'pluiiBWiout
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VOLUME XXVII
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA. TITUItSDAY, AU(iUST lo, 1907.
NUMJ5ER
0
GIVES HIMSELF UP
TO THE SHERIFF
Robert Shrader Says He Was
Forced to Shoot Hicks
in Self-Defense
GIVES BOIID III SUM OF $1000
For His Appearance on Mon
day, August 1 9 Prelimi
nary Hearing Then
Monday afternoon John W. Yard
ley, living below Rock Bluffs, brought
Robert Shrader, his brother-in-law, to
town and delivered him to the sheriff,
and he was arraigned before Justice
Archer, on the charge of shooting with
intent to kill. He plead not guilty, and
asked for a continuance until August
19th, stating that he wished to have
Matthew Gering as his attorney, who at
present is in Kansas City. The contin
uance was granted and Mr. Shrader
was released upon bond, to appear at
the time, in the sum of $1(M.M); the same
was signed by J. W. Yardley.
Shrader said he had been drinking be
fore going to the home of Hicks, and
afterwards drank more, and that Hicks
hail whisky there, and the trouble arose
which resulted in the shooting, and that
he was compelled to shoot in self-defense.
How he was forced to shoot in self
defense he did not state, but maintains
the matter was forced upon him.
Art of Grafting
Grafting has become such an easy art
that frequently men are caught in the
meshes of the schemers who have no
thought of wrong doing until they wake
up to find themselfs entrapped. We have
a case that aptly illustrates how easily
men are caught. In a certain county a
young mr. was made a member of the
School Text-book Commission. His
lather is a prominent farmer who breeds
registered cattle. An agent for a pub
lishing house wanted to place his school
books in that country. By means known
to himself he had secured the influence
of one member of the board and now
needed only one other member. He
was told that if he could secure the in
fluence of this farmer it would secure
the support of his son, He went to the
farmers home and expressed a desire to
see his cattle, adroitly adding that he
had heard it was the best heard in that
county. The farmer took the agent out
into his barnyard and began showing
him his cattle. After profusely prais
ing all the heart! the agent pointed to a
very fine bull calf and asked the price.
He said he owned a farm in the adjoining
state and wanted the very best stock he
could find and this particular calf struck
his fancy. What would the farmer take
for the calf? The farmer told him it
would take to buy the animal. The
agent looked dumbfounded and remark
et! that the price wasn't high enough
and at once offered $100, which was
willingly accepted. It is needless to add
that this particular agent got the con
tract for supplying the books in
that county. The farmer was to take
care of the calf until the agent returned
several months later to put in his line
of books. When he returned the farmer
went to town to see the agent and learn
when he would take his calf away. The
agent told him that he had just sold his
farm and cattle and would not take the
calf, nhe farmer stated that as he
knew the calf to be a fine one he would
keep him and return the agent his mon
ey. Here is where the farmer was
dumbfounded. The agent told him to
keep the money that he'd rather sell
books than buy bull calves.
Now the moral is that the farmer was
bought instead of the calf, but he was
not conscious of it until after the game
had been played on him. Again we re
peat that often men are bribed without
knowing it and only awaken to the truth
when it is too late. Such methods as we
have described have proved the undoing
of many good men.
Making Some Changes.
John Crabill is making some changes
in his house on the corner of Seventh
and Locust street, preparatory to mov
ing into it. When the alterations have
been made they will have a beautiful
home, high and sightly, just near
enough to the central portion of the
city and still away from the noise, dirt
and smoke of the city.
Great ten cent embroidery sale now
on at Zuekweiler & Lutz.
Pleasant West at Rest
As we go to press we received word
that the funeral of Pleasant West is be
ing held. Mr. West is the father of D.
C. West the banker at Nehawka and
had reached the age of 72 years, his
death being caused by a general breaking
down due from lack of vitality incident
to old age. His other two sons, Joseph,
of Belvidere, Mo. and Leander of Iron
ton, Ohio, were present at the time of
his deato. The funeral was in charge
of the Masonic order of which he was a
member. Mrs. West was a sister to
Joseph Thompson's mother, making Mr.
West his uncle.
EXCITING RUNAWAY
Coming in Contact with Tele
phone Pole Causing a
Sudden Halt
Mike Timmes, while coming down the
street near George Dovey's Tuesday
morning, had the misfortune to have
one of the hold-back straps break on
the harness, causing the buggy to push
upon the horse which became frighten
ed and ran away. Mr. Timmes tried to
hold the horse, which pushed the buggy
against him the more and caused him to
run the faster and more furious. The
horse came down Fourth street and no
amount of calling "whoa" and sawing
on the lines would in any way effect him.
