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FOUR PAGES
Semi - Weekly
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FOUR PAGES
VOLUME XXVIll
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, MONDAY, MAY 18, 1908.
NUMJIETt Ll
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Coroner's Jury Acquits Van Fleet Ho Satis
actory Evidence Was Produced at Inquest
Incident to the killing of Akbro Bris
Bey, the sheriff immediately telephoned
the coroner, B. I. Clements, and was'
instructed to have a jury ready, which
he did, empanelling J. G. Richey, J. W.
Sage, D. B. Ebersole, Ernest Wurl, A.
P. Barnes and Henry Eikenberry. The
coroner had just time to catch his train
and got here about 5 o'clock. At 7 o'clock
the jury was shown the body of the dead
man, and upon examination found a
small outward wound of about three
quarters to an inch in length, just to
the left of the spinal column, and some
six or seven inches below the nape of
the neck, this being the only wound
upon the body. The jury then adjourned
to the court house, where in the district
court room the sitting was continued.
John Karvanek being sworn, testified:
I have been working for Kunsman &
Ramge; at about 2:15 there was in the
back room where I was working myself,
John Speck a helper, Roy Bax a de
livery boy for the firm, Harry VanFleet,
Albro, or Bine Brissey, and a stranger
and George Rennie or Renner, or what
ever it is. There was nothing going on
but we were working. I was very busy,
wanting to go to the slaughter house
on the morrow, and having to get the
bologna meat trimmed. I heard Van
Fleet say, "you had better go to the
doctor," and he lead Brissey out, who
was spitting, blood, and I thought he
had the nose bleed. Cross examination
said: I think the boys were good friends,
but did not know that there had any
thing happened until they said Brissey
was dead. Van Fleet, who had a knife,
threw it on the bench.
Dr. Cummins testified that John S.
Hall had called him, and said a man was
hurt in the rear of Henry Beck's build
ing and came at once. Hurried around
to the place, found Albro Brissey wound
ed, bleeding profusely and gasping for
breath and unconscious; had on two
shirts; made examination and found no
pulse, and a wound in the back which
must have pierced his lungs and some
blood vessel; do not know who did it.
Died at about 2:21 p. m.
John Speck testified: I work for
Kunsman & Ramge; at time of accident
there were in the back room Karvanak,
myself, Bax, VanFleet, Brissey and a
' stranger; I was working; first thing I
heard wa3 some one said, "better go to
the doctor," and I looked up and saw
Brissey spit up a mouthful of blood and
they started. Brissey's knees gave out
at the corner of Beck's building, where
he fell down and died. There was no
quarrel or loud talking; George Rennie
and Ben Hyde were in the place; Van
Fleet had been there ten minutes, and
Brissey and Hyde about three or four
minutes, when the accident occurred.
Harry VanFleet had just dropped in and
was whetting a knife to help with the
trimming of the bologna meat.
George Bax, jr., testified: I am de
livery boy for Kunsman & Ramge; was
sitting in back room this afternoon;
Harry VanFleet was whetting a knife
to help cut sausage meat; was not work
ing there; lived in Omaha; did not hear
any scuffling or loud talking; think boys
were the best of friends. Heard Van
Fleet say, "Better go to the doctor,"
and then went out; Brissey was spitting
blood and said, "What's the matter?"
At the corner of the Beck building he
fell down and died.
George Rennie testified: I live in
Plattsmouth and I am 21 years of age;
was talking with John Hall, jr., who
was sweeping off the back porch at
White's store; went into the rear door,
of the back room of the butcher shop;
as I opened the door, saw VanFleet pull
knife out of Brissey's back, and Van
Fleet said, "You had better go to the
doctor." They went out and I went to
the other side of the room, as Brissey
was spitting blood, and blood always
makes me sick; John Karvanek said I
had better go help, but I told him I
could not, and I passed out the front
way and went to Jesse Terry's barber
shop in the Coates block. Some one
came and called Dr. Martin; I did not
hear Brissey say -anything; I do not
know what VanFleet done with knife;
think it stuck in back about three
inches; did not realize that Brissey was
hurt fatally, but thought he was hurt
severely.
Harry VanFleet testified: I live at
1416 O street, South Omaha, and have
SATUHv
lived in Plattsmouth most all my life,
leaving here for South Omaha last Au
gust. Iam 18years old; formerly worked
for Kunsman & Ramge, came to this
town this morning (Saturday); have
known Brissey for about five years; -are
on very friendly terms. During the
afternoon I came into the back room of
the butcher shop, and had been talking
with the boys; took up a knife and was
sharpening it on a steel for the purpose
of helping trim sausage meat; was
standing about four or five feet north
of back door, when a scuffling was going
on on the back step, and Albro Brissey
came in backwards, either being pushed
or stumbled across the threshhold, and
fell against the knife, which, with the
force he was coming, drove the knife
into his back, which I immediately
pulled out and told him, "You had bet
ter go to the doctor," and taking him
by the arm led him out the back door
and towards Sixth street, but when he
got to the rear of the Beck building fell
and could not rise; he had been throw
ing up blood from the start from the
shop; I asked a young man who was
with Mr. Brissey to go for a doctor,
and he said he did not know where any
was; I left him and ran to Dr. Living
ston's office; he was busy and I ran
back and found a crowd and the man
dead; I was then taken to the jail.
