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About The Alliance herald. (Alliance, Box Butte County, Neb.) 1902-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 14, 1922)
Official Paper of Box Butte County TWICE A WEEK TUESDAY AND FRIDAY Official Taper of the City of AUianct VOLUME XXIX (Eight Tages) ALLIANCE, BOX BUTTE COUNTY, NEBRASKA, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1 i, 1922. No. RUSH CALL FROM HEMINGFORD WAS NOT IMPORTANT SHERIFF MILLER WAS SOME WHAT VEXED OVER TRIP Mysterious Fhone Message Turned Out to be Due to Prank of Mis chievous Boys The mysterious telephone call from Hemingford, which had a good many men and women in Alliance excited for a good many hours on last Friday, turned out to be like a good many such cases, a flivver, a false alarm and a wild goose chase. There was every in dication that it was a most sensational liappening of some sort, murder, sui cide, sudden death or a massacre, but it wasn't anything of the sort. County Attorney Basye got the can. A stern voice came over the wire about 11:30 a. m. Friday bearing a tale of deep mystery. "Get the sheriff and come to Hemingford at once, the voice said. The Hemingford man who did the talking, K. L. Tierce, is a banker and a citizen who is ordinarily never carried away by excitement. The county attorney put both ears to "WhaT'sw'rong?'' was the first ques- tl0"l can't tell you over the telephone," was the mysterious reply. Oet tne sheriff and make haste." .OM.Qf,.. "Shall 1 bring a search warrentT asked Attorney Basye, who had visions of another New Year " raid. "o noth ng like that, saui lleimngXd man, "but come, at once. With such a summons ringing in Ihelr ears, Sheriff Miller .ml Ctouj SJ Ms, stopping , fo ther food, al the possible crimes or tenible tus asters that might have happened. Rumors Abroad at Alliance. ?Ut a Wl of the summons, a'foVucssingwider. I P . . .... mmnrl OI & 8U1C1UC, : Trssw" - . tn ruin ; n wviv . w . i " . o-nttt Dlot tO TUin -iL town of Hemingford, and other . of rP h pr e. tTatart on the Tues day edition. IwliUo-wy ggttoj -Kiiro-ost story since the Mccinaney 555 STubout to breakj oose-an, Vipw wasn t a single shred ot imoi Son to shed any light on the mys Je?y There wasn't time to go to Hem iKord, even if the jitney could get ivS the roads. The telephone was the 0nKHerald put in calls for half a one they answered. Most of tnem knlw nothing about it. One had seen thTIhSS and the county attorney m the town, but didnt know what they were doing. One patiot promised to investigate and "port. He saved the dav His story was that there had 1en a small blaze at the rear of the Hemingford Ledger printing office, and that some people, with well de veloped imaginations, had conceived the idea that it might be an attempt Others, he reported, upie OI nu- -tu- ,a n i.lpa that some mischievous "boys had stuffed up the exhaust pipe of the plant's gasoline engine with rags and old papers. ... The Hemingford Ledger's editor, called a few minutes before this report of the facts came in, was just as mys terious as the original phone call from Hemineford. He professed entire ig pSnd of the cailse for the trip, al though he recalled seeing the county v"hi. .- t. Ha thousrht. or said he houg M. that the visit might be in SniSSfon'wIth a suspect who was believed to have a hand m the..: I. LZr i nf docs n the neighbor ing townVwhose activities had so stir red up public opinion that a purse of 200 for his arrest had been hung up. Fire Story Was Correct. On the return of the officers, it de veloped that the informant who told of tvfficers hall burnl up the "'road to Hemingrord, exptting to capture i a murderer, a bandit or at least imes- nlu,u" ' ..-i- onnntv flttor- tigate a suiciue, neTb 'the .tory came out, in all its thrilling details. Hemingford a shoe iiiiiiu. b livinur Quarters com- mTl a rear view of the Lexlger proup of marauders buck of the office. Thev were frightened away, but re i iniUpd off the licht in his oom and watohel. The marauders .i n im to something. There wan a pile of oiled rags visible in the .T,iioi,t Also Daner. He went out to get a bucket of coal, dropped the tucket and frightened the ruffians away. But they came again. It was a late hour before he thought of sleep THE WEATHER Forecast for Nebraska: Generally fair tonight and Wednesday; not quite o cold tonight in northeast portion. in fact, -ome reports say he sat up .he who' M waiting for something to hapr The stu ' nty attorney were uikiuiwhi or the crime. 