Witt
VOLUME xxvn.
ALLIANCE, BOX BUTTE COUNTY, NEBRASKA, TUESDAY, MAY 11, 1920.
NUMBER 47
MM
LAWRENCE LACKEY
IS GIVEN LIBERTY
District (Vnirt Jury Acquits lllm on
Charge of l'olsonlnjr Seven-Year-old
Daughter
A district court Jury brought in a
verdict of acquittal for Lawrence
Lackey, on trial cMrsel v'th Srst
degree murder, at 2 o'clock Satur
day morning after having been out
for nearly five hours. Tifty or six
ty of Lackey's friends, confident of a
favorable verdict, had remained in
tn the court room awaiting the jury's
verdict, and for the rest half hour
Lackey was kept busy shaking
hands with those who crowded
around him with congratulations.
The case was given to the jury at
8:30 p. in., following the argument
of Eugene Burton for the prosecu
tion and the reading of instructions
to the Jury by Judge Bayard Paine.
The testimony was concluded Friday
afternoon and the argument of Wil
liam Mitchell completed the after
noon session.
Lawrence Lackey was the last
witness called. He took the stand
about 11 o'clock Friday morning,
and for three hours answered ques
tions. He denied testimony given by
his brother, Frank, his mother and
other relatives. He entered a denial
to all of the testimony given by John
Gill, 'convict, who was In jail with
him during a part of his confinement,
and also to a part of Sheriff Miller's
testimony. The testimony of the lat
ter two had been ordered stricken
from the records. He told of having
had trouble with his brother, Frank,
one of the roost damaging witnesses
for the state, and declared that
Frank had once told, hi mthat he
"would get even. If it took six
years." He denied making state
ments his brother had quoted him as
giving.
Lackey's Testimony
Lackey told a straightforward
story of the events of December 11,
the day his little daughter, Pauline,
died. He said that, due to an illness
some time before, she was his favor
ite child. He knew of one one who
would have benefited by the little
girl's death and declared that he had
no reason for wishing It.
In his cross-examination, Friday
afternoon. Lackey told of an agree
ment made with his wife last fall,
when she secured a divorce, that he
was to have the children six months,
after which she was to have the girls.
tiii: vi:atiii:u
ALLIANCE, Neb.; May 11. For
Alliance r.nd vicinity: Showers to
night and Wednesday.
Cooler tonight in cast and south-
font rul portion Wednesday.
look like a murderer?" the picture
father and daughter presented was
most effective.
Will Work on Hunch
Lawrence Lackey, the day follow
ing his acquittal, stated that ho had
not had much time to ninke plniis,
but that he was about decided to
take hia daughter, Wilms, and work
for the next few months on th? Irv
ing Peterson ranch, near Alliance.
The two sons of Mr. Lackey were
kept by Mr. Peterson during the time
the father was in Jail. The boys and
little baby are now with Lackey's
divorced wife at McCook. Wilma
will be taken to her mother after the
stay at tho Peterson ranch, Lackey
says. . i
Lackey has been offered two posl
tiora since his release, one with the
Alliance Packin company as a sales
man, and the other with the Lowry
& Henry arage, where he worked be
fore his arrest.
Lawrence Lackey was a visitor at
the court house Saturday following
his release and with his daughter
Wilma was an Interested spectator at
the case of the State of Nebraska vs.
Charles Brown, charged with assault
with intent to commit great bodily
Injury.
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MKTHODIST KPlSCOrAL tiJlUCH
evidence by the state was his proper
ly, aithougn ne admitted ne naq a
nlfe. He did not explain by what
igtit he had ordered the plaintiff to
'ay off the street, or why he had
promised her a beating."
Mrs. Essie Englinh was tho second
witness called by the state and she
corroborated Miss Foster's testimony
n every detail, and told a lot more
beside. It was she who ndvlsol Wll-
ie to run after Charles had struck
her. She siad that she reached for
he quart bottles as soon as she saw
him draw back his hand. When she
had them in her hand, she addressed
Charles thusly:
'If you touch that girl again, I'll
bust your head wide open."
To which Charles gallantly made
reply:
"'If you butt In here, I'll slit your
hroat from ear to ear."
FISHING TRIP AND
SERMON FOR T. P. A.