There was no enmity between us, and
we were good friends; the occurrence
was purely an accident and something I
could not help. In coming through the
door Mr. Brissey, I think, was pushed
by George Rennie, but it might have
been by the other young man with him,
but I would not be certain which.
While the jury was waiting for the
coming of B. I. Hyde, they were taken
to view the scene of the accident, and
when they returned B. I. Hyde was
sworn and testified as follows:
I have been here about two weeks,
and was at the Burlington freight de
pot, and at the suggestion of Albro
Brissey we started for the ball park,
where a game was to be played. Albro
suggested that we go through the alley
and stepped into the back door of the
butchershop, Mr. Brissey going in ad
vance of me; he had a small stick in his
hand with which he struck a fat fellow
a light tap, and he struck back at Bro,
and they scuffled a little, when Bro step
ped back and I passad through between
them and went over to the other side of
the room to look for a seat, and as I
had gotten across the room I heard Bro
say, "Whatare you trying to do tome,"
and turned around and saw a slim man
throw a knife on the table and say,
"You had better go to the doctor;" he
took hold of Mr. Brissey's arm and led
him to the door; Mr. Brissey was spit
ting or throwing up large mouthfuls of
blood; then one in the shop and more,
after getting outside, the slim man
said, "Come and help me take him to
the doctors," and I went and helped,
but when he got to the rear of the
Beck building his knees gave out and he
trembled, staggered and fell. The
other man ran for a doctor and I ran
ran across the street and told a man,
and he ran for a doctor, who came in a
minute; a crowd had gathered and blood
was running from a wound in the back,
and from nose and mouth. Mr. Brissey
died as soon as he was examined and
was taken to the undertaking rooms. I
did not know anyone in the butcher
shop except Mr. Brissey, but there were
four or five people there; we were in
there only a short time. While there
Albro and the fat fellow were cutting up
and laughing, but the fat fellow did not
get up from where he was sitting work
ing. After Mr. Brissey fell down in
the alley, I tried to talk to him, hut he
could not answer, though his eyes were
open and blood running out of his mouth.
This concluded the testimony and af
ter a few moments the jury returned a
verdict of accidental death and recom
mending the prisoner, Harry VanFleet,
discharged, which was greeted with
clapping of hands, it meeting with the
approbation of those who had listened
to the hearing.
The funeral occurred from the resi
dence of the parents, W. F. Brissey
and wife, in South park this afternoon
at 2 o'clock, and was conducted by Rev.
H. D. Thomas, the music being furnish
ed by the Methodist choir, the inter
ment being made at Oak Hill cemetery.
Of his own immediated family he leaves
his parents, W. F. Brissey and wife,
seven brothers Robert, Andy, George,
Albine, (a twin brother) Loe, James
and Frank. Three sisters Mrs (E.
W.) Myra Crabill, Mary and Alice
Marie Brissey.
This is a very sad accident and has
prostrated the mother. This young
an was one of good character, indus
trious and was loved and respected by
all who knew him. He leaves a host of
friends.
APPEAL FOR
ASSISTANCE
The Dellevue College Injured
Worse Than at First
Supposed.
The following letter was received by
J. H. Salsbury this morning concerning
Bellevue College and the results of the
storm :
Friends:
A cyclone swept through Bellevue
Tuesday evening. May 12th, and only
the good providence of God prevented
loss of life and bodily injury. Clarke
Hall, our main recitation building was
seriously damaged; Lowrie Hall, one of
the dormitories for girls, was unroofed
and the upper story was partly de
molished; Rankin Hall, the president's
residence, had many windows damaged
and the roof stripped of shingles. All
buildings were damaged more or less.
Our losses are partly covered by cyclone
insurance, but the need of college is
great.
We are closing a very successful year
from the educational point of view.
The attendance has increased from one
hundred and twenty-nine last year to
one hundred and ninety the present
year and the outlook is very encourag
ing for a much larger enrollment next
year. We must move forward.
May 13th was proclaimed a holiday.
The students did splendid volunteer ser
vice to save property from loss by rain.
Today, May 14th, the regular schedule
of classes is being followed, partly in
make-shift recitation rooms. We ex
pect to finish the year without a break.
We ask your prayers and financial
help, and request that you make an of
fering for Bellevue College, Sunday,
May 17th. Please make use of pledge
cards, as many will not be prepared to
give cash gifts. Make pledges payable
as soon as possible.
Yours Faithfully,
Guy W. Wadsworth.
Any gifts to this cause may be handed
to Rev. J. H. Salsbury, who will see
that they are promptly forwarded to
the college. It is very evident that the
losses of the college are greater than
at first supposed.