Down past the court house shot the
horse like a catapult, nor did he stop
until he had struck the curb on the south
side of Main street and came in contact
with a telephone pole in front of the
Peco theatre. When the horse and bug
gy struck the pole, the driver was thrown
out but alighted right side up and scram
bled to his feet in an instant, grabbing
the horse and endeavoring to quiet him.
The buggy was broken some, and the
crowd which gathered, soon had affairs
straighted out. Beyond a few repairs
for the buggy and a few scratches on
the buggy, no particular damage was
done.
Very Badly Demented
As we go to press we have, a tele
phone message from Union to the eff
ect that there appeared in the out
skirts of the village a man 'with his
clothes all torn and in a very badly de
mented condition. The man who ap
pears to be about fifty years of age,
was first noticed as he was walking
along the railway tracks, carrying his
shoes in his hands and having his pants
rolled up. His shirt was nearly torn
off and he did not have any coat or hat.
He accosted a traveling man saying he
was hungry, and was given a quarter.
With this he went into the resturant
and bought a sandwich, two cigars and
a dimes worth of peanuts. Sheriff
Quinton was telephoned for and will
bring the unfortunate man here. He
said that his name Charles Dockwell
and that his home was at West Plains,
Mo., and when asked where he was go
ing he said to Kansas City, but did not
know what for.
Good Demand for Residences
Will W. Tunnison departed for Mal
vern, Iowa, this morning where he goes
after his wife, in order that she may
look at some houses which he has found
for sale. Mr. Tunnison came here about
two months since and has during that
time been industriously trying to find a
suitable house for rent to live in. The
scarcity had been a wonder to him and
when he was not able to find a rentable
house that would suit him he thought
to try tj buy one. This was no easy
task either. He has two now in view,
and goes after his wife for the purpose
of having her see if they are such as
she would like. When such is the con
ditions, it speakes well for the healthy
condition of Plattsmouth 's growth. That
one could not find a suitable house in
which to live betokens a well-rented set
of tenement houses and a good demand
for salable residence property.
Estimable Family Gone
The family of Robert Ward moved to
Plattsmouth this week, where Mr.
Ward has secured a responsible position
with the Burlington at that point. The
family is one of the most estimable that
has ever lived in this city. Mr. and
Mrs. Ward have resided here for the
past eighteen years, and no man had a
better character here. Mrs. Ward has
been an eranest church worker and is a
most amable woman. She is blest with
fine daughters. Plattsmouth has gain
ed greatly by the addition of so excel
lent a family to its citizenship. The
army of friends of the Wards here
wish them all happiness and prosperity
in their new home, and hope that the
time will come when they will return to
live here permanently. Auburn Repub-
lican.
"DL0CK AND LOCK"
FOR BURLINGTON
Big Sum to be Spent for Pro
tecting Against Accidents
The Burlington is to install its "Block
and Lock" system on its main line be
tween Missouri and Denver. Thousands
of doll ars will be spent to make this
charge for protection against accidents
in transportation, says the Lincoln
Journal.
The "Block and Lock" system is
merely Bn accidental precaution against
accidents in railroading, a revised and
improved method of train dispatching,
wnereby every operator keeps check
on the operators at the stations on
each side of him. Before one oper
ator may "clear" his block he must
notify the block operator next to him
of what he is doing.
Further, it is said that five miles of
automatic block signals are to be in
stalled from Omaha west on the main
line. This will be a costly investment,
but it is claimed that it is needed, be
cause of the great growth of traffic.
For the "block and lock" system new
signal apparatus is needed, and the sig
nal department of the road is now re
ceiving material for the construction.
Operating men say that the lines of
the Burlington west have one of the
best records for lack of casualties of
any western road. There have been
few serious accidents and they have
been far apart. For several years
great improvements have been made
in operating methods, and the trend
toward a more effective checking of
every man on whom responsibility
rests has been marked.
Visit of a Pioneer Resident
Abraham Turner, who has been visit
ing at this place the guest of B. W.