At the regular meeting of Post M,
T. P. A., held Saturday afternoon at
the office of the Alliance chamber of
commerce, the members of the post
voted to attend a sermon to bo
preached by the post chaplain, Rev.
Stephen Epler, at the Christian
church on Sunday morning, May 30,
at 11 o'clock.
The post also voted to hold a fish
ing trip, on another date, which will
be attended by the traveling men
and their families. F. A. Bald was
appointed chairman of a committee
to arrange for the date and the tr'p,
as well as the location. The date
will probably be on a Friday and the
location will probably ba on ' Dead
Horse creek. In the Pine Ridge coun
try, north of Alliance, where the
trout bite freely.
Secretary Rufus Jones of the
To be erected on the corner of Seventh and Box Butte, Alliance.
Building is a classic or "library" dea gn, 75x75 feet besides the portico
in front. It will be constructed of P essed brick and hollow tile. There
will be a small dome for lighting thi Interior, but will not be visible from
the outside, being hidden by the fire wall. There will be three Btorles,
arranged as follows:
The main floor contains auditorium with bowled floor, circular pews,
pulpit with choir loft behind. Beating 60 people. The auditorium Includ
ing the choir loft will seat 400 people. The main floor also contains
choir room, pastor's study, and Junior departmental room which can be
opened Into the main auditorium f it . additional seating capacity when
needed.
Gallery floor: A few rows of s eats on both the east and north sides
will seat 150 people. Behind these seats are nine class rooms, all en
closed as ordinary rooms, varying la slie..' These will be used by the
Intermediate, senior and adult departments.
Basement: Contains large kitchen, parlor, beginners department
a ' i . a . j n jo m a.
room, primary department room, ana rge social room, una
which can be used for dining room, games, Sunday school assembly
room, or entertainments. A stage ii In the north end of the room." It
will be thirteen feet In the clear, so will be well adapted for an assem
bly room.
A pipe organ will be built over the choir room with the console In
the center of the choir loft. A ventilating system will be Installed with
the heating plant, which will be usel to circulate the heat In the winter.
and to cool off the room by circulation of air in the summer.
MADELINE ZENKER
STATE CHAMPION
Alliance High lchool lntestani
Win First Place In the
State Contest
chamber of commerce, who Is a
He said he had been very anxious to member of the post and chairman of
have his wife return to him, and had
even had a minister write to her In
L!3 bcbr.!f. Mrs. Kelly, his mother-in-law,
was recalled and said she had
received a letter from Lawrence
Lackey, her son-in-law containing
the statement that something might
happen to the children so that his
wife would never get them. Lackey
denied that he had written any such
letter. Mrs. Kelly said that In all
the letters Lackey had written he
had expressed love for the children.
County Attorney Lee Basye made
the openin plea for the prosecution.
He summarized the events leading
the press committee, resigned on ac-
Miss Madeline Zediker, represent
ing Alliance high school." won first
place In the state declamatory con
test In the dramatic class, giving the
selection, "Rock of Ages," which won
her both the local and district ton-
tests, held during the past month.
The state contest was held at Gor
don last evening, and at St. Edward,
count of leaving the city, and George tne orat0rical and humorous classes
Burr was elected to fill the vacancy. bt,jnK ropreBpnted at the latter city.
The following resolution was pre- The cordon contest was held Mon-
sented and adopted: day evenlng, and Miss Zediker made
"Whereas, One of the best boostcs a tremendous impression with her se-
for Post M Is about to leave the city ".ectlon, a number of the audience be-
for his new home in Denver, and 'ng In tears during Its rendition.
"Whereas, He has done much for I At the contest last night. Miss Zed
the welfare and advancement of
Post M during his stay here, as
chairman of the press committer and
as a private in the front rank of the
post; therefore, be it
"Resolved, That we, tho members
ker entered Into competition with
the winners for the six districts of
the Btate, and the competition was,
of course, much more keen than on her up the street a distance of half
CHARLES BROWN
IS FOUND GUILTY
Convlcted by Jury of Felonious As
Mult on Willie llrown To
. lie Sentenced Today
- fineries Brown, colored, was found
guilty by a Jury In district court Sat
urday of felonious assault on Willie
Brown, colored with Intent to do
great bodily injury. The Jury was
out only a short time. Judge Paine
has not yet passed sentence, but this
is expected to be done today, in or
der that Brown may be taken to the
penitentiary with John Gill, convict
who was here to testify In the Lackey
case. - m
The evidence offered by the state
was to the effect that Brown had
been keeping company with Mir?
