life
THIRTY-SIXTH YEAH.
NORTH PLATTE, NEB., JANUARY 16, 1920.
No. 2
i
or
Chief Mecomber and Officer Rogers
Killed by Mexicans Last Evening.
Chief of Pollco S. C. Mecomber and
Patrolman George E. Rodgqrs wore
Baot and killed at 5:30 last evening bv
two Mexicans) whom tho offlcors at
tempted to search or arrest In tho
grocery store of Nick Chiros, a Greek,
who occuplos the brick building on
! ront street east of Pine. The Chief
was shot through tho head bohind the
ear and died Instantly, Officer Rodgers
in the back, the bullet piercing this
body and coming out at tho loft breast
and he died within ten minutes after
tho shot was fired.
One of tho Mexicans who did the
shooting was shot through tho neck
by Chiros and is in jail. Whether
his wound will provo fatal is not at
this time known.
Tho story as told by Chiros follows;.
t l-ito In the nfternoon two Mexicans
I had never beforo seen, entered my
placo and going to the rear of tho
room seated themsolves at one of the
several tables I have there. As I was
busy I did not pay jnuch attention to
them at first, but later noticed that
they wero sort of restless in their
movements, and acted as though they
wore suspicious. At the time there
was another Mexican I know, and
three or four of my countrymen in the
store. Presently the two officers cam'
In, they loafed" nround tho front of the
store for a couple of minutes and then
edged to tho rear of tho room stopping
to look at pictures on the wall as they
passed along. I was startled bv the
roport of a gun and looking in that di
rection saw Chief Mecomber fall to
tho floor, three or four other shots
followed and Officer Rodgers fell The
Mexicans started for the front door
while I was bohind the counter, and
as the one in advance came opposite
me. I reached for my 25-caIibro Colt
and fired at him. He had a gun in
his hand, and as I fired the gun drop
ped to tho floor, I attempted to fire
again but my gun became plugged. As
tho second Mexican came along I
dodged below -the counter and as he
passed out tho door I ran from be
hind tho counter, picked up the gun
that had been dropped and fired
through tho plate glass window at the
retreating Mexicans, but the bullet
was .deflected by tho glass and went
wldo of its mark. '.I thenWfth'&itn
ithe door n.ni1 no-r4n .tiAM-i.'itrj-..n?.iWI
but found that the gun yna emptv of
cartridges. The men crossed 'the
street and turned tho corner at the
depot, I following and yolling to sev
eral men that the Mexicans were mur
derers but no one paid attention to my
cries, and boinc unnrmrwi t
the pursuit and returned to the store I
to see if I could slvo
fleers. I found Mecomber dead; but
Rodgers still breathing. With the
assistance of others we carried Roger i
to the front door so that ho might got
more air, but we had scarcely got him
to tho door when he died. I then tel
ephoned the sheriff's office. Upon In
vestigating later. I found that a mir
ror in the rear of the room had been
pierced by two balls, evidence that at
least four shots had been fired
Whothor one man did tho shooting or
whother both fired shots. I don't
know."
Upon recolpt of the telephone call
Deputy Sheriff "yil8on responded and
was accompanied by County Attorney
Keefo to tho scene of tho murdor. They
found Chlof Mecombar's gun in the
holster, while Officer Rodgers did not
have a gun.
Inthe mcantlmo the Mexican whom
Chiros had shot had dropped on tho
tracks north of tho depot and was
taken into custody. IIo was llrsit tnk
en to a hospital and his wound ex
amined, and latcd conveyed to Jail.
The shot entered the left sldo of the
neck but tho ball could not be located.
The bodies of tho two officers were
tnken to the Derryborry & Forbes
morgue.
Tho other Mexican is thought to
have continued his flight north and a
short tlmo later Is reported to have
boon seen nt tho fair grounds nnd that
ono man had taken a shot at him. but
by this time it was dark and tho lleo
lng Mexican could not bo followed.
