VOLUME XXVII.
ALLIANCE, BOX BUTTE COUNTY, N Kith' ASK A, FIJI DAY, MAY 7, 1320.
NUMBER 46
LACKEY TRIAL
NJARING END
State Concludes Testimony Friday
Morning Case May Go to
Jury Tomorrow
Lawrence H. Lackey, charged with
flrst-degrce murder in caurin the
death of his seven-year-old daughter,
Pauline, by giving her candy pol
eoned with strychnine, took-the stand
to testify In his own defense about
11:30 Friday morning. The prose
cution s last witness was called to
the Btand during the morning. There
remain only the "examination of
Lackey, the pleas and the decision of
the Jury to bring the most sensation
al case ever tried in Box Butte coun
ty to a close.
Lackey, in his testimony, entered a
flat denial of several statements
made by witnesses for the prosecu
tion, among them statements made
by his brother, Frank. Frank Lack
ey yesterday morning testified that
he had told Lawrence and his mother
that one of them had killed Pauline,
and that Lawrence had got red in the
face. Lawrence Lackey declared
that Frank had never made any
such charge, but admitted that he
had told the mo'r something to
this effect, and thab-nts mother had
afterward told him of Frank's sus
picions. He denied that he had re
fused to have an autopsy performed
on the body of his little daughter.
He said that he did not like the
thought of mutilating her body, and
Dr. Hand told him then that there
was no time that evening to do it,
and then he told the doctor that he
would let him know in the morning.
The following morning he called up
the doctor and gave the consent.
Lawrence explained how he. came
to say to Frank: "If you had kept
your d n nose out of It, there
wouldn't have been any trouble."
He said that the two of them were
walking home one night, and Frank
said to him: "The three of us have
got to stick together." . It was then
that he told Frank that if he had
not stirred up the trouble,, nobody
would have been accused, Then,
Lawrence said, Frank told him, in
effect: "It that's the way you feel
about it, I'll go anead and see that
my .mother . and myself are pro
tected.'.'
At the Friday afternoon session,
iackey testified that Pauline was his
favorite child, that everybody liked
her and that he knew of no one who
would be benefited by her death or
who would desire it. He denied the
testimony of Sheriff Miller regarding
the story told by Convict Gill and
the sheriff, which was ruled out by
the judge previously. He told of sev
eral quarrels with Gill, and that he
found the bottle of strychnine in
Gill's cell, but threw It away.
He denied that he had asked his
wife to return, but acknowledged re
gret at the separation on account of
the children. He finally acknowl
edged that he had not only been will
ing to have her come back, but had
done what he could to induce her
to do so. He acknowledged that he
had ridden down town with Dr.
Blak after the child's death and that
he had made no inquiry as to the
cause of death. He denied saying to
his brother, Frank, that if it tnov
"death to bring his wife back, she
would come back now," and also say
ing to County Attorney Basye that
the result of the autopsy was just as
he had expected.
Selection of Jury.
The trial began Wednesday morn
ing, there having "been lees delay in
the selection of a Jury than had been
anticipated. Forty-nine talesmen
were called and a large number were
disqualified because of having
formed an opinion from the testi
mony at the preliminary hearing.
The Jury as selected consisted of the
following: Joseph Carey, P. J.
Knapp, W. L. Griffith, Bruce Mc
Dowell, A. J. Gahagan, Clarence
Morgan, It. L, Harris, K. E. Robin
son, C. D. Rider, C. W. Howard, 'Jo
seph Henrlcks and Joe A. Johanzen.
In his opening statement, County
Attorney Basye declared that evi
dence would be presented to show
that Lawrence Lackey and his wife
were divorced a month before te
death of Pauline; that he was
awarded the custody of fire children
for six months; that on the evening
previous to the death of Pauline the
father had purchased candy, making
particular request for chocolates
with soft centers; that he took IMs
candy home, giving it to his children;
that on the morning of th child's
death, September 11, he took Paul
ine and a younger sister, Wilma. to
school, and as he parted from them,
gave each ' piece of candy; that
Pauline complained her candy was
bitter, but ate It nevertheless; that
shortly afterward sher 'was taken ill,
a doctor was called and she was re
moved to her home, where she died
of convulsions.
