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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (March 13, 1952)
® - e * O Calkins Murder Picture Story on Pages 3, 4, 15 16 PAGES —2 SECTIONS ’ | | i ft North-Nebraskas Fastest-Growing Newspaper VOLUME 71.—NUMBER 45._O'NEILL. NEBRASKA. THURSDAY. MARCH 13. 1952. PRICE: 7 CENTS STATE HIST WOC -w PILOT THORlf A WAR PRISONER Helicopter Flyer’s Radio Contact with Ship Silenced CHAMBERS — Chief Aviation Pilot Duane Thorin, 32, a highly decorated veteran of World War U and the Korean war, officially has been reported missing in ac tion in the Far East. He disappeared on February 8, while on a rescue mission. He radioed his ship, from which his squadron was Hying, telling that he had landed unhurt behind the enemy lines and that he was taking cover. Three weeks later he again established radio con tact. Some supplies were dropped to him and a companion. Then began another long silence. The navy announced last Thursday that Chief Thorin was officially listed as missing in action in the Korean theater. News of Chief Thorin and his ’copter having been knocked —Tlit.- Ktoutlet i'hoU) & KnKiavlng CAP Duane Thorin . . . his mother died without knowing his fate. down by eneirty fire was not im mediately made public by mem bers of the iamny at Neligh, Chambers and O’Neill. This was because of the critical illness ol the airman’s mother, Mrs. Clara Thorin, wno died late Saturday. The 68-year-old woman died without knowing the fate of her illustrious son. Chief Thorin has been deco rated several times for his heli copter duty in the Korean war. One da*y lie pulled more than a hundred Siamese seamen to safe ty after their ship had run aground in dangerous waters. The rescue was carried out under en emy fire. Chief Thorin’s wife and chil dren reside in San Diego, Calif. This week they received his per sonal effects and the word that the navy now believes the vet eran navy airman is now a pris oner of war. Senator Kerr Coming Friday O’Neill will be included in the Nebraska-wide speaking sched ule of U.S. Sen. Robert S. Kerr, fiery Southern democratic can didate for presidential nomina tion. Senator Kerr and his retinue will arrive here early Friday for a 9 o’clock breakfast at the Town House. The Holt county Kerr for - President club, headed by John R. Gallagher, of O’Neill, has invited the public to attend the get-acquainted meeting. “We’d like to have a fine turn out,” Mr. Gallagher said. “We’re inviting everyone, regardless of party affiliation.” Senator Kerr and party will spend the preceding night at Norfolk and will move from O’ Neill to Grand Island for a noon engagement, then to North Platte for the evening. Kerr’s Nebraska chairman is Bernard J. Boyle, prominent Omaha attorney and former O’ Neillite. Chairman Bovle said. “Nebras kans have a treat in store for them when they hear and meet Mr. Kerr. He is probably the most colorful orator here since the davs of William Jennings Bryan.” — Petitions Out for City Candidates Petitions were in circulation Monday and Tuesday in behalf of seven candidate for municioal posts. Signers were sought in behalf of: J. E. Davis (incumbent), for mayor. Joe Stutz, for city council. Second ward. L. M. Merriman (incumbent by appointment), for city council. First ward. Emmet Crabb, for city coun cil, Second ward. O. D. French (incumbent), for city clerk. John C. Watson, for city trea surer. John Kersenbrock. for mayor. Municipal and school election will be held in connection with the primary election on April 1. Mrs. I «vle McKim received a letter from her son, Lyle, that he has landed in Korea. The ship on which he sailed had 600 men and 30 women aboard Mrs. Dorothy Socha began working in the office of county clerk Ruth Hoffman on Saturday, March 1, taking the place of Mrs. Opal Bosn. SIDELIGHTS ON THE Calkins Slaying The impact of the tragic news brought grief and sorrow to thousands of friends of the vet eran peace officer. And it pro duced anger and bitterness a gainst the killer. Holt Sheriff Leo S. Tomjack frankly admitted that he doubt ed if the proved killer would be safe