Sheriff Salisbury, who at tho time)
of the shooting, was looking after j
outside business arrived in a short '
time and immediately organized a I
posse and throw a cordon of a hundred I
or more men in a circle around town,
extending tho line eastward to the '
railroad bridge and westward to ai
point beyond tho western limits of the !
city, while several hundred other
men began a man hunt In and around
tho fair grounds.
Last night's search was without re-,
suit and tho man hunt Is being con- j
tlnued today by several bodies of men.
Every surrounding town, postofflce'
and cross roads store was telephoned
last evening from tho sheriffs office
and tho people advised to bo on the !
lookout. All Mexicans who canno bo
vumjiieu ior win ue rounuen up and
held for Investigation.
No disposition of the bodies of the
dead officers will bo made until a
nnlxiiiiin'n I iwi n .... t I 1 . 1 .1 1 , 1 . I
wuiid o iuiul'si. is nuiu, wmuu in
quest will be held today.
Thjs cold blooded murdor soon filled
the streets with men and during the
earlier part of the evening hore wns
a pretty strong under-current of mob
violence ta the Wounded prisoner in
jail, but the advice of cooler heads
rTheHnen'e3
ting" ono of the murderers is to be
commended. Had not, his trun nluecod
or had the gun which he 'picked upi
nuu more than one cartridge In it, he
probably would have "got" tho second
Mexican.
This cold blooded murder is the
most awful crime in the annals of
North Platte and has resulted in a
strong resentment against furthoi
employment of Mexicans in, tho city
or county. Thoro Is a general fool
ing that they should be peaceably
warned to leave.
To the families of tho dead officers
the condolences of the entire com
munity is extended; their loved ones
were tnken off while in the perform
ance of a duty the ridding of tho
town of suspicious characters that are
a menace to the welfare of us all.
KK1VAUD OF SK.O.OI).
Tho County of Lincoln offers a re
ward of $lf0 for tho arrest of the
.Mexican implicated in the murder of
Officers Mecomber and Itmlpers.
F. IV. imtMIXMIAVSMN,
Chrni. Hoard of Co. Conimrs.
::o::
Tho. War Mothers Club mot at tho
federal building Tuesday evening on
a called mooting for oloctlou of of
ficers for tho ensuing year. Mothers
who had lost thoir sons In tho world
war was honored by election to tho
first two offices of tho club. Officers
for tho coming yonr nro: Mrs. Mary
Elder, war mother; Mrs. Doncgnn.
vice-war mpthor; Mrs. Soronsson, re
cording secretary; Mrs. Woodhurst,
corresponding secretary; Mrs. J. Cln
baugh, treasurer; Mrs. C. S. Clinton
jounallst; Mrs. J. E. Evans, historian
nnd Mrs. L. L. Wright, parliamentar
ian. Tho invitation of th6 Mnxwe.ll
post to attend In n body the stato con
vention to ho hold In Maxwell on Jan
uary 30, was accepted.
At tho Prosbytoran church Sunday
tho pastor will uso for his morning
subject "Immanuel, or God With Us,"
and In tho evening at 7:30 "Saved
from What?", which is tho second in
a series of discourses on the subject
of being saved.
Mr. and Mrs. Chns. McEvoy, who
woro called here by tho death of tho
former's father, returned Wednesday
to their home nt Glen's Ferry. Ida
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Van Dorqn,
who had been visiting Mr. VanDornn's
paronts, returned to Lincoln this
morning.
Mr. and Mrs. Win. Reynolds wore
hosts last evening nt a family dinner
party at which their nelco, Mrs. Ruth
Daub was honor gucjt
Dr. J. C. M'cKlnloy, of York, ar
rived this morning for a visit with his
daughter, Mrs. Geo. N. GIbbs.
Mrs. Andy McGovem went to Chey
onno today for a short visit with hor
aunt. i
:o::-
Notlcc to the Public
I will not bo responsible for any
bills that may bo contracted by my
wife.
2-4 B. A. ELIAS.
AT THE
SUN THEATRE.
Miss Sadio Trovlllo will leave today
for a visit with friends in Omaha.
Sidney Spillman went to Lincoln
Wednesday to spend several days
looking after business matters.