'See that pile with kerosene, tlw. the ex ,ers, all .ited informant. "Set. charred. Remember the dog poisoner killed off most oi the watch .logs in town? Well, here's my theory: Vith no dogs to give the alarm, the intention was to set this building on fire and get everybody in town here, and then rob the banks and maybe burn up the whole town." Sheriff Miller wasn't impressed. He picked up one of the oiled rags and miffed at it. "This isn't kerosene," he said, "it's lubricating oil. And these aren't rags they're waste. This stuff was taken from some garage or mach ine shop." He picked up one of the charred bits of paper. "This isn't burned," he said; "it's only blackened, with carbon." The exhaust pipe of the ledger's gasoline engine caught his eye. There wa3 a bit of waste in it, caught on the edge of the pipe. The sheriff examined the tell tale footprints in the frozen mud. "These are boys' tracks," he said. The whole diabolical plot was explained. "Nothing to it but some mischievous boys who wanted to stuff up the exhaust pipe, make the (Continued on Page 8.) AN ACaSCLOCK SAVES LIVES OF FAMILYJF SIX COAL GAS FORMS DUE TO A DE FECTIVE FLUE. F. T. Hamelt Awakened and Able to Call on C. II. Jones, a Neigh bor, for Assistance. The family of F. T. Hamelt, 415 Big Horn avenue, were nearly asphy xiated Sunday morning when a defec tive flue caused coal gas to fill the house. Mr. Hamelt was awakened at 6 o'clock by an alarm clock and realized that he was nearly overcome Kt. rrr.a J a uraa ci It 1 o hntvavat1 frt 4 tka Anrr anil UTiuicarl Vitl nvwa. ..... w v ... v. . 1.1 t t f , nivhW. C. f . .Tnns. n mai, canerf wno telephoned for a doc- tor and then did all he could to revive the sufferers by raising the windows and removing them to the outside. Had not the alarm clock roused Mr. Hamelt the entire household, of three children, Mr. and Mrs. Hamelt and Mr. Hamelt's mother would have un doubtedly been asphyxiated. Dr. Peterson, who attended the family, said that all were now doing well. Coy Scout Council Plans Radiophone Concert for. Public The Boy Scout council met at hide's Saturday, February 11 at a noon luncheon with President A. V. Gavin, Vice President Moses Wright, Secretary W. R. Pate and members H. P. Coursey, V. U. unuioury, ur. Minor Morris, H. F. Thiele, N. A. Kemruish, Dr. J. P. Maxtieiti, t,twin Burr, Dr. G. J. Hand, ami Scout Com missioner Ben Keach, present. Mr. Keach reDorted that papers had been received for affiliation with the national organization and it was ie cided to take up the matter at a later meeting. President Gavin then appointed a buildinir committee consisting of Mr. Wright, Coursey and Morris, who are to see to the upkeep ana repair oi me club house at the lake. Anotner com mittee, the finance committee, con Kistinw of Thiele. Bradbury and Brit- tan, was appointed to raise funds and to see to the collection oi tne dona tions promised during the recent drive. Scout commissioner iveacn was men appointed to arrange for a radionhone concert sometime next week, the fi nance committee to arrange for the buildinir in which it was to be held, The next meetine will be nem at Thilo' on Saturday the 18th. A meeting of Boy bcouts has been ciiivl tnr the citv armory at 7:30 p. m. Thursday, at which all boys wno wish to join the organization are asked to be present Troop 1, it is under stood, will be split up ana pan oi us members transferred to other troops n order to make this troop comprise 11 the band members, the boys as AtrrxptX to troon 2 will be those from fourteen to eighteen years of age, and 'roop 3 will be made up of boys from I? ti 14. The city council has authorized the purchase of a brass tuba tor tne Dana, and the only other instrument lacking, 1 bass drum, has been secured. The success of the Boy Scout move ment, the scout council believes, is de pendent upon public co-operation. The nlan to raise funds will not be by pop ular subscriptions, but by entertain ments, so, that the public will get ful value ior every cent given. ; lUNION MEN AND FARMERS HOLD A JOINT MEETING WILL WORK TOGETHER AT PRI MARY AND FALL ELECTIONS Rev. B. J. Minort Opposes Move to Or ganize a Local Branch of the ' New Third Party One of the most