Nebraska Newspapers

    * The Frontier.
- . '
VOLUME XXVI. _
O’NEILL. NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, APRIL 26. 1906
_____ NUMBER 44.
Judge Westover Takes Hand In Long
Delayed Criminal Cases.
MULLEN SAYS ITS THE FINISH
Depositors Go Begging While Bank
Wrecker Goes Free. — Defense
Negotiated Settlement. ^
In the discharge of Bernard Mc
Greevey, by Judge Westover of the
district court, last Saturday, the de
positors of the defunct Elkhorn Val
ley bank once more see their hopes
of retribution for the loss of their
money go glimmering.
McGreevey was president of the de
funct Elkhorn Valley bank which
closed its doors on November 24, 1904.
A few days previous to the closing of
the bank McGreevey fled to Arizona
where he assumed the name of J. A.
Bryan and remained in hiding until
apprehended, arrested and brought
back from Phoenix,Arizona, by Sheriff
Hall in December, 1904. Complaints
were filed against McGreevey at diff
erent times by the following deposi
tors: Peter Kelley, J. A. Cowper
waite, James Coyle, H. A. Polk, Mar
garet Bissey and Mary Golden, all
charging McGreevey with receiving
deposits in an insolvent bank. Pat
rick Hughes also filed a complaint
charging him with making a false
statement to the state banking board.
Last February Judge Westover
granted a change of venue to McGree
vey in all the depositor cases, on the
ground that public sentiment in Holt
county was such that McGreevey
could not get a fair trial here and set
ing the cases for trial at Bassett. On
the 14th of this month Judge Harring
ton granted McGreevey a change of
venue on the complaint filed by Mr.
Hughes and this case was also set
down for trial at Bassett on the 16th
inst. McGreevey was taken to Bas
sett by the Sheriff on Saturday even
ing the 14th and returned to O’Neill
Sunday morning the 22nd in company
with his attorney, M. F. Harrington,
two or three admiring friends and
County Attorney Mullen, he having
been made a free man by the dis
missal of all the cases.
And thus another chapter has
been added to the farcial fiasco of the
preteneded prosecution of one of the
most accomplished wreckers that ever
graced a bank counter.
The incidents of the tragi-farce,
carefully staged and pulled off at Bas
set, as related to us by three of the
prosecuting witnesses and depositors,
who were in attendance,are as follows:
The jury was empaneled and one
witness called for the state on the
complaint filed by Mr. Polk. The
court then took a recess on request of
M. F. Harrington, attorney for Mc
Greevy. It was then Harrington got
busy and renewed his overtures for
a settlement with some of the depos
itors present. He made a number of
propositions to settle with them, all
on a basis of a small per cent of the
claim in cash, some Clipper mining
stock and his personal guarantee of
the balance to be paid within one
year. While the settlement negotia
tions were being pressed by Harring
ton the court again convened and
at the request of Harrington Judge
Westover granted another recess of one
hour and negotiations looking toward
a settlement were continued. The
three depositors present would
not accept Harrington’s terms and at
the expiration of the hour adjourn
ment court again convened, and quite
to the amazement of the prosecuting
witnesses and others present, the
court announced that it had come to
his knowledge that the prosecuting
witnesses had been talking settlement
with the defense and was thereby
trying to make the criminal court a
collecting agency, and by reason of the
settlement negotiations had weakened
the prosecution to such an extent that
a conviction could not be had at the
hands of the jury. Judge Westover
then and there dismissed all
the cases filed against McGreevey,
nothwithstanding that in three of the
cases the complaining witnesses were
not in Bassett and had taken no part
in any scheme concocted by Harring
ton for a settlement of the cases.
It had always been understood since
the first complaint was filed that the
defense was trying to effect a settle
ment and it was generallay known in
Basset that the defendant was trying
to effect a settlement with the deposi
tors present. The court, because three
of the depositors were sought after by
the defense during the pendency of
the eight cases to make settlement,
dismissed all the cases and permitted
the prince of bank wreckers to go free.
Attorneys say that the fact
of a jury having been drawn
and a witness called the de
fendant’s liberty was placed in jeop
ardy and the dismal of the cases
makes as complete an acquittal of
McGreevy so far as the case on trial
is concerned as if the twelve jurymen
had brought in a verdict of not guilty.
County Attorney Mullen has made
the statement since returning from
Basset that he will not prosecute or
permit the liling of any more cases
against McGreevy. If this plan is
adhered to, coupled with Judge
Westover’s acquittal, it makes him as
free and immune from prosecution as
a new born babe.