The county attorney stated thit
the state w6uld attempt to prove
that he father was not in the habit
of taking his children to school; that
the symptoms of the little girl's sick
ness were those of strychnine fiol-
soning, and that the father was the
uniy one wno gave ner anyimng to
eat after leaving home. The attend
ing physician suspected poisoning,
the city physician was notified, and
the father objected to an autopsy, af
terward giving his consent. An anal
ysis of the stomach showed the pres
ence of strychnine.--
The state's theory, as shown bv
the opening address, seems to be that
the father poisoned the little girl in
the hope that her death would bring
nls wife back. Lackey had brooded
over his separation from hla wife.
He had written letters, Mr. Basye
charged, to his mother-in-law, hint
ine that ROniPthfntr wmilrt tiiniun
that they would all be sorry for if
his wife did not return to him.
Case for the Defen.se
William Mitchell, who made the
opening statement for the defense,
pointed out to the Jury the solemn
nature .of the task that confronted
them. He declared that what evl
dence the state had was nurelv cir
cumstantlal. and said that If such
evidence were to convict, every mem
ber of the Jury was in constant dan
ger every time he bought candv for
his children. Mr. Mitchell scored the
brother of the defendant, Frank
Lackey. He said there was an un
natural condition in this familv.
where a brother desired to convict
a brother. He said there was no pos
sible motive the state could show to
explain why a father would kill his
cnildrf Mr. Mitchell insisted that the
analysis of the child's stomach,
which showed the presence of strych
nine, proved nothing. The child had
been embalmed, and there was a pos
sibility that the fluid used contained
a poison.
Judge Warns Crowd
Judge Bayard H. Paine of Grand
Island, presiding, addressed the
crowded court room before the tak
ing of testimony began, warning
them to abstain from applause, whis
pering or in any manner showing
their BentlmentsJ He explained that
cSses had been .' reversed and sent
back for retrial where the audience
had influenced the Jury.
The court room has been crowded
at every session since tne ta king of
testimony began. The audience is
composed largely of women, and ev
ery available seat has been taken
long before the time set for the open
ing of court. After the first day a
number of women have brought their
lunches with them and stayed right
In the building in order to avoid los
ing any of the testimony. There ap
pear to be many girls of school age
(Continued on page 5) .
ALLIANCE IN
THROXJGH the courtesy of T. S.
Fielding, The Herald this week
reproduces a photograph ot
Alliance as it appeared in the spring
of 1893, shortly after the last big
fire, which wiped out several blocks
on Box Butte avenue. Twenty-seven
years ago. Alliance citizens were
wading in mud Just as they are to
day, thanks to a conscienceless pav
ing gang. The sidewalks, made of
plank or boards, were few and far
between. There would be aometimes
as much as a half-block of sidewalk,
and then for a block or two the mud
was ankle-deep. There's more rain
thU year and the mud is deeper.
The little frame shack in the fore
rf- r txtmtf$ ZtSxiJ rXhfy:.; : :- ' ' :" l
i- t :-a f-rd: v ' ''wTw'iBlfc -' .. r-...- r-. .
U?;rX '-U-i vvV ihvv i:; y :.. y:s;. y ; v,a : ,,,, -v,
ESTABLISH SCHOOL
TOTRMRSES
St. J oJ soph's Hospital to Ki:ter Jfew
Field Miss (ienrvleve 81icrl
dan 1'IaTtI In Chaise
Under the direction of Genevive B.
Sheridan, R. N., of Rochester. Minn.,
a training school for nurses is about
to be opened at St. Joseph's Hospital
of this city. The rapid prowth of the'
hospital within the last three years,
has made the training school a neces
sity. Miss Sheridan, who arrived in Al
liance on May 1, and to whom the
entire management of the patients at
the hospital is now entrusted, is a
graduate of the county and city hos
pital of St. Paul, Minn., and a post
graduate of the school of nurses of
the Mayo-Clinics at Rochester, Minn.
During the world war she was a Red
cross nurse, doing overseas service
In the American hospitals In France.