important political movements in several years has taken place in Box Butte county, in the at tempt, which bids fair to be successful, to unite the farmers and the labor unionist in a local political "bloc". Just what influences have been re sponsible for the movement are some what in doubt, but the fact remains that the laboring men, who have been considering organizing a branch of the new third party in the country, have also made successful overtures to the farmers. So far the attempt of some of the more radical to do away with the present party affiliations and get under the banner of the new "progres sive" party have not been successful, but representaties of these two groups have got together and have agreed to work together in local poli tics. The first joint meeting of the two groups was held at the Baptist church in this city" Friday even'ng, with an attendance that practically filled the building. There was a big represen tation of both farmers and members of labor unions, and very little dif ficulty was experienced in forming a coalation. The big struggle came over the question of uniting with the third party, and as on previous occasions, vs hen labor unionists were considering the present political problems, this step was not taken. The Friday evening meeting was the first of a series that is planned, at which the two groups of citizens will decide what they want io the way of officials, and plan a program that they can endorse, and then go out and see if they cannot get their plans across. Some Strong for Third Pprty j Some of those present were hard to dissuade from their beleif that a third party was the solution of all the poli tical troubles of the state and county. After an hour's discussion, pro and con, Kev. u. J. Minort took tne noor. Mr. Minort was selected by the labor unionists of this city as their official 'delegate to the first state convention of the new party, which was held at Grand Island some weeks ago. He was ntesent at the meetinsr. heard all the discussion and took part in some com- mittee activities, but returned to A1-; ance without affiliating with the riartv and aonarentlv without Deing convinced that it was a political Danacea. . " 1 i. 1 lo.lnA Mr. Minort is not wiinoui Know iciik, f the game of politics, as it is piayeu. out that the public in gener h1 over the state is slow to warm up to ward a new party, and that indications are that several years ot euucauon will be needed before enouirh voters will fall in line and elect a ticket. He suggested that even Roosevelt, astute statesman as he was, had mad a mis take in bringing out his new party when he did. Had he wa;ted four years before bringing out the " Bull Moose ticket. Mr. Minort declared, ne woum have won hands down. It was argued by Mr. Minort mat wc time was not yet ripe in weorahita or Box Butte county for a new party, and advocated that farmers and labor unionists take advantage of existing parties, and exert their influence in making partv leaders do the change. He insisted that time, money and ef fort would be saved, by working throug he two dominent political parties, and that there would be much better op portunity to influence this election of officers in this wy. Committee Is Appointed Following Mr. Minorts talk, a tem porary committee, headed by S. B. Mitchell, was appointed to keep the various organizations,, farmers' unions and labor unions, posted as to develop ments and to arrange for another meeting, at which some permanent or ganization will be formed and plans made to exert pressure upon an par ties to put progressive men upon the tickets. Much discontent was pressed by the farmers on the road situation. It was evident that an effort will lie made to seek a chance in personnel of the county commissioners for the next year. A hope that the farmer s "bloc system would be carried out in all ohases of this year's election was ex Dressel. A desire to ruse with other tickets perhaps stronger than a de- tre for a new partv. Whatever the final outcome of this meeting, it is evident that the farmers and the union men will work together in the primary and rail election. An al!