Foster. On March 1, she was down
town and passed by the Sam Shelton
cafe, where Brown was eating break
fast. The time was about 11:30
in. He left the restaurant, followed
any previous occasion. Ainance
high school Is very proud of the rec
HEMINGFORD HIT
BY A TORNADO
Sunday Afternoon Twister Tear
Down HulMing nnl Onuses
Other Damage
A tornado which circled the city
of llemlngford late Sunday after
noon left a trail of broken windows,
damaged windmills and wrecked
barns sheds and houses, in its path.
l ne windstorm was preceded by a
heavy hall storm, which began short
ly after 5 p. m.", and fifteen minutes
later the funnel-shaped cloud began
to get In Its work.
The tornado came up from the
southwest and the first place It-
struck was the Fred Ilucke farm, one
Whereupon, seeing that Willie was I mile due south of llemlngford. Here
safe, she retreated to the house.
Brown remained outside, daring
them to come out Mrs. English
quoted him as Baying:
"If you don't believe I'll kill her,
just throw her out. Just you throw
her out, that's all."
Mrs. English said she threatened
to "call the law."
Damn the law," was the way
Charles expressed his sentiments.
On eross-examlnatlon, she denied
that she told Charles that she'd take
a "pistol and blow his brains
(Continued on page 4)
practically every building on the
place was damaged somewhat, but
with the exception of a few small
sheds nothing was wrecked. The
first object in the path of the Btorm.
after It struck the ground, was a
strawstack which was scattered all
over the surrounding territory. Two
or three small sheds were crushed,
a snow fence was wrecked, the house
lost a chimney and several patches
of shingles, boards were ripped off
the barn. A wagon was picked up
and set down fifty feet away. In an
other place two wagons were stand
ing side by side. - The storm too o;i
of these nearly around the house,
driving the tongue Into the lawn al
most Its full length.
After leaving the Hucke place, the
storm continued northeast, and later
circled around, striking llemlngford
Eight gentlemen of color, and one I coming from almost the opposite dl-
COLORED'GAMBELERS
IN POLICE COURT
lady of the same complexion, re
ceived fines In police court after a
legnl struggle of four hours In which
there was both testimony and ora
tory. Attorney Earl Meyer substl-
rectlon. The reports of damages in
that city show the loss to have been
greater. The Mellck & Redmon ma
chine shed was literally torn to
pieces. A plank was picked up and
tuted for City Attorney Mets during driven through the llemlngford Mer-
thr trial, which was one of the most cantile company's store, taking tke
Interesting tn weeks. The charge back end out of the building. Hero
was gnmbling. The eight men re- the loss was considerable as n drug
ceived fines of $10 and costs, apiece, stock is located In this part of tho
a total of $15, while Willie James, The back porch was removed from
the woman, was assessed $25 and the house of Postmaster John Kins
costs, largely because it was In the ley, and Mr. Kinsley was cut about '
rooming hous conducted by her thnt I the forehead by flying glass. Tho
the gambling was going on. I roof was torn off the Farmers' Un-
Arrest was made at a raid at 115 lion coal sbed. One of the potato
Sweetwater Friday, evening by Chief loading platforms down by the rail-
of Police Taylor and Night Watch road tracks was picked , np Jby the ..
Trabert. They told of surrounding wind and set down, without damage,
the premises, and lying in wait till at a point near the city's electric
the game started. The chief then
took a look through one of the win-'
dows, and saw a large number of
men gathered about a table He
lighting plant, two blocks distant.
A report of another twister, or the
same one, striking at the home of
James Ringer, four miles southwest
heard the rattle of dice, and words of llemlngford, has also reached Al-
sounding like "Big Dick" and "Little liance. The stories differ as to the
Joe" and others which furnished suf- effects of the storm, but it Is said
ficlent evidence to convince him that that new hog houses containing over
money was changing hands pretty 100 pigs were destroyed. There was
rapidly. He then entered the house, little loss among the pigs, but one cu-
galned entrance to the room by rlous effect of the storm, as given by
up to the child's death, calling atten- of Post M. extend to ou brother and ord made by its representative, and
tlnn. nnmnar nthor thlncn. tn tho fnet . fellow memOer. UUfUS Jono.3, OUI
that this was the first time that sincere and hearty- wishes for a fuc-
Lackey had ever cone to school with Icessful future and caro?r in his new
his children. He said that Lackey ; location, and we extend to him our
had Admitted elvin them randv In : regrets in losing him as A Citizen of
other times when he had given them .our city."
candy he had given them the sack George D. Read has been elected
and let them help themselves. This as delegate and Roy C. Strong as al-
time he had handed it out himself, ternate to attend the national T P
piece by piece. Other candy out of A. convention in Portland, Ore., in
the same pall had been eaten by June.
others with no bad results.