"I am very ( optimistic," said Miss
Sheridan to a Herald reporter this
morning, "tor the success of the
trainnlg school. The splendid and
modern equipment of this hospital,
combined with unity of effort on the
part of doctors and nurses, I am con
fident, will bring this Institution op
to the standard of any of the first
class hospitals in the west.
TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT;
SHORTAGETHREATENED
The telephone company has been
having much trouble recently get
ting enough apparatus and supplies
to Install telephones and telephone
equipment.
This situation, telephone officials
say. has resulted from two causes:
There is a nation-wide scarcity ot
raw products, especially, wood, pape
and metals, the principal material
used In making telephone supplies.
Also there is an unusual demand for
telephon eservlce throughout the
country, which has continued for
nearly two years. . '
Because of the shortage of raw
materials and the heavy demand for
telephone supplies, the factories are
unable to furnish telephone instru
ments, wire, switchboard parts and
other equipment as fast as needed.
The telephone company is making
every effort to take care of requests
for the Installation of telephone or
changes in equipment as promptly as
possible, but Manager Clay Harry j
says that at times there is likely to
be considerable delay. I
The telephone company is asking '
that it be notified as early as possi- J
hla vhon n new tftlfinhnnA f m vonfiul
or when any change fn equipment is
desired.
THE SPRING OF 1893--JUST AFTER THE BIG FIRE
ground was the home of Porter &
Co., bankers, wh oafterward sold out
to R. M. Hampton. This building
was probably built to replac one
that had burned in a previous fire.
The two-story building several lots
to the north is the building now oc
cupied by the Mallery grocery. The
school building is the Central school.
Two small buildings stand on th eulte
of the present postofflce. The Opera
House block looked about the same
at the front as it does now, save that
it was then in course of construction.
Now they are putting In the last of
a series of modern store fronts. The
church to the right of the picture Is
the Methodist. The small frame
building this side of it waa occupied
R0TAR1ANS GO
TO SCOTTSBLUFf
Attend Joint Meeting Where Clubs
in Three Cities Will Re
ceive Charters.
Charter members of the Alliance
Rotary club left for ScottsbluH
Thursday afternoon, where they will
attend a joint meeting at which the
newly organized Rotary clubs of
Alliance, Chad i on and Scottsbluff
will receive charters.
Charles Stroaer of Lincoln, dis
trlc governor for the Rotary clubs,
with a territory covering fourBtates,
made the presentation. He was ac
companied by a large number ot
members of the Lincoln club. The
Scottsbluff meeting, according to Mr.
Stiader, was the largest ever held"
in the west.
Invitations had been sent to Ro
tary clubs of northeastern Colorado
and -eastern Wyoming, and a nura
ber from the various clubs of the
states were present to witness the
installation of the officers of the Al
liance, Chadron and Scottsbluff or
ganizations.
' The members of the Chadron club,
twenty-four in number, stopped off
in Alliance on their way to Scotts
bluff, and for two or three hours
were entertained in the city. They
were made at home at the Elks club,
and. a luncheon, was tendered them.
If entertainment at tho club proved
too tame, they were permitted to go
Upon Box Butte avenue and use the
crossings while a light rain was fall
ing. One Chadron delegate said that
It was the most thrilling sport be re
called since he had learned to roller
skate.
The following members of the
Chadron club made the trip: W. S.
Bostder, R. I. Elliott, H. B. Coffee,
Ed F. White, W. S. Satterlee, II. E.
Relsche, Euterpe Thompson, L. R.
Bower, P. P. Proudfit, Joe Rayburn
(this is probably J, . F. Rayburn,
Cbadron's new city manager, but the
town is well enough acquainted with
him to give him a nickname), Rer.
Mr.:Davies, Dr. M. B. McDowell, E.
CWByerly, T. P. Dobyns, Ed Mbrey,
O." J.' SchwIeger. O, 8. Renfro, W. T.
Stockdale, George Stevens, B. F.
Fenner, B. F. Pitman, E. D. Crites,
Roy Randall, C. H. Pollard.
INTERESTING MEETING
OF WOMEN VOTERS
The League of Women Voters
held an interesting meeting at the
home of Mrs. G. L. Fernold Wednes
day afternoon. Subjects pertaining
to national constitution and history
of party caucuses, conventions and
rights of .suffrage. Other miscella
neous topics were discussed. It was
voted to hold a meeting the first
Thursday of each month. .