-day meeting of the county farmers' union will be held Friday at he home of Frod Nason of Fairview. The chief order of business will be the preparation for the next reunion and consideration of the nlan to oriranize a countrywide potato selling associa tion. FEBRUARY TERM DISTRICT GUORT IS IN SESSION SEVERAL OF THE BOOZE CASES WERE DISMISSED. Four Divorces Granted by Judge W. II. Westover Monday No Hint of McElhaney Case. The February 6 term of district court, with Judge W. H. Westover presiding, began Monday morning, and a considerable amount of business was disposed of the first day of the term, in addition to setting the cases for trial. So far, friends of Mrs. Evelyn McElhaney who is now serving a thirty-year penitentiary sentence for the murder of Earl B. Anderson in this city some fourteen months ago, have not presented their affidavit to County Attorney Basye. This olficial last Friday issued a statement in which he pointed out that no relief was possible in this court, because only the state pardons board has juris diction. The following cases have been set for trial: February 14 State vs. Shepard; State vs. Vogel and State vs. Jacobs. February 15 State vs. Watkins and Schleve; State vs. Watkins. These cases dispose of the criminal docket for tho term. The state vs. Rosett.i and the state vs. Hasseltine, adultery, have been passed to Febru ary 21. The following civil cases will be tried to the jury; February Hi I.owry & Henry vs. Nebraska Land Co.; Leader Supply Co. vs. Hann. February 17 Stern-Rodgers Mfg. Co. vs. Peterson Potash Co.; Sturgeon vs. Wilson. February 18 Box Butte county vs. Moline Plow Co.; Kirchbaum Co. vs. E. G. Laing. February 20 Miller vs. Baker; Faxton & Gallagher vs. Brennan; C. B. & Q. R. R. vs. Nolan. February 21 Owens vs. Palmer; Farmers Union Co-op. Asn. vs. John Burton Payne; Herman vs. Reeves and Hadley vs. Brost. Four Divorces Granted. Divorces were granted in the case of Gribble vs. Gribble; Vallas vs. Val 1 1, Rawlins vs. Rawlins and Cornforth vs. Cornforth. A number of cases on appeal from the county and city courts were Fet- 'tied. In the state vs. Frank Gilleran and Dwight Zediker, appeal from police court, the case was dismissed because of the fact that the complaint as drawn, unl not charge any violation of city ordinance. The complaint charged that the two men were guilty a .. 1 1 . II - 1 J L ! . J,. ot yelling ani nonowinjr, ami huh m no offense under city ordinances. The court dismissed the cases of the state vs. Riordan. Reddington and Kiskis. fined $15 apiece for gambling bv the county court, on the ground that the fine of $15 was not m accordance with state l:w, which provides a mini mum of $100 for this otlense. In the matter of Harve hhenanl charged with illegally transporting in- t.vicntinir Imuor. and nnea on mai count in county court, the defemlant wna (Whnrcred. there being no evi lenc in court. Shertard was fined in county court, although he had smashed the bottle containing the alleged hooch on the sidewalk. There were but ten drops of evidence, and this was not in oviutonro when district court convened. State vs. Willis, dismissed. Charged with forging a bad check about two years ago. (Continued on Page 4) Judge W. H. Westover Has No Ambitions to Be Congressman Vnlpntine Democrat: A political nn..rpmonf that is reported to have originated at Alliance to have Judge W. H. Westover -enter vne i w congress against iose . iv, ....- has been heartily conacmjiwi oy Westover. Petitions have been circu latd in several cities in the Sixth dis trict, which have been most liberally signed petitioning tne juoge io m the race for congress from this dis trict. Judge westover svaies umw nc does not harbor the siigntesi oesire to enter congress but that he does strongly desire a seat on tne state su- i reme court bencn. Aiier evpn vcars service on the district court bench the work has become so trying that he feels that he win nave to give up the labors and return to the nctive practice ot law snouia ne iau vo be elected to the state supreme court. Twenty-seven, years is a long time to serve the people in the trying position of district judge and the most faithful work that Judge Wastover has ren dered the people during all those years merit" his elevation to the higher of fice. His candidacy for the supreme court will meet with the hearty ap proval of the people not only of this district but of the entire state as his capabilities and high character widely known. Chamber of Commerce Wants New Location for the High School The Chamber of Commerce met at the regular noon