Item
Official Paper of Box Butte County
TWICE A WEEK TUESDAY AND FRIDAY
Official Paper of the City of Allium
VOLUME XXVIII.
DOX DUTTE COUNTY, NElillASKA, TUESDAY, PECEMUEIl 7, 1020
NO. 3
if
'A
WOMAN CHARGED
WITH MURDERING
EARL ANDERSON
EVELYN M'ELHANEY HELD FOR
SHOOTING FRIEND
SHOT EARLY TUESDAY HORNING
Death Believed to Have Followed
Quarrel at Wilson Rooming
House Inquest to be
Held Today
Evelyn Price McElhaney, proprietor
of the Wilson rooming house, 2082
Box Butte avenue, is held by the coun
ty police authorities on a charge of
killing Earl Anderson shortly after 1
o'clock this mornirg at the entrance
to the alley at the rear of the Joe
Smith pool hall. There were two eye
witnesses to the shooting, although a
number of people were on the streets
at the time, and some of them were
-within fifty feet at the time the mur
der was committed.
A. L. Grubbs of Whitman wa3 the
vye-witness who has been located and
who has furnished evidence to the
police to go upon. Grubbs came in on
No. 42 and had decided to take a
walk before going to bed. He walked
:a block north from the depot, turned
west at the Rodgers grocery corner,
walked a block, crossed the street and
had got nearly to the alley when he
heard steps behind him. A man and
a woman walked up even with him. He
turned his head and saw the flash of
the fire from the gun. He heard the
woman say: "Is he dead? If he isn't,
I'll plug him again."
3Ir. Grubbs walked over to where
Anderson had fallen, and the woman
followed him. She grasped his arm,
ileaned over to look at the body and
.again asked: "Is he dead?" and again
said that if not she would shoot again.
Grubbs did not know whether she
. would do any more shooting, and did
not look at the man. He-was a'oie to
. ..identify the woman as Mrs. McEl
iianeV", lut i?. could not identify her
companion, he said. The woman re
plied to a question as to the size of
the gun by saying it was a .32 cali
ber. (; air
r li'.- McElhaney and her companion
:hen wetlv over to the Western room
jiu not)., where they stayed a few
minutes, ami then Jhey returned to
the scene of the shooting. Anderson"
was taken to the Alliance billiard par
lor, and the woman was arrested near
Jhere a short time afterward,
r At the police station, she admitted
to the officers that she had killed An
derson, but refused to give any further
information. A gill known as "Mike,"
who rooms at the Wilson rooming
bouse, was questioned by the police as
to any knowledge she might have of
the events which had led up to the
shooting, but she refused to disclose
anything. Later she was prevailed
upon to show the officers where the
gun had been hidden. It was found
in a bureau drawer in Mrs. McEl
Ihaney's rooms. The automatic had
recently been fired and one cartridge
was missing. The shell was later
found at the scene of the murder.
According to the theory of the po
lice, which is borne out by testimony
from several sources, Anderson had
yone to the Wilson rooming house
early in the evening, about 9:30.
While there he had quarrel with Mrf..
"McElhaney, and later she, a male
companion and Anderson, with possi
bly some others, met in the alley in
the rear of the Wilson rooming house.
Again Anderson and Mrs. McElhaney
quarreled, and the man who was with
her attempted to pacify them. When
they left, Anderson started down the
alley. Evidently Mrs. McElhaney and
her companion walked around half a
block. The woman and the man were
hurrying when they passed Grubbs,
and it is possible that they speeded in
order to catch him.
Drs. G. J. Hand and Baskin started
an autopsy at 11 a. m. this morning,
and at 1:30 had not yet discovered the
bullet.
A waitress at the Manhattan cafe
informed the police that about 9:30"
Anderson came in and called the num
ber of the Wilson house on the tele
phone and made an appointment with
a man there. Later he railed again
anil talked with this man. This fur
nished the police a clue, and, they have
the identity of the man who was with
Mr. McElhaney when she fired the
shot that killed Anderson.