Livingston, W. Gilmour and other peo
ple south of the city, departed for Glen
wood this morning, where he will attend
the chautauqua and renew his old ac
quaintances of years ago. Mr. Turner
lived in Glen wood prior to 1854, at which
time he moved to Rock Bluffs, residing
on a homestead which he took there,
until 1866, at which time he moved to
Butler county, rear Surprise, Neb., on
the Northwestern railroad. Mr. Tur
ner says he remembers this town when
it first started, and when our town
was considered as being away out west
and the land worthless. He says that
when he went to the place where he
now lives, which is directly west of
Bellevue 93 miles, that it was nothing
but a wild place all the way out. Now
he says that all of the country between
here and there is settled up as well as
in the eastern states, and a much bet
ter country. While he likes the country
where he now lives, he cannot get along
without occasionally coming back and
visiting the old friends and the city
in which they made their home.
Have a Merry Time
At the pleasant home of Wm. Holly
last Saturday evening. Misses Bessie
and Alma Holly gave a lawn party to a
large number of their friends, at which
ice cream and cake were served and a
jolly good time was had. Games were
played and all went home happy and
voted their hostesses royal entertainers.
Those present were: Misses Rose No
votny, Clara Janda, Julia Janda, Marie
Hiber, Mary Svoboda, Sophia Chaloup
ka, Lillian Novotny, Victoria Janda,
Rose Janda; Masters John Janda, Frank
Hiber, John Toman, Joe Sedlacek, Joe
Skomal, Frank Rebal. James Yelinek,
Frank Svoboda and Edward Skomal.
Only Fault is Weeds
In conversation of with Mr. Becker
of Council Bluffs, who was in the city
yesterday, he said Plattsmouth was a
beautiful town and the only fault he
could find was the sight of so many
weeds on the prominent streets, which
gives one a bad impression. He is edi
tor and proprietor of Freie Presse, a
German paper published in Council
Bluffs. Mr. Becker has been visiting
his old time friend. M. Sternberg, for
several days.
Returned from Kansas
A. C. Carey, who went to Kansas
some tinre since and bought some land,
returned home Saturday and says that
the country there is surely the finest
looking soil one could conceive of. The
crops of all kinds, he says, are of the
best and very pleasing to the eye to
catch a glimpse of the landscape where
the green of the growing corn is con
trasted with the harvest in the shock
and stack with occasionally a field plow
ed for the coming year's crop; and again
some of the natural prairie which has
not yet been molested by the farmer's
plow.
IV. E. Rosencrans.
W. E. Rosencrans is a democrat for
that reason the Courier hates to com
ment on his candidacy, for we would
6uffer criticism from republican head
quarters before we would say anything
againsthim. He has made a good official
and will be given the nomination for a
second term without opposition in his
party. Louisville Courier.
DIES AT TOBIAS,
NEBRASKA
Vaslav Lorenz, Father of the
Lorenz Brothers of
This City
Vaslav Lorenz, father of the Lorenz
brothers of this city, died Saturday
as a result of being overcome by heat.
The deceased was born in Bohemia in
1833 and was married to Miss Anna Ru
bas. Of the union sixteen children were
born, a portion in the old country and a
portion in Nebraska, seven of whom
have died. Mr. Lorenz with his family
came to America and to Wilber, Neb.,
in 1885. They resided in Wilber about
eight years then moved to Tobias in
1893, where they have made their home
since. Mr. Lorenz has always been a
strong man and never had a doctor but
once which was about six years ago,
when he had an accident by being thrown
from a wagon which bruised him up con
siderable. From this he had entirely re
covered and was apparently as strong
as he had been before. Mrs. Lorenz,
his wife, has been very poorly for some
years past, and it was not expected she
would survive her husband but recently
she has been gaining and is much bet
ter than before.
The funeral will occur Monday morn
ing at 10 o'clock. Louis Lorenz will go
from here to attend the funeral, the
other brothers probably cannot get
away. Mr. Lorenz by his death leaves
of his immediate family, his aged
widow, and nine children to mourn his
sudden end. Mrs. Vaclav Lorenz, his
wife is 68 years old and lives in Tobias.
Of the children, Mrs. Mary Fisher, Mrs.
Jennie Vajraska, Joseph and Charles
Lorenz, live at Tobias, Mrs. Anna
Kupka lives at Crete, W. J. Lorenz at
David City, aj.i Louis, Emil and Frank
live in Plattsmouth.
WILL GOIITEST
PRIMARY LAW
"As to contesting the primary law,"
said Former Senator William V. Allen,
to a World-Herald reporter, who has
been in Omaha several days to take part
in a chancery hearing: "I expect to
get around to that, but I cannot say how
soon. I am giving my attention these
days to my law practice, but I hope to
find time to contest that law.
"My hostility to the law is based upon
the idea that any act of legislature
which interferes with a man's statutory
rights will not be entertained in the
courts. ' '
"In what way does the primary law
interfere with a man's rights?" the sen
ator was asked.