We are suprised at the termination
of these cases. We did not believe
and it is yet difficult for the outraged
depositors and citizens of the county
to realize that McGreevey would be
accorded his liberty without a trial.
It was known that the defense was
trying to effect a settlement with
some of the depositors and it was
the duty of the prosecuting attor
ney to call the trial courts attention
to this fact and resist the request of
the defense for a recess.
As to the reluctant, listless, supine
manner in which County Attorney
Mullen has acted in the prosecution of
these cases we are not at all surprised.
Since the arrest of McGreevy nearly
eighteen months ago The Frontier
has charged that he did not want to
see McGreevy prosecuted or sent to
the penitentiary. The recent fiasco
only confirms our charges and pre
dictions. If Mullen’s association with
McGreevy is so delicate and close that
he can not consistently prosecute him,
he should at least have the decency
and regard for his oath of office to
either resign or step aside and permit
someone else to prosecute.
The county attorney’s statement
that no more cases will be instituted
against McGreevy may be the means
of defeated justice and keeping Barney
safe for a time, but we mistake the
sentiment of some of the de
positors and law-abiding citizens of
this county if he does not yet get
his just deserts, even if they have to
wait till Holt county has a prosecut
ing attorney who will do his duty.
Not only was McGreevy a party to
robbing 130 unfortunate depositors,
many of whom were poor old men and
women who had their life’s savings in
the institution, and two or three of
whom it is thought will soon become
public charges on this community,but
plundered the school fund and it is
claimed destroyed some of the district
records to cover up his knavery. Not
only all this, but more. In the trial
of the Whittemore bank examiner
case it was shown by both Mullen and
Harrington that there were notes in
the defunct bank amounting to $20,
000 or $30000 that were forgeries.
The president of the institution that
did that kind of work is the man who
now Mr. Mullen says he will not
further prosecute!
Citizens of O’Neill, taxpayers of
Holt county, what do you think of it?
School Banquet.
On Tuesday evening, the Junior
class of the O’Neill high school, gave
a magnificent banquet in honor of the
Seniors at Golden’s hall. The room
was beautifully decorated in the
Seniors colors cardinal and cream, and
the color scheme was further carried
out in the table decorations which
consisted of red and white carnations.
During the luncheon between the
courses, many appropria e toasts were
given by instructars Juniors and
Seniors which added much to the
merriment of the evening.
The fellowship between the two
classes’is remarkable and the Seniors
dread the time when they must part
from such loyal schoolmates as the
J uniors. The school spirit was arous
ed early in the year, and has been
steadily increasing and such demon
strations of it add much to the value
of school life by breaking the mono
tory of school studies.
The banquet was thoroughly en ioj -
ed by all present and the remem
brance of it will ever live in the minds
of all, especially those of the Seniors.
Many Wolves Have Been Killed.
Holt county hunters have killed off
many of the pesky koyotes thus far
this year. The state bounty of $1.25
on each wolf makes it a more or less
attractive business from a pecuniary
point of view.
Since January 1 last 156 wolf pelts
have been shown at the office of the
county clerk and certificates issued by
the clerk for the bounty.
At $1.25 each this makes $195 paid
to hunters of this county in four
months for killing wolves.
Notice.
I have for sale six registered 2-year
old Short Horn bulls, weighing from
900 to 1400. Price from $60 to $100.
Must be sold.—John Miskimins. 41-tf
Mystic flour for sale by * all
Grocers. 44-2
I" M. DOWLING, President JAS. F. O'DONNELL. Ceshler ^
SURPLUS * $55,000.00 I
15 Per Cent Paid I
on Time Certificates of Deposit |
This Bank carries no indebtedness of Officers or Stockholders I
LOCAL MATTERS.
Mystic flour gauranteed to be the
best. 44-2
I want 20 head of horses to pasture.
W. F. Gielish.
Wanted—Girl for house work.—Mrs.
Gilligan. 43-tf
C Downey for Insurance. Farm and
stock a specialty. 38-tf
The Frontier has a stock of good
typewriting paper.
16th to 30th of each month are Dr.
Corbett’s O’Neill dates. 44-tf
William Dickerson of Atkinson was
an O’Neill visitor yesterday.
Frank Leahy and Hugh McKenna
went to Bonesteel Saturday last.
For sale—A gasoline range, as good
as new. Jerry McCarthy. 44-tf
F. J. Hale, a merchant of Atkinson,
had business in O’Neill on Monday.
Miss Rose O’Fallon is visiting
friends in Sioux City, la., this week.
A package of flower seeds free to
each customer at the Racket Store.41-f
R. H. Mills has added the improve
ments of a new fence to his premises.
Miss Marie Churchill went to Ash
land, Neb., this week to visit friends.