Anderson was removed to the pool
hall across the street, the door was
locked and City Physician George J.
Hand called. The man breathed his
last shortly after the doctor arrived
The body was taken to the Miller un
dertaking parlors, where an autopsy
was performed this morning. The
bullet entered at a point one-half inch
to the right of the center of the stom-
oh and passed almost through the
The shot was fired from a .32
x automatic.
ii a, mint u irn muiiiiis
ployed as a barber in the Na-
ago,
tion snop in this city. Since that,
it is said, he has not had regular em
ployment. The city police were on the ground
within a short time after the murder.
Former Chief of I'olice Reed was
called into service, and spent a large
part of the night in assisting the
local officers to round up those who
might have had some knowledge of
the affair. Half a dozen were held,
among them being the girl "Mike,"
Coney Blue, Earl Mallett and Tom
LoveU, all of whom will probably be
called upon to testify at the inquest.
Mrs. McElhaney was placed under
arrest by Officer Stillwell. Shortly
after the murder she was discovered
on the street near the pool hall to
which Anderson had been taken. She
has borne up under the strain with
remarkable fortitude, and had not
broken down at any time, even when
she was taken to' the undertaking
parlors for a view of Anderson's body.
At times during the morning she
laughed and joked with the attorneys,
and has not exhibited any particular
signs of nervousness.
The identity of the male companion,
as well as further details concerning
the-quarrels which led up to the shoot
ing, are expected to be disclosed at
the inquest.
Reports to the effect that Anderson
has a wife and children were current
upon the street today, but so far as
has been learned, if he has relatives
they have not been located.
MAIL POUCH
MISSING AT
HSGFORD
DISAPPEARED FROM C. B. & Q.
TRAIN U SATURDAY
False Rumors of Holdup Current
in Alliance Officers on
Ground Investigating
Rurlington Special Agent T. J.
Smith, postoffice inspectors ami other
officers were working in Hemingford
Monday in an effort to clear up the
mystery of the disappearance of a
sealed pouch of first class mail, des
tined for that place, which was thrown
off the train as usual, following which
all trace of it was lost.
For a time' Saturday, Vumors were
current in Alliance of the holdup of
the train and the theft of the mail.
These rumors were later proved
groundless, when the Burlington
agent at Hemingford, according to
Alliance railroad officials, stated pos
itively that the sack had been thrown
off the train as usual. No. 41 does
not stop at Hemingford, the railway
mail clerks throwing off the mail as
they go through.
According to Judge Tash, formerly
postmaster of Alliance, it is possible
that the mail sack may not have been
stolen. The judge recalls instances
where the sack was not thrown out
a sufficient distance from the train,
and was drawn under the moving
wheels, became caught on the trucks
and been carried a distance of many
miles before it became dislodged or
was discovered.
Other possibilities are that the sack
may have been thrown too far, and
fallen into some place out of sight,
or that it may have been stolen from
the platform. A thorough investiga
tion will be made, and it is confident
ly expected that the pouch will be
found. There is no indication that
any mail of special value was car
ried in the pouch, and there is kc
special motive for robbery.
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
TEAMS IN CLASS CONTESTS
Double header basket ball games
will be played at the high school
building Wednesday and Thursday
nights to determine the winners in
the inter-class contest.
Wednesday night the freshman and
sophomore boys and the senior and
juior girls will contend for first place,
Thursday night the contest will be
between the junior and senior boys
and the freshman and sophomore
girls.
The winners on the above two
nights will then meet on Tuesday
night, December 14, to determine the
winning team of each the boys and
the girls. The basketball materali is
good ths year, the best in years, and
the fans are looking forward to a
successful season.