What is bettor to a tired man than
to go homo, light a good cigar, start
his Edison on one of those restful Edl
sn Re-creations? Lot Dixon put ono
in your home.
Miss Lura Erb will closo her work
here as English Instructor nt tho high
school with the clo?o of the semester
next week and will leavo for New
York City to take post graduate work
at tho Columbia University. Mrs
Ralph Nortlr will tako tho placo left
vacant at tho high school.
Dixon's sight specialist Is at your
service.
FRIDAY
-f HE FOUR FLUSHERS
WITH
Dale Hamilton
ALSO
Texas Guianan
Two Reel Westener.
SATURDAY
THE LOVE CHEST
mill
Creighton Hale and June
Caprice.
MONDAY
THE WOLF
WITH
Earl Williams
ALSO
17 chapter of
ELMO THE MIGHTY,
Tl
ml
i raw
T
ran
A BIG NEW YORK SUCCESS ON WAY TO PACIFIC COAST.
V,,-.
- ygt, gy A 1
A COMEDY
suite deluxe
C.W.BELL 6- MARK SWAN
EVERY ROOM HAS A PURPOSE
The Funniest Farce ever written, Cost includes Edo Ann Luke, Walter E
Perkins, Will Archie.
SEAT SALE TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, AT BOX OFFICE AT 2 P. M.
PRICES $1.00 to $2.00, Plus War Tax.
DIVISION SS ENTKKT.MNS NEW
31 KM II KKS AT A S310KKH
Yostorday was an opoch-mnklng
day in tho annals of Division 88,
Brotherhood of Locomotlvo Englnoors
as during tho nftoruoon thirty-two
liromon who had become eligible to
membership woro taken luto tho or
ganization. Tho Initiatory ceremon
ies woro hold at the Labor Tomplo,
and nt the conclusion tho brotherhood
man marched In a body to tho Episco
pal church basement where a very
excellent chicken dinner was sorved
by tho wives and dnuchtors of the
'engineers. Stamp's orchestra fur-
nlshod music during the meal and
botweon courses T. N. Arnold and W
H. Mungor led In singing popular airs,
tho orchestra furnishing an accom
paniment. At the conclusion of the meal, with
W. L. Richards as toastmaster, Messrs
Hare, Grimes, Keefo and Graves were
Introduced, ench making n short ad
dress, In which wore commended tho
good citizenship of tho members of
the division, and the efficiency nud
loyalty thoy had always given and
shown the Union Paclllc coiripany.
During the evening Mr. Arnold rbn,
dered a solo which was so well re
ceived that he was twice recalled. Tho
evening olosed with a talk on Insur
ance by J. T. Stuart.
Division 88, Brotherhood of Loco
motive Englnoors, Is one of tho old
ost, If not the oldest labor organiza
tion in .the trans-Missouri country,
for It will soon bo flfty-threo years
since It was Instituted. It was on July
18th, 1S07, that a charter was granted
to Grand Island Division 88, and It
was tho first division organized on
tho Union Pacific system.
Thoro woro but nlno charter mem
bers, and theso woro: Warren Lloyd,
Jos. Cloburne, L. W. Rollins. L. O.
Farrlngton, John Riley, Lafayette
SchalTor. John B. Wells, W. II. Whit
ney and Robert Waugh. W. II. Whit
ney was the first chief engineer of the
Division The headquarters of the
Division remained in Grand Island
until 187S; wjion a dissension arose
as to whothor tho headquarters
should bo removed to Oniahn or
North Platte. By a little smooth
work on tho part of two North Platto
engineers, both now dead, possession
of tho records was secured, brought
to North Platto and this city declared
tho headquarters of the Division. Tho
Division, however, retained the name
of the town In which it was organiz
ed until December, 1891, when tho
name was changed to Goorgo W. Vro
man Division SS.
fcfc,. - ::o::
Install Officers.