1
"T
From
by a cobbler who was willing to stop
half-soling shoes to arise and shave
customers when desired. The cobbler-barber
afterward gav e up the
shoe repairing business and devoted
his entire time to tonsorlal work. In
those days, thank heaven, hair tonics
were unknown. ,
But one , man in the entire pic
ture has been recognised by the old
timers. You will observe, almost in
the exact center of the scene, a gen
tleman with cutaway coat and silk
tile. This Is not as Jim Hunter has
guessed, a visiting railroad magnate.
Jim's theory la that he must be a vis
itor. In those wild days, a citizen
couldn't sppear In a silk bat without
some fun-loving brother taking a
T1II1 WKATHKIl
For Alliance and Vicinity: Fair
tonight and Saturday; warmer Sat
urday.
Miss Hazel Meyer, sister of Earl
Meyer, 1012 Cheyenne street, has nc
rtpted the. position of nursing at St
Joseph Hospital. . Mlns Meyer la a
graduate of the Laughlins hospital
in Kirksville, Mo.
HONORS TO JUNIORS
IN HIGH SCHOOL MEET
me annual interclass meet was
very successful. Each class was well
represented a,nd tho competition was
Keen in itx emajority of events.
Lester Deal won individual honors
wan 33 points. Frank Dailey sec
ond with 204 points. Good records
were made in the heavy track and
field. One school record was lower
ed one-fifth of a second by Frank
Daily in the 220 yard dash.
. 100 yd. dash Dailey, 1st; Strong,
2nd; Beal 3d. Time, 11 1-5 seconds
Pole Vault Dailey, 1st,; Purdy,
2nd; Beal, 3rd. 8 ft. in.
Shot Put Beal, 1st; Brennan,
2nd; Purdy, 3rd. 83 ft 4H In.
Mile Run Lawrence, 1st; La
Ravlere, 2nd; Seldler, 3rd. 5 min
60 sec. ...
Broad Jump Beal, 1st; Dailey,
2nd; Furdy, 3rd. , IT ft. 11 in.
High Jump Pate, 1st; Beal, 2nd;
Bailey, 3rd. 4 ft. 10 in.
H Mile Run La Ravlere, 1st;
Se.dler, 2nd; Morrow, 3rd. 2 min.,
28 sec.
220 yd. dash Dailey 1st; . Beal
2nd; Purdy, 8rd. . 26 sec.
Discus Throw Beal 1st; Brennan,
2nd; Purdy. 81 ft, 6 in.
440 yd. dash Lawrence 1st;
Stu ng, 2nd.; Wong, 3rd. 64 sec.
120 yd. High Hurdles) Beal 1st;
Cross 2nd. 19 1-5 sec.
Hammer Tthrow Donovan, 1st;
Beal, 2nd.; Pate, 3rd. 81 ft 6 in.
230 yd.' Low Hurdles) Beal and
Purdy tied; Cross, 2nd. 35 sec. : .
V4 Mile Relay Juniors, 1st;
Freshmen, 2nd.; Sophomores, ' 3rd.
1:48.;, ; ,.Vn, ... ;;L.."r " '
Scores b'y points; Juniors, 57;
Freshmen, 33; Sophomores, 24; Sen
iors, n; x - .
The following will represent Alli
ance in the Western Nebraska Track
and Field meet at Scottsbluff Satur
day: Frank Dailey, Lester Beal,
Lee Strong, Robert Lawrence, Leon
ard Pate and Lester Cross. Every
one Js strong enough in his event to
cop a medal in the meet. The first
four will make up a strong: relay
team that should give any retay team
strong competition all the way to the
tape. The team will bid strong and
should win the trophy of Western
Nebraska.
Photo owned by T. S. Fielding.
shot at it with his pistol. The silk
hatted gentleman was a Journeyman
tailor, by name Ernest Zopher, who
encouraged T. S. Fielding to move to
Alliance from Chadron, and after
ward entered his employ. History
has it that he finally lost that silk
hat, not by having it shot off, but bv
having a 'playful cattleman smash it
down ovex his eyes "crown" him,
we believe, is the proper expression.