The basketball enthusiasts of Alii
ance are trying to arrange for a trip
for the Alliance teams thru eastern
Nebraska for the holidays. The trip
would mean a great deal for the teams
FOOD SHOW BY
WOMAN'S CLUB
A BIG SUCCESS
PROCEEDS MORE THAN ENOl'C.H
TO ITRNISH ROOMS
Pure Food Exhibition to be Made
an Annual Event in Alliance
Merchants Co-operate
So successful was the first pure
food show to be held in Alliance, un
der the auspices of the Woman's
club and the direction of Mrs. Elmer
McManis, general chairman, that it
will be made an annual event. Mer
chants who had booths at the exhibit
were delighted at the opportunities
the show afforded to demonstrate
food products and become acquainted
with prospective customers, that they
have urged Mrs. McManis to make it
a yearly affair. In the future, how
ever, it will probably be staged as
a .Iricth business proposition. A
contract has been signed with Lowry
& Henry for the coming year.
This year the purpose of the under
taking was to secure funds to enable
the Woman's club to furnish their
quarters in the city library building,
and while complete returns are not
in, it is announced that the proceeds
will be more than sufficient.
The second (lay's attendance was
even greater than on Thursday, and
the affair was finished with the same ,
pep and good management which char- j
t-ctcrized the first day. Much inter
est was displayed in the outcome of j
the various raffles, and the following ,
were the holders of the winning num
bers: Cedar chest Mrs. Ray Spencer.
Sofa pillow Mrs. W. D. Rumer.
E. Townley. . '
Kewpie Rex Thompson.
McDougall kitchen cabinet Miss
Ethel Graham and Mrs. W. Bueehsen
stein each turned in bids of $Q5.
In the popular girl contest, Miss
Mabel Y'oung was the winner, with
4,272 votes. Ruth Hawes received
2,700 votes and Miss.. Violet Walker,
J723. . .. - r
A short progratrt Was invert Friday
evening, in which Edna Mae: Miller,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Mil
ler, gave a fancy dance, and a ladies'
quartet, composed of Mesdames J. S.
Rhein, C. E. Hershman, F. J. Petersen
and Miss Janet Grassman, rendered
several pleasing selections.
Winners fit Ihb baby show Friday
afternoon, In tb one to three-year-old
clax, were Stella Marie Milburn,
aged two and one-half years, daugh
ter of Mr. and Mrs. Georg Milburn;
ahd Jimmie Burlington, two find one
half-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs.
James P. Burlington, Jr.
SCHOOL MEN'S CLUB HELO
SESSION HERE SATURDAY
Twenty-five attended the meeting of
the Western Nebraska Schoolmen's
club held here Saturday, December 4.
A most enjoyable and profitable time
was reported. The proposed program
was carried out, although several who
were unable to attend secured substi
tutes to take their subjects, W. T.
Stockdale of Chadron giving the "Ed
ucation Address" at the evening ses
sion in place of Pres. R. I. Elliott of
the Chadron Normal school. F. I.
Smith, of Chappell, G. F. Liebendorf
of Sidney, C. P. Beale of Kimball, and
W. J. Braham of Sidney were also un
able to take their place on the pro
gram. At the business meeting, a commit
tee was appointed, of which Dean
Stockdale is chairman, to make ar
rangements for surveys to be made
simultaneously in the different school
subjects, in the different schools in
this part of the state. It is expected
that this plan will be productive of
very good results, stimulating compe
tition and enabling the schools to keep
in closer touch.
CLASS OF EXPRESSION
GIVES PLEASING PROGRAM
A packed house at the Imperial last
evening heard the program given by
the high school class of expression,
under the direction of Mrs. Inice Mc
Corkle Dunning. Every number on
the program was very well done, and
a credit to the instructor, especially as
the majority of the class has been
studying for just a few months. The
"Little Grandmas of Grandma Land,"
who danced a stately minuet and the
old-fashioned Virginia reel, were es
pecially well received. The fairy dance
given by little Phylena Finch and
Willetta Cox received enthusiastic en
core and in fact all the numbers were
generously applauded.