Audience Applauds
William Mitchell, In his plea for
the defense, was applauded by the
court room when he declared that
Dr. Blak should have called another
physician. Judge Paine stopped the
applause and warned the crowd that
he would clear the room if the
offense "was repeated. The judge Bald
that such a demonstration was strict
ly against the law, and that cases
.had been reversed where it was
shown that the audience had shown
th ejury how they felt Dr. Blak,
Mr. Mitchell declared, had said the
child was getting better shortly be
fore she died, thus showing that he
had not recognlied the symptoms as
thos eof strychnine poisoning.
Lackey, his attorney said, was
willing to take back his wife for the
sake of the children. The state bad
failed, he said, to show that Lackey
had ever had any strychnine. The
principal witnesses against him were
relatives, interested in preventing the
casting of suspicion on someone else
or for other reasons.
The defendant wept during the
plea of his attorney. His little
daughter. Wilma, took the chair
next to him during the argument.
and when, in the course of the argu
ment. Mr. Mitchell asked: "Does he
FAMOUS PIANIST
TO VISIT ALLIANCE
Trofessor A. W. Roper, one of Am
erica's most noted pianists, will visit
Alliance and give an entertainment
In the Methodist church In the even
ing of June 4th, under the auspices
of the Methodist choir. Those who
attended the great Centenary conven
tion In Omaha where 2,000 delegates
from Iowa and Nebraska met In the
Brandels theatre will never forget
the fine entertainment given by Pro
fessor Roper, which was perhaps the
most appreciated part of the pro
gram. He travels with Professor E
O. Excell whose name Is known
the whole city feels the same way
about It. ' ; f-r
RAMSEY OF AMARILLO
DECLINES SECRETARYSHIP
R. S. Ramsey of Amarillo, Tex.,
who sent a wire to the chamber of
commerce a week ago announcing
that he would accept the chamber's
offer of a secretaryship at $3,300 a
year, yeBterday telegraphed that it
would be impossible for him to come
to Alliance. A letter explaining the
reasons for his declining the posi
tion is on the way, and when it ar
rives the mystery may be solved.
The defection of Mr. Ramsey
leaves the chamber of commerce in
rather a hole. The race meet is only
six weeks hence, and Rufus Jones,
who has been holding the position
until his successor's arrival, cannot
much longer delay his departure.
There are two or three outside men
in prospect, but the directors, who
discussed the matter at their regu
lar meeting last evening, are of the
opinion that the place should be
filled without delay.
In all probability, a local man will
among musicians everywhere. The
reason for his coming to Alliance is I be selected for the place, to serve un
that he will be returning from a con-1 til after the race meet, at least. Sev-
ventlon in Rapid City, South Dakota, I eral men have been discussed, and a
and will necessarily have a few I selection will likely be made within
hours wait in this city. Learning of
this opportunity to hear one of the
world's greatest musicians, a tele
gram was immediately sent accepting
the offer.
Dodge touring car for sale or
trade in A-l condition. Phone 570
47-48p
two or three days. The big task fac
ing the directors right now is to
make a big success of the race meet.
and they believe that a local man
could handle this to a better advan
tage than a regular secretary, unac
quainted with the situation.
$2.50 year The Herald.
a diock behind, ana continued 10
sMck around until she started for
home, when he struck in ahead of
her. At a point near her home
Brown crossed the street, stopped
her and her companion, Mrs. Eng
lish, and after telling her that he bad
"told her not to go out of the house"
struck her with his open hand. In
his other hand was an open knife.
Willie ducked and ran into the house
while Mrs. Essie English, Willie's
companion, picked up a couple of
convenient quart bottles and calmed
him down. Brown stayed outside for
some time, trying to pick up a quar
rel and was finally arrested by Chief
Nova Taylor.