"Well, it interrupts the freedom of
the franchise. Under this law the
judges of election have a right to ask a
voter impertinent questions. What
business of theirs is it as to what party
you affiliate with. Why, none at all,
and I think the court will so decide.
"There may be reasons why a man
does not care to proclaim his party af
filiation. He has a right to vote as he
pleases, without having any questions
asked. It would be as pertinent to in
quire as to the kind of a night shirt a
man wears as to ask what ticket he is
going to vote.
"All this I have previously discussed,
and there is no need to go into it again.
As yet I have not contested the law, but
I hope to get around to it. In these
times I am not pottering about in poli
tics. I read the newspapers and try to
keep in touch with the political situa
tion, but that is about all."
Judge Travis.
H. D. Travis, county judge of Cass
county, is the democratic candidate for
judge of the Second judical district com
prising Cass and Otoe. The interests of
the people of that district will be in
good and able hands is they elect Judge
Travis to the district bench. Personal
ly he is clean and high minded and ju
dicially he is well balanced and reliable.
Lincoln Herald.
If you haven't the time to exercise
regularly, Doan's Regulets will prevent
constipation, They idduce a mild, easy
healthful action of the bowels without
griping. Ask your druggist for them.
25 cents.
ALMOST A MURDER.
Robert Shrader Shoots and
Dangerously Wounds His
Neighbor.
THEN FLEES THE COUNTRY
His Whereabouts Unknown
By the Authorities.
A man shot and with some probabilty
that it may prove fatal, is the charge
against whiskey at Nehawka, as shown
by the events of Sunday. B. Hicks,
an engineer, who has been working for
Chas. Brant, living on his farm, and
firing for the thresher engine for him,
was at his home, peaceably spending his
Sunday with his wife and her sister,
Celia Franzen, and Albert Brant, and
were at the organ singing, which they
delighted in doing. Robert Shrader
who lives about a quarter of a mile
away, came, as neighbors often do to
visit," and as he had done many a time
to spend a few hours. But yesterday
afternoon he had been drinking and also
had whiskey with him, and when drink
ing he is somewhat ugly. When Mr.
Hicks perceived he was under the in
fluence of drink, and getting noisy and
not conducting himself in a respectable
manner, quietly asked him to go home,
saying to him, "Now, Bob, we are
friends and neighbors and we do not
want to have any trouble go home and
get sober." Bob ripping out an oath
said: "Not by a h 1 of a sight, I
came here to have a h 1 of a time
with the women and I am going to have
it before I go home," intimating that
his errand was for immoral purposes.
In as nice a manner as he could Mr.
Hicks said you must go away and not
come here and talk and act that way.
To this Shrader only ripped out an oath
and said he came there for a time and
he was going to have it. Thereupon
Mr. Hicks looked for a club but finding
none, went into the house and finding a
shot gun got it and went out and could
not find Shrader, as it was dark. So he
wentdown to the stable where Albert
Brant's buggy was and unhitched it and
put the shot gun in the buggy, and
drove out into the road to go to the
house when Shrader appeared, and
Hicks said to him "Come on now Bob
and go home, get in the rig and I will
take you home." Shrader's reply was
just as before punctured with a good
deal of profanity and language that
would break our press if we were to try
to print it. This so incensed Hicks
that he jumped out of the buggy after
Shrader, whereupon Shrader pulled a
revolver and shot him, the bullet strik
ing about three inches above the right
nipple, entering the breast. Hicks fell
to the ground and Shrader seeing what
he had done fled. Hicks was carried
into the house and examination was
made as to the wound, which was giv
ing Mr. Hicks a great deal of pain.
Dr. Pollard was immediately called
and the patient while not suffering so
intensely as he had, was still in con
siderable agony.
It was now near midnight, but the
physician did what he could for the
relief of the wounded man. The wound
which was a few inches above the right
nipple was probed, but it was not pos
sible to find the bullet. As he keeps
complaining of a pain in his rightside.it
is supposed that the bullet when enter
ing the plural cavity had dropped down
inside, and lodging at the lower end of
the right lung. The external hemor
rhage has almost entirely stopped, and
there is no evidence of internal bleed
ing, but the pain in the right side, in
the region of the lower lobe of the right
lung. The patient while not in so in
tense pain as during the later portion of
the night is still suffering considerable.