JACK HAWES
ESCORTED TO
COUNTY JAIL
TRAVELING MAN VICTIM OF A
PRACTICAL JOKE
Warrant Purportinu to Have Been
Issued in Wyoming Churned
Him With Killing Deer
Last Friday evening about f o'clock,
while actively engaged as manager of
Si Thompson's country store, at the
pure food iJjow, held in the roof gar
den, Jack Ilawes, well known and
popular local traveling salesman for
Harpham Bros., was taken into cus
tody by Sheriff Jim Miller, on advices
purporting to have come from the
sheriff at Sheridan, Wyo. The sheriff
proceeded to escort his prisoner to the
county jail on the fourth floor of the
court house.
While crossiing the rotunda on the
first floor, Jack happened to notice
that there was a light in the county
court room. A wild hope sprang up
in his dazed brain, that perhaps his
friend Judge Tash might intervene
and save him the humiliation and dis
grace of being placed in durance vile,
in sight of his wife and daughters
who were assisting at the food show,
just across the street, and in plain
view of the barred windows of the
jail. So, tearing loose from tho sher
iff's detaining hand, he rushed wild
ly through the swinging doors, into
the presence of the astonished judge,
who was surprised to see a white
faced man, with beads of perspiration
standing out on his brow, who ex
claimed: "Judge, I have been p-e-INCH-c-d.'
I have been a-r-r-EoT-ed,
and am on the way to JAIL,
Can't you tig something for me"
The judge told him to be seated
and calm himself, and he would see
what could b,e done. Asking what the
charge was against the prisoner, the
sheriff handed the warrant to the
judge with a scarcely perceptible
droop of the left eyelid. The judge
scanned the warrant, and noted that
the, prisoner, who was called
John IT. TTawcs, was charged with
"having on or about the 2Kth day of
.Novembfr, 1920, maliciously, Unlaw
fully, purposely and feloniously killed
one deer in Box Butte county, Ne
braska, contrary to the statutes' in
such cases made and provided and
against the peace and dignity of the
people of the state of WYOMING;
also thrt it purported to be sign!
'A. U. C. Thomas, County Judge,' and
knowing that Wyoming laws did not
provide for svtch an office as that of
county judge; that it was without the
impression of a court seal, and con
tained other glaring discrepancies,
which a less excited man than Jack
would have readily detected, Judge
Tash to'd his excited friend that he
had better apply for a writ of habeas
corpus, which was a legal remedy,
sought !y persons who claimed to be
wrongfully, illegally and unjustly
arrested or imprisoned.
Jack almost shouted: "Give me a
hippus corpus or anything that will
keep me from going to jail. I am
unjustly arrested, I never killed the
deer, or if I did it was in self defense
or an a-cident. Oh, yes, I remember
now. The deer started to bite and
hook me, and I started to run, tripped
over a log out on the prairie, and fell
down and my gun was accidently dis
charged, but then I only killed one
hind quarter of the deer, and that was
given me by my cousin at Gillette,
and that was all the deer meat that
I brought here and divided up with
my friends."
The judge finally interrupted this
incoherent torrent of language long
enough to warn the prisoner not to
say anything which might tend to in
criminate him, said he would receive
the application for a writ of habeas
corpus instanter, would fix the time
for hearing of the same at 10 o'clock
a. m., on Tuesday, December 7, 1920,
and in the meantime would release
the prisoner by his giving bail in the
sum of $1,000 for his appearance at
that time. After considering the
matter, and making inquiries of the
prisoner as to his financial standing,
the judge finally agreed to take his
personal recognizance, and he was
released, and returned to his place
in the country store a very much sob
ered and subdued man.
About two hours later it came out
that the whole thing was a practical
joke, conceived by a bunch of prac
tical jokers, for the purpose of play
ing even with the king of practical
jokers. The conspirators had better
be on the alert, for Jack knows who
they are, and is laying awnke nights
hatching up a scheme to play even.
Mrs. M. F. Hatcher of Omaha, re
turned to her home last week after a
two weeks' visit with her daughter,
Mrs. C. B. Dole.