luncheon Monday and took up a number of matters of in terest The members voted unanimous ly to endorse the project of locating! tne new nign school huilrting directly (inuMs uo uuue avenue lacing soutn instead of on the same lot as the pres ent high school facing Laramie. This according to the supporters of the plan would improve the appearance of Box Butte avenue giving the depot on one end and the new school on the other. ... . ' , "v Y2" Mr. Kibble also o-ave an interesting talk on the potato raising industry in lnue ana tne state highway d il niroKHixl fh Partment. will iret small advantage of using the best seed. The annual election of officers will u u.i.i f .i.. i mu r. I which will be in connection with a big public banquet which it is expected will be attended by several hundred. This bannuet will not limitel to members but will be open to all hol.lers of tickets, both ladies and eentlemen. H. P. Coursey was appointed to in vestigate the proposition of a county agricultural agent and will make a re port at the next meeting. In the absence of President Glen Miller on account of sickness Vice President J. S. Rhein presided. SEARCHING OF FIREMEN'S GRIPS DIDN'T HAPPEN V. G. ISAACSON WRITES OPEN LETTER TO CITV MANAGER. Offers to Give $1,000 to Charity ill Proof Is Submitted that the Search Took Place. A. G. Isaacson, Alliance uusinesF man who accompanim iuu .v,.,..v. !.i t.. vii.ntoor i , , , .,. L.! i firemen on the first lap of their trip to the state convention at Norfolk or January 15 last, returned to Alliance r.Kt Wednesday ana has written tne following open letter to City Manage! N. A. Kemmish: ALLIANCE, Neb., Feb. 13. To City Manager N. A.- Kemmish. Dear Mr. Kemmish: I have just learned o your reported search of the luggage of members of the Alliance fire depart- ment when the boys left to attend the state convention in the interests of the people of Alliance. Seldom have 1 ?een so much newspaper space giver over to the publication of "junk" as was used to belittle the standing of the volunteer firemen of Alliance. "I happened to be leaving for New T York on the same train with the nrc- men and I stand ready to post a for feit of $1,000 for charity if you car submit any proof that your officer searched any luggage iK-ionging tr members of the fire department as you claim they did. The firemen went tc the depot before time for the trair and while they were over to the hotf getting a lunch they placed their lug- gage in the ticket oil ice. ine uckc itirpnt will tell vou thnt none of your officers searched any of the luggage ir there. When the train came the men carried their luage into their com - nnrtment and it remained there, un .wn and un.-archod by your officers until thev reached Grand Island the riHvt morning. "If, as you say, the otlicers went a- far as Hvannis on the train, they must l.ave remained hidden away in somf corner of anotner car. wiey V appeared and they were never seen bv nx.r momhpr of the fire department The next morning after the train left Grand Island where tne loca nremrn got off, I met a Burlington olticer from nuwg" "" ' -.r i L,1KS VaUaeVlIie rt- . ltr 4Un TJin" OhOW V aS me lIJs wifi. - e i 1. Cnnnnn till OI otaaun Ttm rifca vaudeville show given last c-i.i.... imwrial under the man- no-Pment and direction of A. H. Harper was the hit or me seawn. iui wv,mirtm iryw owuiu-ns w : " ... rpun.A ti'Arc Feven numbers, all or wmcn we professional caliber. narp iimi'Mcomrmssioner uuu uy me wuniy uwii, number drew a large bit of applause . r, i. or..i Mia Dorothy tllJJ W inr P Ilill 1 V 111 V- nna uou "-; -. '' Fricke in a Bowery sKetcn --itr " ih tonnotchers. Mrs. ierv uuman " numbers, substituting smilf h1".. " , : ...i..cl In ..ti, nf the S. O. S.," an t - a iiniwnsonsiein. wnu 111. uy - tt y ckptch. was very wru ic : i A ,iunrttte YYlDie unu " ' . . r ' i i Phillips in song and story ana imyi Twinkletoes," w ith George Porr in the I Hebrew role, went over Dig. 1 ne house was well filled and the audience most liberal with applause. The troupe wiil put on tne snow ci.Imv Wn ncsi av mirht. Al uavir having arranged for a special car for them to make the trip. There is some 1 .il. ,.f a nArfnrmanm in Chadron I later 1 ouuNir ULtmv ASKED TO GIVE ROAD FIGURES STATE INVESTIGATING COMMIT I EE READY FOR PROBE. Impossible to Furnish Most of tit In formation Requested Because of a. . . .... accounting Methods. The stnfA mne P'obe of road costs, comncr. in "suits secured by the various from Bx Butte county, according- to K',Z."l ,nn,c'on- bounty Clerk receivea irom tne commit. re.1re,'"ert - V - fur?,8h ce.rtai" fl " : mI'" ,V,k "-'J " uiracB" r"'f l,he "itureii are rome plaeeto " l7? wiuauon resemixee wL ThTI J i. y r Xl 1. hat Rentlemanfell off the wall. it will be recalled, all the kino-'s Iiamm ana nil the king s men labored in vain. ii appeurs mat it will reouire a rnmm of trained accountants, as well as mar elous memories, to ever get tho infor mation required from the Box Butt county records. 