in the Holt jail on the third floor of the courthouse. On every street corner, be hind every desk, in school corridors, at each store counter and in every home the Calkins murder was the chief — and virtually only—topic of con versation during the week. Tom Allan, Omaha World Herald reporter who headquar tered at The Frontier during his four-day stay, said: "The immediate impression a stranger gets is that Chet Calk ins was a well-liked, beloved peace officer; that he was one in a thousand; that he had no ene mies and shared none of the contempt and ill-feeling that ac companies ‘coppers’ in the ci ties." * * * Hundreds View Body— The body of Chief of Police Calkins lay in state at the Biglin Brothers funeral home from 4 p.m. Saturday until the funeral hour on Tuesday. By 6 p.m. Saturday several hundred persons had visited the bier and had paid their respects, including scores of school chil dren. Chet Calkins had been (Continued on page 4) Dale Bell, Retired Farmer, Expires CHAMBERS—Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Monday. March 10, at the Methodist church in Chambers for Dale Bell, 66, who died at 2 p.m.. Thursday, March 6, in the O’ Neill hospital. He had been in failing health several years. Dale Bell was born at Clarin da, la., September 7. 1885. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. Willis R. Bell, who were born in Ohio. He came to Chambers with his parents in 1887 and resided on their farm until a few years ago. At that time, due to ill health, he retired and moved in to Chambers. He was a member of the Kellar Presbyterian church since child hood, and a member of the IOOF lodge since June 15. 1909. The late Mr. Bell had suf fered for a number of years from a lingering illness caused by Parkinson's disease. On November 16. 1951. he en tered OlNeiil hospital, where he remained until his deatn. The body was taxen to Bighn Broth ers mortuary. Rev. L. K. Hansberry officiated in the funeral rite and burial was in the Chambers cemetery. The music was furnished by a mixed quartette composed of Mrs. Kenneth Adams. Mrs. Art Miller, Ernest Farrier and Ray Hoffman. Lela Corcoran was the pianist. Glen Adams served as usher and Mrs. Glee Grimes and Mrs. Clyde Kiltz had charge of the flowers. The pallbearers were Kenneth Adams, Charlie Grimes. Louis Taggart, Walt Richards, Alfred Walters, Edgar DeHart, Bill Turner and Earl Medcalf. Relatives and friends who came from a distance were: Mrs. Haezl B. Miller, of Chicago, 111.: Mrs. Hattie Richardson and sons and Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Goff, of Ord; Mrs. Hubert Rice, of Loup City. Survivors include: Sister—Mrs. Hazel B. Miller, of Chicago. 111.: nephew — Melvin J. Bell and wife and daughter, of Chambers: sister-in-law—Mrs. Reed Bell, of Chambers. Mrs. Thomas Curran Dies at Neligh Mrs. Thomas Curran. 75, died at 9 o’clock Monday evening. March 10. at her home in Neligh. where she had been ill about a year. Funeral services will be con ducted today (Thursday) at St. Patrick’s Catholic church here, starting at 9 a.m. Very Rev. Tim othy O’Sullivan, church pastor, will officiate and burial will be in Calvary cemetery. A rosary was offered Wednes day evening at Biglin Brothers. The late Mrs. Curran was a daughter of Patrick and Marv McCormick McDonald. She was born in Illinois. Rose McDonald married Thomas Curran in 1901. Mr. Curran died December 19. 1949. Survivors include Sisters—Mrs. H. L. Davis, of Plattsmouth. and Mrs. Agnes Bandt. of Phillips burg, Kans.: brother —■ Thomas McDonald, of Salem, Ore. Rev. Wright, Former Pastor, Succumbs Rev. Virgil C. Wright, a for mer pastor of the Methodist church in O’Neill between 1938 and 1942, died at his home in Fayette, Ala., o n Thursday. March 6. News of the death was receiv ed by Rev. V. R. Bell, present pastor. The late Reverend Wright re sided at 715 Winston st.. Fay ette, Ala. Police Chief Calkins Murdered; Search for Slayer Unavailing _ ' <?