ELKS MOTEL SHOW
COMESJRIDAV NIGHT
Alliance will have the theatrical
treat of its life nevt Friday evoninfc,
when the Elks minstrel will take place
at the Imperial theatre. Since last
Friday evening the practice has been
going on at a fast and furious rate,
and the few Elks who have been
privileged to gaze upon the minstrel
in the making are delighted with the
prospect.
Thirty-five Alliance men, a dozen
Alliance women, with the aid of the
Joe Hren Production company, which
finished last week putting on a show
for the Lincoln Shriners, are the folks
who will put the show across. And
it's a pippin all the way through.
There'll be vaudeville numbers, spe
cial songs, dances, music everything
to make the audience enjoy itself and
the local hits will le worth more than
the price of admission.
Seats can be secured of any Elk in
Alliance. They may be reserved be
ginning Wednesday morning. Get
yours early, for they won't last long.
WILLIAM RUST INJURED
BY TO FROM HORSE
William Rust, Jr., is making a good
recovery from serious injuries in
flicted by a kick from a horse at his
father's ranch, ten miles northeast of
Alliance, last Saturday afternoon.
For a time it was feared the young
man would not recover.
ALLIANCE ELKS
PAY. A TRIBUTE
TO THEIR DEAD
i i ii . i
"LODGE OF SORROW" HELD
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Matthew C.ering of Plattsmouth
Voices Sentiments of Members
for Departed Brothers
Members ol Alliance lodge No. Dfll,
B. P. O. Elks, their families and
friends, met at the Elks Horn at 3
i. m.. Sunday for the annual "lodire of
sorrow," a memorial session held to ,
pay tribute to members of the order
who have died during the year. Alli
ance lodge lost three by death, J. H.
Conn, Clyde O. Lanam and ? ? .
A large number of Elks were present
on the occasion, and the following pro
gram was given:
Introductorv march, "March
Ce-
lebre," Mrs. C. E. Hershman.
Ritual.
Solo, "There's a Vacant Chair
at
Home," Fred Murphy.
Ritual.
Quartet, Selected: Mr. and Mrs
Calvin Walker, Miss Janet Grassman,
John P. Mann.
Ritual.
Oration, Hon. Matthew Gering,
Pla't?mouth, Nebr.
Solo, "The Endless Day," Miss
Janet Grassman.
"Auld Lang Syne," the audience.
The address by Mr. Gering was the
feature of the program. He is wide
ly known over Nebraska as a trav
eler and speaker, and has a reputa
tion that is more than statewide.
Mr. Gerinir said, in part:
"These meetings each year, so apt
ly termed a lodge of sorrow, intensi
fy the bond between the present and
the pass, between the cradle and the
grave, and emphasize to all the world
that this organization of fraternalism
has for its purpose not only joy for
the living but tears for the dead
They throttle hate and stimulate af
fection, blot out resentment and foster
friendship. Charity without display,
sympathy without ostentation, friend
ship without effusion, hope with its
highest and loftiest aspirations, and
faith in the universal brotherhood of
its organization is the church and the
religion in which every member of
this order is a most willing communi
cant. So true to every instinct of nat
ural religion are the tenets of this
fraternity that although festivities
may be at their height, when the hour
before midnight comes, the dead are
not forgotten. Heads are bowed,
laughter ceases, mirth is dissipated,
and we stand in fancy, as the senti
nel of time strikes eleven at the tomb
of our unforgotten dead.
"One of the most expressive words
in our vocabulary which tongue can
utter is separation, so desolate, so
sorrowful. To the dead it is only an
ether word for peace and rest, to the
living its fearfulness is indescribable
and seems to be the greatest sorrow
in all the world.
"Death is the valet who opens the
door of the future and permits us to
look into the mysterious chamber of
(Continued on page 4)
LONG SESSION OF
DISTRICT COURT
IS IN PROSPECT
MAY TAKE THREE WEEKS TO
CLEAN I P DOCKET
FOUR CRIMINAL CASES TO TRY
Considerable Interest in the Twe
Zediker Cases, Set for Hearing
Today and Wednesday
Divorces Granted
District court convened in Alliance
Monday morning for the first real ses
sion since May, and prospects are that
it will be a long siege. Possibly three
weeks will be required to clear the
docket. The following cases have been
set for trial.