While the physician says the wound is
not necessarily fatal, the fact of the
ball having fallen into the plural cavity j
complicates matters, and does not give j
hope for the conclusion that he will re- j
cover. i
Mr. Hicks, while he was duly sober, I
did everything possible to get his neigh- ,
bor to go home and not molest his home, j
even going and getting the buggy to ;
take him home, and talking to him '
kindly, asking him to go home and not
make a disturbance, had done all that
any one could expect ana more man
most people would have done. j
Mr. Shrader had he not been drinking J
would probably never have come to this J
household and acted as he did and had
he been asked when duly sober to have
left the place would have done so. Two
warrants have been issued for Shrader,
one from the justice court at Nehawka
and one from Justice Archer's court
here. Shrader has disappeared and can
not be found anywhere.
Much devolves ujon how the patient
shall get along us to what the finding
of a court would be, although the shoot
ing itself is an offence which in punish
able with a sentence in the state prison.
THE LOUIS
VILLE BRIDGE
The Louisville Platte river bridge cast
will not down. It persists in bobbing
up at times when those who imagine
they have skinned us to a frazzle least
expect it. This week a new suit has
been instituded with Attorney Matthew
Gering in charge. A request was served
on the board of commissioners of loth
Cass and Sarpy counties asking that
they make the levy as provided by law
for bridge purjtoses. They re fuse 1 as
might be supposed - which is evidence
that they are not acting in good faiths
in claiming their reason for not repair
ing the bridges in the county needing re
pairs, including the bridge in question.
The statutes provide that they may
make a leavy of four mills for bride pur
poses. This they resused to do. Had
they done so they knew that they could
not set up this excuse and that the su
preme court would order the repairs.
Louisville feels that it has been unjust
ly discriminated against and from now
on we have stuck out our feet and pro
poses to leave nothing undone to secure
a fair deal. Not alone have we cause
for complaint in this matter, but we
have not received a fair deal as regards
the repair of other bridges. In the cen
ter of town a bridge has been let t in an
unsafe condition for more than two
years. Was this for the lack of funds?
Surely not, for the last anual statement
of the county treasurer shows the bridge
and road funds in a healthy condition.
The Courier hates to believe that it is
because of any unfriendly feeling that
the board of county commissioners may
have for the people of Louisville, yet it
would be hard to convince a great many
of our people that this is not the cause.
At any rate this fact will not prevent
Louisville from fighting for her rights. -Courier.
If there ever was atown inCasxcourr
ty discrimminated against on the bridge
matter, shat town is Louisville. And
why, the Journal cannot understand.
Other sections of the county are partic
ularly favored it seems on the bridge
question, and where two commissioners
are elected from a territory only about
three miles apart, how can you expect
anything. The Journal has always con
tended that county commissioners should
be selected farther apart in order to re
ceive "fair play all around. " The cit
izens of Louisville pay tht-ir proportion
into the road and bridge fund, and have
some rights which should be respected,
especially when the business of the town
is greatly interfered with in consequence
of the condition of the Platte bridge,,
which has been out of shape nearly two
years, and not one effort made in the.
direction of repairing or rebuilding it.
Sample Ballets Forbidden
In response to the queries from county
officers of varicu counties, At'oney
General Thompson is rendering opinion
on the primary election law, says the
Lincoln Star. To a letter from County
Attorney John V. Peterson of Dixon
county, asking if sample ballots should
be printed op colored paper and how
many official ballots should be printed,
he raphes that the law says nothing
about sample at all and therefore none
may be printed. The county clerk, he
says, has the estimating of the number
of ballots to be printed.
County Attorney T. J. Howard,, ot
Greely county, has been informed by
the attorney general that names of
persons not printed on the ballot may
not be written in with pencil and be
voted for. The law prescribes the
methrxl by which names of candidate
shall be placed on the ballot and no
others shall be allowed,
Ten Dollars and Costs
John Gebhart, a shoemaker, running
a repair shop in the LehnhofT building,
got hilarious Monday and was taker
before Police Judge Archer for being'
drunk and disorderly, and fined te:
dollars and costs, making thirteen doll
ars in all. He had been in thV? court,
some days ago and had not raid the en
tire fine assessed against him then an.f
had hanging over him a bill for the bal
lance of the last escapade of ten dollars
and forty cents, making in all twenty
three dollars and forty cents, which
was required. He says. "Vot you
going do about it?" Chief of Police
Fitzgerald, into whose hands he had
been given, told him, "I will give you
ten minutes to have the money here, er
you will lay it out in. jail. " Themw;'
was paid in five and a half minute ai'.i!.
the man discharged.
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