Ed F. Gallagher departed yesterday
on a business trip to Emerson and
Omaha.
J. R. Thomas left this morning for
Monmouth, 111., on business. He will
return Tuesday.
Mis* Zink has been at Stuart and
vicinity several days this week looking
after school matters.
Fred Addison was a Page .visitor on
Monday, making the journey there
and back on a bicycle.
Next Sunday evening the Rev. T.
W. Bowen will preach on “Leaving
Matters in God’s Hands.”
2000 packages of flower seeds to be
given away at the Racket Store, one
package to each customer. 41-tf
J. M. Champ and family departed
yesterday for South Dakota, where
they will make their home.
John Winslow, a brother of Mrs. E.
S. Eves, is here from Missouri on a
visit to his sister and family.
Rev. Mead asks us to announce that
Dr. Caldwell will fill the appointment
at Eden Valley Sunday at 3 p. m.
Wanted—About 50 head of cattle to
pasture. Living 4 miles east and 1
mile south of O’Neill. John Bredt.
G. W. Smith has had the appear
ance of his residence improved by
freshly painting the same and putting
on new roofs.
For Sale—A church organ in good
condition, can also be used as a school
or cottage organ. Inquire at G. W.
Smith’s Temple of Music. 35-tf
For Rent.—The Carlon farm adjoin
ing O’Neill, Neb., running water good
pasture and meadow, etc. Write
Thomas Carlon, Court House, Denver,
Colo.
“Home Missions Among Foreingers
In America,” is the subject for En
deavor, at the Presbyterian church
next Sunday evening at seven oclock.
Lila Jones and Pearl Roberts, Leaders.
The Frontier is in receipt of a busi
ness letter from Emil Zimmerman
who is aboard the “Rhode Island” at
the Charleston navy yard at Boston.
Emil says he expects to visit O’Neill
in June.
The church and convent property
of the Catholic congregation is being
spanned and laid out with, cement
sidewalks, making substantial and
commendable improvements in that
part of town.
Mike Flannigan of Minneapolis, one
of the eariy settlers here, was in town
the fore part of the week. Mike,
though for many years a resident of
Minneapolis, still retains Interests in
this county and visits here frequently.
As is usual, many were in from
the country Monday to do business at
the banks and court-house, but found
those places closed. Monday was
Arbor Day a holiday in Nebraska.
County officials and bankers always
observe the holidays,
Bloomfield Monitor: Misses Phoebe
Mullen and Mamie Morrow, the form
er a niece of Dr. Mullen, arrived in
the city Monday and visited at the
home of Dr. and Mrs. Mullen until
Thursday, when they returned to
their home at O’Neill.
The Presbyterian Sunday-school
elected etllcers for the ensuing year:
David B. Grosvetior, superintendent;
Mr. Woodruff, assistant superintend
ent; Ruth Meredith, secretary; C. L.
Pettijohn, treasurer; Edna Moler,
organist. Sunday-school at 12 p. m.
Rev. Mead, pastor of the Methodist
church, has been honored by being
selected to represent the north Ne
braska conference at the commence
ment exercises at Garret Biblical In
stitute at Chicago, which will be held
next week. Rev. Mead tells us he
will attend.
Rev. Dr. Caldwell has been engaged
by the people of the Cain school-house
neighborhood, two miles east of town,
to preach for them each Sunday after
noon at two o’clock Dr. Caldwell is a
minister of more than average ability
and the people out there may expect
to hear something worth going to
each Sunday.
The O’Neill band, which has just
recently been reorganized, has fitted
up a practice room and general head
quarters just west of the Golden
furniture and hardware store, where
they meet to toot the horns and beat
the drums. The boys should receive
any encouragement the public can
give.
John Carr was up from Stafford
Monday. He has just returned from
Council Bluffs, where he had been in
Mercy Hospital for about a month re
covering from an operation. The
operation was preformed by Dr. B.
McDermott, of the hospital staff and
was successful. Mr. Carr speaks very
highly of the treatment accorded him
by the hospital management and their
attendants.
At a regular meeting of the O’Neill
fire department held Tuesday even
ing, the following officers were elected
for the ensuing year: R. J. Marsh,
president; P. J. Btglln, vice-president;
C. C. Reka, treasurer; James David
son, chief; foreman of hose cart No. 1,
S Simmons; foreman of hose cart No.
2, John Mechale; foreman of chemical
engine, Frank Howard; foreman of
hook and ladder, C. C. Reka.
License to wed was issued the 18th
to Louis Strache and Sarah N. Paine
both of Stuart. They were married
at Stuart the 19th. Selmon Tlsue of
Springview and Teresa K. Stanley of
Norden took out license on the 21st
and were married by Father Cassidy.