At a regular meeting of tho Royal
Neighbors "Wednesday evening tho fol
lowing officers wore Installed: Mrs
Francis Stobbins. Oracle, Mrs. Jonnlo
Wlllerton vice-Oracle. Mrs. Marv Able
Past Oracle. Mrs. II. P. Hlnckle Re
corder, Mrs. Thos. Hulllgan Receiver
Mrs. Wright Inner Sentinel. Mrs.
Mary Hayes Outer Sentinel. Mrs.
Chas. Mooro and Mrs. Everett York
wero placed on the board of managors.
After the Installation Mrs. Marv
Schmalzried was presented with a
handsome leather upholstered rocker
as a token of the appreciation of tho
order Tor her faithful services as re
corder for twenty-thrpn vcars.
-o-1
For Sale Almost new houFjuholi'
goods. C19 west B. 103-i
Crystal, Monday.
GEORGE WALSH
Or. Wurlele's Return Is Delayed.
In a lottor to Tho Tribune Dr. Fred
J. Wurtolo says: "When I left North
Platto I told ovoryono that I would ho
back In about throo wooks, but I find
that I will havo to wait until about
tho first of February beforo I will bo
discharged. I am spondlng tho rest
of this month in Now York taking up
some now- nnd special work on tho
heart. A man told mo yesterday that
If I was going to mnko a Bpoclal study
of tho heart, that I had hotter stay
right In Now Ybrk, as prohibition had
taken tho hoart out of nearly ovory
ono thoro."
1st Lutheran Church.
Morning worship, 11 o'clock, subject
"Sins of tho Tongue." Evening wor
ship, S p. m., subject "Godllnoss." Sun
day school at 9:45 with classus for
all. Everyone wolcomo nt our sorvlcos.
REV. C. F. KOCH, Pastor.
-i'.o::
Will L. Clarke arrlvod In town n
few days ago to compile- tho history of
Lincoln county which will be lssuod
by a Chicago firm.
Now is the time to havo jour pnlnt
hit; and paper hnmrlne donp. II. II.
Lnmlirraf, phone Black r70, Itf
I'reinifs Forslodl Pnsscs Away.
Premus Forstodt, who hnd made hla
home In North Platto for a number of,
years, died at Scotts Bluff Wednbsday
ovonlng. Tho deceased had gono to
Scotts Bluff about six months ngtf
hoping that altitude would provo beno
flotnl to his health leaving his children
with relatives In this city. Ho had
been In poor health for several years,
nnd had submitted to soyqrnj opera
tions. Death was duo, , Jiowovcr, to
tubercular trouble. The body was
brought to North Platto last night and
tho funeral will bo hold from tho
Lutheran church at 2:30 this afternoon.
President Hrny to Visit City.
President Gray, of tho Union Pnclflc
accompanied by other officials of tho
company. Is scheduled to nrrlvo In
North Platto noxt Monday morning
while onrouto wost on an lnspoctlon
of the company praporty. It Is expects,
ed that tho official party will spend
tho grontor part of the day In Inspect
ing property at this tormlnal.
::o!:
Dr. II. A. Fonnor wont to Fremont
Wednesday to dlagnoso sovornl cases
for Dr. Richardson of that city.
THE
HIRSCHFELD
CO.
Clean-up Sale
in
"The Shark"
It'h a sea drama so you must soo It.
Fatty Arbuckle
"Oh, iwxw"
rare
mm
I IhiiI; li, H
KUPPENHEIMER'S
and other famous makes
Mens and Young Mens
SUITS and
OVERCOAT!
on sale at ridiculous low
' $28 to $30-
values
S23.
$10 to $45
values
$35td $38
values
Arrow and Monarch Shirts
$50 to .$55
values
$38.
95c
Ralston Shoes, broken lines
ec: 90 v
JM. Pair
MEN'S HOSE
25c value
17c
MEN'S HOSE
Silk Lisle
35c
HIRSCHFELD
North Plaltes Foremost Clothiers
For Men and Young Men.
1 lrr ir rt.l..l f
I,
""V""'" , J&rW"'
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A the Sun Friday. The Keith on Monday.
Our him L i.s limited. Don't wait, hut come in now and let us show you how the
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NORTH PLATTE LIGHT & POWER COMPANY, i
I