The tailor had entered a thirst em
porium, for a purpose not known,
and the excess of dignity represented
by that shining tile was offensive to
someone. Mr. Zopher never again
appeared In public wearing a silk
hat, and the probabilities are that be
didn't own the mate to It.
TWENTY-FIVE TO
TO BEGRADUATED
ConuiH-nrement KxcitUcb Will IVfl
Held at IJIgh School Prl
. day Evening, May 21.
Commencement exercises for th
Alliance high school graduates, class
of 1920. will be held at the hleh
school auditorium Friday evening.
May 21. The orator for the occasion
Is Charles A. Pavne. a world travel.
?r of note, who has been lecturing ta
classes In the universities of half a .
dozen western states. Mr. Payne
was sent to Europe by the national
geographic society, and was recom
mended to Alliance by the Univernltr
of Nebraska. t
The class of 1920, barring accl
ents, will contain twenty-five mem
bers, ten boVS and flftrfn elrU Tha
names' of the graduates will not be
announced until the final week, for
It Is possible that some one or two
slated for graduation will- fall to
make the grade. This seldom hap
pens, but the school authorities cr.
fer to be certain.
Baccalaureate services will taka
place at the high school auditorium
Sunday evening, May 16.. Rev. a J.
m . .
cpier or me First Christian chnreh
will deliver the address. It will hm
a united service of all the churches
in the city. . ,
ALLIANCE BRIEFS
The Junior-senior banauet was rtr-
en at the high- school nmnninm
Thursday evening. Tha hnii
decorated in the class colors,, maroon
ana cream. The dinner was served
by the ladles of the Baptist church.
About seventy five were nronont vhm
following toast list waa given:
Carl Buecbsensteln. tatatmt
"Slncerety. Glen Joder: tiws.
standing," Mary Wool Is: "Courage
Miss Keith: "Co-o Deration " Vmn.
ces Grassman; "Endeavor," Ray Ed
wards;. "System" F. C.J Prine.i
'Service," Madeline Zediker. ' .
One ' doesn't h
" w v IUUVU
about" the overall clubs these days,
but they have bad their effect, all
right. A local merchant was iofk.
ng this week to place an order for
Just four suits of overalls for one of
his customers, and was given the in
formation that the concern from
which he buys it not accenting mr
overall orders for delivery earlier
than September ,15, and then at a
considerably Increased price. Thla
concern is a large one, operating fif
teen factories, and the state of the
market indicates that the . demand
must have been 'way out of the or
dinary. .......
One of the outdoor snorts thesa
days is to listen to the comments of
Alliance visitors when they get a
good look at our crossings, or, better
Ul, when they are wading through
them. Alliance folks are becoming
more or less resigned. Prospects
right now are not the most favor
able for street Improvement So
long as the rains keep up, It is Im
possible to begin the preliminary
grading, and there can be no hone of
crossings until the paving goes in
or public sentiment develops to a
point whtro somebody will get in
sistent with those who are responii-
Dlu for the condition. The pavinc
naug Is still working t Mitchell.
One Herald renrespntatlva attar
hearing that the paving machinery
and rang would be here within eight
days, bet a handful of cigars that
they wouldn't show up for three
weeks. He hasn't worried about los
ing for a minuto, and his opponent
has practically conceded defeat JuBt
think how much rain can fall in three
weeks and keeD cheerful.
A water-color picture of the nro-
posed new Methodist church has ar
rived and a reproduction will appear
in tne next Issue of The Herald. It
will be seen to be a classic design,
or what might be called "library
style." This particular deaien. ma
popular la the west during the last
decade or two, had its origin in the
Greek temples, which were noted for
their Deautiful exteriors. "The in
terior arrangement has been care
fully prepared for modern chureb
work," says the Rey. Mearl C. Smith,
ana while it will not be tha t.tr.
est church in the state, we know of
none that we consider so. well
planned for the latest tvne of church
work. We think the arrangement
will meet the approval of Alliance
people."
It has been suggested that those
who desire to observe Mothers' Day
and are unable to procure flowers
wear a rosette of white ribbon or
chiffon instead.