> —— O'Neill's Chief of Police Chef Calkins, 51 . . . — The Frontier Bnirravinn for more than a generation a symbol of honesty, fine citizenship, law and order. ★ ★ ★ 1 __ Quotes About Chet Judge D. R. Mounts, Fifteenth judicial district: “Chief Calkins was a very good, very capable officer. He was an underpaid officer. Chief Calkins was dip lomatic and loved. One ex-con vict whom Chet had helped ap prehend has been in my office since the murder and he spoke a glowing tribute. The man with the record said that Calkins had pointed out where he (the ex convict) had been doing wrong, set him straight and he had been going straight ever since. I think that’s a wonderful tribute to Police Chief Calkins.” • • • Very Rev. Timothy O’Sullivan, pastor, St. Patricks Catholic church: “Since coming to O’Neill I’ve heard him spoken of in very high terms. Only last week he met me at a train at an odd hour and delivered me safely to my home in snow and cold. In ----- MH.'-V t speaking to me about Mr. Calk ins many folks have wept. He had a great many good quali ties.” • • • State Sen. John Adams, Oma ha Negro: “I am so sorry to hear the news. I met Mr. Calkins dur ing a stopover at ONeill. I was never better treated or more courteously treated than during the few most pleasant moments it took Mr. Calkins to drive me to the rail station.” * * • J. E. Davis .mayor of city of O’Neill: “Chief Calkins was a friendly, courteous, courageous officer. The officials of the city of O’Neill will do everything within their power to bring to justice the guilty murderer.” * * • Julius D. Cronin, veteran O’ Neill attorney and former coun (Continued on page 5) -- n uMMifiMn-.• 4.v —The Frontier Photo & KyKravlng Mrs. Mary Fleming ... an O'Neill tavern waitress . . . her curiosity aroused. e—."isnwaBr Auto '"A" simulates the 1951 Kaiser sedan and the patrol car is parked in the position where, witnesses say. Chief Calkins had parked to inspect the Kaiser's trunk. The body of the slain officer was discovered in darkened cruiser car about 2 a.m.—Omaha World-Herald Photo. Investigators Up Against Stonewall in Search for Street Assassin Authorities are baffled in the search for the mys terious slayer of O’Neill’s Police Chief Chet Calkins, 51, whose bullet-ridden body was discovered about 2 a.m. Friday at the wheel of his cruiser car. The body was found by Walt Calkins, a brother of the chief, within an hour after the slaying had taken place, initially, Walt, a plain clothes night policeman, thought his brother had suffered a heart attack. He summoned Dr. L. A. Carter from a nearby office-apart ment. In the dimly-lighted front seat of the cruiser car, the doctor felt the pulse of the chief and pronounced him dead. It wasn’t until 30 or 40 minutes later at Biglin Brothers mortuary that it was discovered Chet Calkins, a beloved police officer, had been shot to death at point blank range. O’NEILL BURIES ITS POLICE CHIEF Church Unable to Accommodate Throng “Greater love hath no man than to lay down nis life for a friend.” That was the main thought in the scripture read by Mrs. B. J. Hoile, of Norfolk, during funer al rites held Tuesday afternoon. March 11. at the O’Neill Metho dist church. Mrs. B. J. Hoile. reader from the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Norfolk, was as sisted by Rev. J. LaVerne Jay, O’Neill district Methodist super intendent. The eulogy was spoken by Reverend Jay, substituting for the regular Methodist church pastor. Rev. V. R. Bell, who had suffered a heart sttack. “He was Indispensable to the community, and his kind cannot easily be replaced," the Reverend Jay continued. “Chet Calkins was a good man. a fearless man. He knew no fear. He was more than a police offi cer. He was a confidant to manv young men who might otherwise have been traveling the wayward path.” Reverend Jay said. “Chet Calkins was a symbol of honesty, fine character, good citizenship and law and order. His deeds will live forever in the minds of the people he served.” Reverend Jay said, “The con gressional medal of honor is a warded to our military heroes on the field of battle for per forming deeds far beyond the call of duty. Certainly this good Udovod man,” he continued, “is deserving of a comparable hon or, because he gave his life for those whom lie