OPENING GAME OF
BASKETBALL. SEASON
The opening game of the home
basketball season will be played at
the high school gymnasium Friday
evening, January 6, when the Alli
ance quintet will meet the strong
Scottsbluff team. There will be a
snappy curtain-raiser as a prelim
inary. The toss-up comes at 7:30 p.
m. and the local fans are urged to
come out in force.
Last Friday the girls' basketball
team played the Scottsbluff girls,
Coach Messersmith, Mr. Prince as
referee and Mrs. T. A. Cross as chap
eron accompanying them. The final
score was 14 to 10 In favor of Scotts
bluff. The Alliance girls outplayed
their opponents in the first half, not
permitting them to make a single
field goal. The first half ended 7 to
3 in favor of Alliance. The game was
won in the last five minutes of the
second half, when they came back
strong and pushed themselves Into
the lead.
Saturday night, there was a
double-header at Morrill. In the
game between Alliance and the Mor
rill girls' teams, the Alliance quintet
won by the easy score of 5 to 28.
The Morrill girls secured one field
goal.
The boys' game was a dizzy affair
all through. One of the referees ad
mitted later that he knew nothing
of the rules of the game. The score
at the end of the first half was either
8 to 11 or 8 to 9, the record being
In dispute. At the end of the sec
ond half. It was announced to stand
at 24 to 24, but it should have been,
sccording to Mr. Prince, 24 to 28
It was decided to call it a tie, and
the game was extended five minutes
to play it off. During these five mln
utes Morrill secured 3 points and Al
liance but 2. The final score was
not announced, due to the confusion
and noise caused by the spectators,
and the frequent turning on and off
of the lights. In view of the ref
eree's ignorance of this year's rules,
It is possible that the game will be
contested.
It costs tbe miners $80.00A,400
and the operators $12,000,000. And
what blight little lad ean tell as who
is going to pay? -New Tork Tribune.
!A COMPANY OF
NEBRASKA RIFLES
ORGANIZED. HERE
ALLIANCE IS READY FOB ANT
EMERGENCY. .
Over One Hundred Members In Local
x Military Unit to Enforce
the Law
Within the past ten days there has
been formed in Alliance a company
for the Second regiment of the Ne
braska Rifles, which have been or
ganized under th h
as an emergency force whlh m
be called upon to restore order la
any part of the state upon call of
the governor. At the present tim'
there are over one tundrwd mm. V
bers enrolled, and ty the end of the
week it is expected that the full
quota of one hundred and tiff nt
have been secured.
The organization of th Hhnav.
Rifles Is due to discoveries made by
agents of the federal department of
Justice which furnish strong proof
that there is a strong revolutionary
organization existing in the United
States, with ample funds at. -thii
command, the object of which is to
overtnrow 38tabllshed law unrf nrrf
and substitute In their
of anarchy similar to that now in
uussla. The wholesale nrro.t r
reds" made by the fedmi
ment has removed a number of lead
ers ana has acted as a strong deter
rent, but there is little doubt in the
minds of the authorities that thero
are plenty of adherents remaining to
carry on the work.
Results of the invest Iran. k.
the department of Justice leave no
room for question as to the e'riat.n
of such an organisation. Its strength
cu oniy ne conjectured. It is not
the desire of the authorities to cause
any general uneasiness or alarm, bat
me iaci mat mis state has no. na
tional guard, counleil with .- '
that the standing army has been re
duced to about 25.000 men the low
est since the civil war has resulted
in the formation of two regiments
of Nebraska Rifles for use ' shnnM
emergency arise. .. , j, ,
One of these regiments is IneatMf
In Omaha: - The other rerlment im.
scattered over the state at strategic
points, two companies being in Lan
caster county. Members have h.i
recruited from all classes of citizen
business men, ex-service men, and
Plain citizens. These two resimente
are completed. Rifles and ammuni
tion have been f urn label, or will be
furnished before the week ends. They
are ready for service, and are sub
ject to call to any place in the state
during the ter mof enlistment, which;
Is for six months.
Upon request of the governor, a
meeting of reprorentatlve citizens
was called to pass upon the evidence
submitted. This meetlna azreed
that the formation of a local com.
pany for the Rifles was advisable.
Another meeting was called, where
a large number of citizens were nres-
ent, and the concensus of opinion
was mat the situation was sufficient
ly acute to call for Immediate action.
A committee was appointed to com
plete the organization, and thih has
practically been done. At the insis
tence of the authorities, the matter
was kept secret until all tho town
selected had recruited their com-
panles.
Other towns in the state bavins?
companies of the Nebraska Rifles In.
elude, Chadron. Scottsbluff, Grand
Island, North Platte and other places
similarly situated.
In another column on this care
will be found a declaration of prin
ciples for the local company of the
Rifles, which shows Just what was
the purpose in organization, and Just
what are the duties of its members.
Attention is particularly called to
paragraph II of the declaration
which Bets forth that the organisa
tion is in no wise opposed to organ
ized labor, and that it is not organ
ized for the purpose of suppressing,
or preventing, regularly called and
peacefully conducted strikes.
In a crisis such as confronts the
country today, there are, as one Al
liance man has expressed It, but two
classes those who are for the coun
try and those who are against It.
Those who are in the former class
have nothing to fear from the Ne
braska Rifles, or from any other
American.
Attention is called to the rehearsal
for the American Legion minstrel at
the armory tonight at T:10 o'clock.
Every member Is urgently requested
to be out en time, and to bring
friend. Everything will be read to
get right to work.