1 he fact Is, that until the last year, when R. E. Knight assumed the office or county highway commissioner, the county of Box Butte has kept no sys tematic records or the money spent on county roads. In fact, according to one oi tne commissioners, many of the county roads have no numbers or any official designation at nil. There ar on file, in the office of the county clerk. all of the claims that have been al lowed, giving the names and the amount paid. Commissioner Hashman hns stated that he believes, most of these claims can be accounted Tnr and that he can remember which roads uiey appiy on, but this is the onlv w. "Ui in vug oinicuiiy. a I .1: it'-.,. - - Highway Comm uslnnsr Po.,l Knight, however, is not cn cum this. He knows of claims that hava oeen naia as many as four nr flv. umes, uue to the fact that claims wera nresenien reo-umriv Avsm .nnk .j muiiui uuui ; vviiinunKiujicrB mn ana nnaiiv al atv, o . . . " lowed them, and no books were ktpk so that the county could tell Just how much was owing to anv particular claimant. When Mr. Knight was art- pointed coiyity commissioner, he was particularly impressed with the lack of system, ana kept a set of books of his own. - Aside from tViA mmm!. this one year, kept by Mr. Knight, there are no records for individual roads, and only a big pile of claims covering the entire county. f, , L.lirBui, ,. t an t rurnish Information. jne state committee making tha probe is desirous of getting the road costs for the past rive years, and making a thorough investigation of costs. lue to the absolute lack of records in Uox liutte county save for the year 1921, .the questions asked cov- ering the road activities in Box Butta county cannot be answered unless the, old claims for rive years back are gone over and the road claims sorted out. Commissioner Hashman is quoted as saying that "this would take a month to accomplish, and would then be of little value, as there would be no i record or the road on which the money 1 was spent. I Jn regard to the value of the road I equipment, Mr. Knight said that a 1 record has been kept as the state re- quired a statement of this at the end of ouch year. Ihe state also requires that a detailed record be kept of the road expenditures, but this has unfor tunately not been enforced and this w ill probably be the cause of come ex- I pianations on the part of the coramis- I sioners. irom the condition of the county books, it is very doubtful I .utha. tho rnmmilla urill irat l information of value from Box Butte county. Law Requires Records. The statutes provide that each eoun- Ity snail Keep a recora or eacn roaa. In plat, expenses and charges made against that road. The counties are required to establish the office of coun- I tv highway commissioner who shall k a recor(l of cach bridge and road bv number which shall show, the cost 1 0f construction and maintainence. The committee concludes that: "Assuming tl.e county records have I 1. 1. ii Kti a roaa overswra, uy m rouiuy jukiiwct I lb UUKIIV .V V- tv.v w wmm-m each road number as set forth in tha I niipstionnaire. to transfer from your K? .Y..V i-. k.. k uouks yne uaw umu vi hm nonnaires. if the county records or the high- ,.i i way tuiiuiuaoiuiiTr u i v.a v.vtow 1 have not kept their records in the form I ........ . t: 41 .. t. - i uuuineu lit viic enuuua ui iiiw eiavuw li t. . . i A .1 4- J auove ciiwi. you arc reiucaiou i u- vit-e wus curium hoc io umi cuai, uu if the information submitted on the l questionnaire la buumiueu irvui ouj other basis than a cony of your records you areasked to advise the commls- ai bioa oi m .u A number of local Shriners will go to Crawford Wednesday, February 22. I to attend a nance ana supper to m iitcu vj vv w . .v. .