William II. Hartland and Martha A.
Mellor of Steele Creek and Casper
Pribel of O’Neill and Anna O’Donnell
of Stafford have also taken out license.
Thomas Griffin of O’Neill and Miss
Bridget Glynn of New Haven, Conn.,
were united in marriage Wednesday
morning bA Rev. Cassidy, pastor of St.
Patrick’s church. The groom is an
industrious young man of exempliary
habits who lately came into this com
munity. The bride is a stranger here,
but nevertheless is welcomed into the
community. Mr. Griffin erected a new
house on a farm two miles north of
town this spring where they will make
their home.
Following is the program for the
next meeting of the Tuesday Club,
which will be held at the home of Mr.
and Mrs. W.T. Evans Tuesday, May 1.
Piano solo, Winona Younkin; bio
graphy of Tennyson, Mrs. J. J. Har
rington; criticism of “In Memoriam,”
Mrs. Adams; “Guinevere,’’Mrs. Smith;
vocal selection, Mis. Flynn; “Crossing
the Bar,” Mrs. A. F. Mullen; story of
“Enoch Arden” Mrs. Dr.Gilligan; the
lyric “Blow Bugle, Blow,” Mamie
Morrow; roll call to current events.
A six weeks session of kindergarten
and summer school work will open
June 4. Children from three to seven
years of age according to their matu
rity will be received in the klndergai
ten. The kindergarten session will
be from 9 to 11 A. M. Children from
the primary room to the fourth grade
work will be received in the afternoon
session. Each child will pay a fee of
*3 on entering either departments.
All parents desiring to send children
must register them with me before
May 30 in order that materials may
be ordered. Laura Fields.
B. A. Powell, postmaster at Min
neola, was a Frontier visitor Monday.
Mr. Powell informs us that a local
telephone company has been organized
in his neighborhood to construct a
line which they hope ultimately to
connect with all the nearby towns.
Officers have been chosen as follows:
H. R. Henry, president; E. D. Henry,
vice-president; B. A. Powell, treasur
er; J. M. Hunter, George Tomilson
and Frank Oberly, trustees. Subscrib
ers enough have been secured to es
tablish the line and something over
$300 has been paid over to the treas
urer, or enough to purchase the poles,
which will soon be secured and work
on line commenced. Mr. Powell says
it has not yet been definitely deter
mined with what town connections
will be made first, but that they
have inducements from both Page
and Lynch.
Superintendent’s Notes.
There were forty-five applicants
who wrote on one or more subjects at
the examination in Holt County last
Friday and Saturday. This makes a
total of ninety, who have written in
this county under the new law. Of
the twenty-three who have complet
ed the examination, twelve have been
granted Certificates.
Summer school will open at Wayne,
June 18th and last eight weeks. Cer
tificates showing the purchase of
tickets from June 18th to June 26th
will entitle the holders to one-third
fare for return up to August 14th.
These should be secured of the agent
at the time the tickets are purchased.
The certificates are good provided one
hundred are filed. These rates apply
to Nebraska, South Dakota, and
Western Iowa. We will print rates
to other schools In next week’s paper.
First registration for summer school
at Peru is Tuesday, May 28th, second
registration Wednesday, June 5th
This summer school will last ten
weeks.
Valentine Junior Summer Normal
opens June 11th and holds until Aug
ust 17th.
The wheat and pototo contests are
closed but seed corn may be obtained
until May 20th. With regard to this
contest the Nebraska Farmer of
April 19th gives the following: The
Nebraska State Board of Agriculture
has appropriated $150 to be distribut
ed as follows: To the boy under 18
years of age growing the largest yield
of corn on one acre of ground, $50. To
the boy growing the second largest
yield, $40. To the boy growing the
third largest yield, $30. To the boy
growing the fourth largest yield, $20.
To the boy growing the fifth largest
yield, $10. The following specifica
tions and requirements to govern in
this contest: The entire labor of pre
paring the ground, planting, cultiva
ting and harvesting of this acre of
corn te be preformed by the contest
ant, who has entered the contest by
recording his name in the office of W.
R. Mellor, secretary of the state board
of agriculture, not later than May
20th, 1906, said acre to be measured,
husked and weighed in the presence
of three disinterested freeholders, re
sidents of the county in which the
said acre of corn is located, said com
mittee to forward their affidavits as
to their weights and requirements of
specifications in this acre of corn un
der their inspection to the secretary
of the state board of agriculture not
later than November 1, 1906. The
contestant to file also with the secre
tary a full detailed account of his me
thod of performing the work, fertiliz
ers used, if any, and the character of
the soil on which the crop was grown.