Tho testimony was highly interest
ing, and furnished fully as good en
tertainment as it did in the county
court when the preliminary was held
The witnesses were, on motion by
Attorney Harry Gantz, excluded from
the court room until they bad test!
ed.
Wullle Foster, the first witness
called, said that she had lived in Al
liance three years. She is now stay
ing at the home of Mrs. English. She
had known Charles Brown for two
years, and had been his sweetheart
for six months. She told of the
events leading up to the attack, and
positively declared that the knife
held in Brown's hand was open
Brown's defense was that he had
not followed Miss Foster; that he
had remained on the street because a
band with a minstrel show in town
March 1 was giving a concert, and
that he bad done nothing more than
strike Miss Foster with his open
hand... The knife, he declared, was
not drawn until Mrs. English "butted
in" and that he had no Intention of
using It, though he had threatened
to do so on Mrs. English. He de
nied that-the knife introduced In
shoving his foot where it was needed
when the door was opened. There
was a general scattering, but the
chief managed to hold eight men and
capture one deck of cards, one pair
of bones and a trifle over $8 in
money.
Every one of the captured men
failed to be Impressed by a night In
jail and in firm, strong voices they
pleaded not guilty to the charge of
gambling. It was only an Innocent
card game, and every one of them
verred that they were Just playing
whist to pass away the weary hours.
nd they proved that they knew bow
to play whist, too. They hinted that
Chief Taylor was trying to "get"
them. It was a peaceful story that
they told, every one of them, with
little variation in the details.
It seems that the evenings are
sometimes long and dull on Sweet
water. There Is no place down town
where a colored man may spend bis
leisure hours and Willie James, In
her rooming house, has set apart a
sort of back parlor as a club room.
There la a piano, a card table and
a refrigerator, from which the land
lady sells Bevo and pop and other
harmless liquors at a reasonable
price. The evening In question, ten
people testified, they were playing
whist. One man was at the piano,
furnishing music. Every now and
then someone would buy Bevo for
the house. Into this peaceful scene
the police thrust themselves, noisily,
rudely and with profanity.
The men were backed up against
the wall, ordered to hold up their
hands and be searched.
our Informant, who shows every evi
dence of being a truthful and upright
man, is that since the tornado struck,
the mother pigs refuse to own thelf
little ones, having been so bewild
ered by the storm that they have for
gotten family ties.
An hour before the storm struck:
llemlngford, a small twister Is re
ported to have hit the Ross Enyeart
place, with slight damage.
The rail Btorm Is reported to have
been exceptionally severe, very few
places in Heinlugford not having at
least one window pane that needs re
pairing, tiemingrora residents re
port picking up hailstones that mea
sured five inches in diameter at 8
o'clock, over two hours after the
storm had passed.
Leo Fronapfel, a -farmer living
near llemlngford, was driving Into
that city at the time the Btorm
struck. He says that the wind had a
terrific force, so much, in fact, that
each time he threw out the clutch on
the automobile the wind would com
mence driving the machine back
ward.
DISTRICT ll'HT IS
STILL IX SKSSIOX
With the Lackey murder trial dis
posed of, district court, with Judge
Bayard II. Paine presiding, is still
grinding away with a big grist oC
cases still to be disposed of. The
criminal docket for the term Is fin
ished, unless the witness for the
state, Joe Delhaute, in the case of the
State of Nebraska vs. Tom Rubis,
should appear. So far, he had not
The land-1 shown up, but there is a possibility
lady was relieved of a second pair I that be will be located. Young
of dice, but she came by them in a I Fought, up on a charge of forgery,
right an proper way, having taken was paroled to his mother, Mrs. Ad-
them off "her aunt's little boy" only die Dumond.
that noon. Willie also explained the Yesterday, the court was occupied
presence of the money on the table, by the case of Vaughn vs. Nebraska
It seems that some brother bad Just Land company. It was tried before
given her a ten-dollar bill to buy the a Jury, taking practically the entire
drinks (soft drinks) for the crowd, day. The jury brooght in a verdict
and she bad gone into her room, ad- for the defendant and against the Ne-
Joining, to get the correct change for braska Land company. The case had
this money. It seems that she had been appealed from county court,
brought the wrong amount or that and it is probable that another ap-
(Contlnued from page 1) peal will be taken.