Criminal Docket!
December 7 Stute vs. Dwight F.
Zediker.
December 8 State vs. Charles R.
Wierman.
December 8 State vs. Urban R.
Zediker.
December 9 State vs. Christ and
Mrs. Christ Vallas.
Civil Cases:
December 10 Henry W. Cusick vs.
James Therose.
December 10 Keith L. Tierce vs.
Samuel D. Graham.
December 13 Willis Glen Gentle
vs. A. C. Adams et al.
Decemler It) Geo. Carrell vs. Sam
uel D. Graham and Fannie Graham.
December 10 Dalton Adding Ma
chine company vs. Dierks Lumber &
Coal company.
December 11 Schwabe Bros. vs. E. .
C, Barker. y
December 13 Fred W. Melick.vs.
Walker D. Hincs, director.
December 13 Fred Weinel, John
Weinel vs. Calvin L. Hashman (Coun-
j ty of Box fcutCo)' rr " f ?m
ftiftpwif ttt Man CWtl y
Monday" WM & blisy tlay for the
court. In addition to setting cases
for trial, hearings were held in sev
eral kuiiR.- One criminal case; State
ys. John'Fnught, was dismissed. Ac
tion in other cases was taken as fol
lows.' Benjamin Pipplt et al. vs. Evert
Addy, settled and dismissed.
Sofio 01itos vs. Pitasio Olibos, dis
missed at cost of plaintiff.
John Dieter jr. et al. vs. Edward K.
Miller and Carrie Miller, continued.
J. M. Dougherty Land & Cattle
company vs. Kansas Blackleg Scrum
company, continued.
Winnifrcd F. Powell vs. Lena L.
Bradley et al., dismissed at co. t of
plaintiff.
Walter Artis vs. Vista Artis, dis
missed at cost of plaintiff.
James E. Wilson vs. Walker D.
Mines, director general of railroads.
continued.
Robert Murphy vs. Helen Murphy,
dismissed at cost of plaintiff.
Luke Phillips vs. Emma Phillips-
continued.
Edna Morgan vs. Harlan H. Mor
gan, ifecree of absolute divorce grant
ed, plaintiff to pay costs.
Frederick W. Melick vs. Eugene T.
Redmon, settled, plaintiff to pay costs.
Owen W. Basye vs. Nelhe Basye,
decree of absolute divorce granted;
plaintiff to pay costs.
Bessie Long vs. Earl Long, dis
missed at cost of plaintiff.
Emma Virginia Phillips vs. Luke
Phillips, continued.
Charlotte L. Huntley vs. Albert IT.
Huntley, decree of absolute divorce
granted; plaintiff to pay costs; plain
tiff's maiden name restored.
Celia Miller vs. Lot No. 17, Block
13, Original Town of Alliance, Neb.,
et al., decree granted as prayed for;
plaintiff to pay costs.
Harry L. Arrison vs. Muriel Arri
son, decree of absolute divorce grant
ed; defendant to have custody of
minor child until further notice of
court; plaintiff to pay costs.
Sophia Weinel vs. Peter Weinel, de
cree of absolute divorce granted, de
fendant to pay costs and $50 fee to
plaintiff's attorney.
Ida Harrington vs. Russell Harring
ton, decree of absolute divorce grant
ed; plaintiff to pay costs.
Ev. A. Reck vs. Brida Shimek, con
tinued. Maude E11I3 vs. George H. Ellis, ab
solute divorce granted; maiden name
of plaintiff restored; plaintiff to pay
costs and retain all personal prop
erty. The V. C. T. U. will meet at 2:30
o'clock Thursday afternoon with Mrs.
E. G. Laing. Mrs. F. M. Phelps will
have charge of the program. The
meeting will be for mothers and white
ribbon recruits at which all babies
iv ill be decorated with the white rib
bon. An invitation to all mothers and
babies has been extended.