loved and served. “Mr. Calkins was an impartial friend of soldiers traveling to and from the wars, of wayfarers, and of school girls who learned to depend upon his protective cour tesies and deeds. He delivered many of them to their doorsteps. "Many lirst-offenders miqht have been jailed. But Chief Calkins counseled them, lec tured them, and qave them qood advice. “He was a soft-spoken man. even when dealing with harden ed criminals.” Borrowing from the scriptures. Reverend Jay said: “He that loseth his life shall find it . . .” “The criminal death of Chief Calkins is a symptom of our time in the aftermath of war. This is a time.” he said, “when we should search our hearts and turn away from selfishness and live the unselfish life exempli fied by Chet Calkins.” Reverend Jay closed his eulo gy by quoting from the poem by Sam Walter Foss. “Let Me Live in the House by the Side of the Road and Be a Friend to Man.” The Methodist church sanctu ary could not begin to accom modate the hundreds of persons W'ho came to pay their last re spects. The crowd of more than a thousand persons overflowed into the basement and into the annex building where loudspeak ers carried the funeral message. (Continued on page 4) Immediately notified were Holt County Sheriff Leo S. Tomjack. Holt Attorney William W. Grif fin and State Patrolman Frank Dineen. The chief’s immediate family was advised death had been caused by a heart attack. Word of the murder was flashed on the state police ra dio in the early winter morn ing hours and an extensive manhunt for the killer or kill ers was begun. The slayer emptied six bullets from a revolver into the veteran police officer’s heavily-clothed body. At least five of the shots pierced the general area of the upper right chest but one enter ed the heart. There were gun powder burns on Calkins’ gloved left hand where one bullet had ripped the thumb and had pierc ed the web between the thumb and index finger. There were also left arm powder bums. This suggested to authorities the kill er was either seated beside Calkins in the cruiser car or was entering the car. In any event the shots were fired point-blank on a slight downward angle. No one residing in the area reported hearing the quick, suc cessive cracks of the pistol, fur ther establishing close - range sadistic triggering. The sound may have been muffled by the interior of the car and the closed doors and windows. When Walt Calkins found the body the chief was slumped over the steering wheel. His right hand clutched a lighted flash light. The ignition, spotlight and headlight switches on the car were turned off. Later in vestigation revealed a splotch of blood on the steering wheel. The chief of police, w&o had held the job for 17 years, made his customary rounds of the city earlier in the evening and the only unusual feature was the record-breaking crowd of per sons at the class B d. strict bas ketball tournament. He watched his son. Donald. 18, play with the O’Neill high Eagles against the Neligh War riors in the semifinal competi tion. Hundreds of out-of-towners were in the city, principally from Plainview, Neligh and Bro ken Bow—enthusiasts from these towns following their respective basketball teams. Calkins mingled with many at the game. He customarily put in a brief appearance at most pub lic events. By midnight the town was a bout erriptied of visitors. He took some mail from several hotels to the North Western railroad sta tion to be placed aboard the eastbound train due shortly af ter midnight. Calkins did not wait for the train, running a little late, and left the station at 11:55 p.m. About 12:30 a.m. he met Walt and they investigated a small cluster of persons drink ing in the rear of a business establishment. After that the two officers visited briefly and separated. Chet gave no indi cation he was eyeing suspi cious characters or that there was anything but orderliness. Between 1 and 1:15 a.m. at least five persons said they saw Calkins talking with a man and inspecting what was presumed to be about a 1951 model Kaiser sedan, blue or green. Stories of (Continued on page 8)