A sample of ten ears must be exhibit
ed by the prize winners at the office
of the secretary, Lincoln.
In order to give us more time to
look over the papers, the date of the
eighth grade examination has been
changed from May 17th and 18th, to
May 10th and 11th.
Florence Zink, Co. Supt.
Ready to Build a Bridge.
Spencer Advocate: It will be notic
ed in the supervisors proceedings that
the Boyd county board carried a
motion to notify the Holt county
board that Boyd county was ready to
build its half of a bridge across the
Niobrara at what is known as Par
shall’s crossing. Upon this motion
Reed, Peterson, Kenaston and Seevers
voted yes. Lynn, Couch and Long
voted no. This bridge will no doubt
be a benefit to Boyd county although
not located in the best place.
HELEN E. HOWE SOIGIDES
Takes Carbolic Acid Because She Fear
ed Being Returned to Asylnm.
ADJUDGED INSANE LAST AUGUST
Came to O’Neill and Stopped at Hotel
Where Deadly Dose Was Taken.
County Burried Remains.
Mrs. Helen E. Howe committed
suicide at the Dewey hotel In this city
Friday last by drinking a quanity of
carbolic acid. She died almost imme
diately after drinking the deadly
poison.
The woman was the wife of C. H.
Howe, living In McClure township,
this county. In August of last year
she was sent to the asylum at Lincoln
at the instance of or on complaint of
her husband. She was about sixty
three years of age and came to the
county something over a year ago and
was married to Mr. Howe.
It is not known when she was re
leased from the asylum, but it seems
that she had been at Ponca, this state,
for a time, coming to O’Neill on Wed
nesday of last week. She put up at
the Dewey hotel, acting strangely pre
viously to taking the fatal dose. She
manifested a fear of being taken back
to the asylum. One of the hotel girls
discovered the woman and the empty
bottle just after she had swallowed
the poison and asked what she bad
done. The woman indicated that she
had taken the poison, saying that
“they were not going to take her back
to the asylum.” She expired soon
after.
Coroner Flynn was called and found
her dead. He empanled a jury and
an inquest was held, a verdict of sui
cide being returned.
The remains were taken in charge
by Undertaker Biglin, who located
relatives of the woman, beside her
husband, at Ponca. From advice
from these and also the woman’s hus
band, the remains were buried on
Saturday at the expense of the county.
$100 FROM CITY TREASURY.
Aid for the Homeless at San Francis
co Promptly sent from O’Neill.
Last Friday a telegram was receiv
ed for Mayor Doyle from Governor
Mickey asking that the town make
what ever contribution it could for
the fund and supplies being raised by
the state for the people of San Fran
cisco who had been left homeless
foodless and shelterless by the appall
ing distaster which befell that section
of California last Wednesday, when
practically the whloe city of SanFran
■cisco was destroyed by earthquake
and flames and many other cities
and towns in the neighborhood
suffered nearly as much loss,
thousands of people being killed.
Mayor Doyle was not at home at
the time and Col. Neil Brennan was
delivered the govenor’s message, he
being president of the cuuncil and
therefore acting mayor in the may
or’s absences.
Col. Brennan consulted each of the
council men and several of the busi
ness men. It was the mind of all
that whatever was done must be done
at once. City Treasurer James Galla
gher was instructed to send Governor
Mickey #100 of the city’s funds by
telegraph and within two hours after
the govenor’s message was received
there was #100 to his credit in the First
National bank of Lincoln from O’Neill.
Governor Mickey has acknoledged
receipt of the same in the following
letter:
State of Nebraska, Executive Office,
Lincoln, April 20, 1906.—Col. Neil
Brennan Acting Mayor, O’Neill,
Nebraska. My dear Sir: Your tele
gram just received and I note that
you have wired the First National
bank of Lincoln one hundred dollars
to my credit for the use of the San
Francisco sufferers. This money will
be transmitted through safe and pro
per channels and will be used to the
very best advantage. 1 wish to thank
you on behalf of the people of San
Francisco for this noble contribution.
Yours very truly,
John H. Mickey, Governor.
Fireman Killed.
Newport Republican: Freight train
No. 116, due here going east at noon,
was wrecked near Merriman between
one and two o’clock last Monday
morning, killed the fireman and in
juring the engineer. The accident
was caused by a washout into which
the engine plunged, followed by
nine freight cars. The dying man
lived about five minutes after being
taken from the wreckage and shaking
hands with his friends, bad them
goodbye.
Mystic flour not the cheapest but
the best. 44-2