W. C. T. U. Doing Good Work.
Reports come from Louisville that
the W. C. T. U. are doing most excel
lent work in the way of caring for the
tornano sufferers of that town. Be
sides raising $100.00 in cash, they have
gone to work and collected clothing from
those who could spare such articles as
are needed, and buying many articles
for the destitute. Many of these noble
ladies have even packed up bundles of
their own clothing and carried them to
the suffering. They are doing every
thing in their power in the way of get
ting homeless families settled in such
places as can be had. Furnishing them
bedding, furniture and eatables, and
also caring for the injured. They are
also engaged in looking after the wants
of those injured at the clay-pits, where
one child was killed, and the mother so
badly injured that she will probably die.
The ladies are evidently displaying a
spirit of true Christianity, and one that
is commendable and worthy of emula
tion in all christian communities.
Returns From the Coast.
The Lincoln Star says: "Mrs. Isabel
Richey has returned from San Francis
co where she read a poem at the pres
entation of the silver service to the
battleship Nebraska. Mrs. Richey is
enthusiastic over the trip, and left all
the Nebraska party in the best of
health .and spirits. Mrs. Sheldon re
turned via another route and expects
to reach Lincoln today or tomorrow."
Westley Grassman Sick Again.
While at work Friday at the Burling
ton shops, J . W. Grassman had another
hemorrhage of the lungs and had to be
taken home and during the noon hour
had another, and this afternoon was
feeling very weak from the loss of
blood and the effects of the hemorrhage.
We hope he will soon be feeling well
again.
KEEPING THE
TRAIN ON Tin E
Strenuous Effort Being Made
With Burlington tlo. I.
The Burlington operating officials
are making a strenuous effort to make
a ninety days' record for the Denver
limited, No 1., during which time they
hope the train will not have been one
minute late into Denver. The ninety
days period will end May 20, says the
Lincoln Journal. Of course the stren
uous effort to keep the train on time
will continue after that date, but with
the coming of a big convention of
democrats at Denver and a heavy
travel period there is a possibility that
slight delays may follow.
The flight of No. 1 west from Chi
cago is watched by operating men.
That train is the bugaboo of train dis
patchers, engine men and train men.
Everywhere the road is cleared for its
coming and kept clear until it passes.
Foreseen causes for delay are removed
if possible and everything possible is
done to get it through without the loss
of a minute.
An instance: When the report of des
truction to railroad property on the
Louisville line of the Burlington was
received Tuesday evening the first
thing done was to send a wrecking
crew out over the line to clear the road
if there were obstructions. The crew
had orders to clear the track, to get
the line open as soon as possible, be
cause the' Louisville line is on the path
of No. 1. That train does not come
via Omaha. It might be handled that
way, but by handling it via Omaha
would mean the loss of an hour's time,
and one hour's time between Lincoln
and Denver would be difficult to make
up. The track was cleared and there
was no loss of time.
Chicago to Denver is 1.027 miles.
Ninety days without the loss of a
minute's time at Denver would mean
traveling a distance of 92,430 miles, or
three and seven-tenths times the dis
tance around the world, every minute
of the trip on schedule time.
Railroad men claim that this record
is possible because of the fact that the
train is scheduled no faster than it can
go under all ordinary conditions; be
cause track conditions over the long
thousand mile stretch are about as
perfect as modern maintenance science
can keep them, and because No. 1 must
not be delayed everyone understands
that.
OMAHA COUPLE
HARRIED HERE
Seek City of Plattsmouth to
Plight Their Love and
Join Their Lives.
Friday a couple came from Omaha,
and with the secretiveness, character
istic of some people, awaited an oppor
tunity to secure a license when no one
was in but the attendants.
They, however, in making a date
with the judge for the ceremony, which
occured at three this afternoon, forgot
the former caution, and allowed some
one to overhear, and the secret was
out. The bride says she is the daughter
of a newspaper man at Omaha, and did
not wish papa to know until she should
tell him.. But the reporter was obdur
ate and must have an opportunity'to
see the records, and they showed the
granting of the license. After the
ceremony was performed by the judge
at three o'clock, they viewed the city,
and in perfect bliss departed on the
Missouri Pacific train for their home in
Omaha at a little before five. The
Journal, characteristic with its good
wishes for the welfare of the human
race, wishes them much joy in this life,
and they are entitled to as much as
they can get. The records show the
names of the couple to be David L.
Murray, age 25, and Etta A. Clark,
age 22.
Lawyer Cook for Judge.
The Malvern Leader has announced
Hon. A. E. Cook of Malvern as a can
didate for judge of the district court.
We have heard much talk among the
republicans of Glenwood today about
Mr. Cook's candidacy and it appears to
be received with much favor among
them. Glenwood Tribune.
Lawyer Cook is a brother of our own
Dr. E. W. Cook, and has frequently
visited in Plattsmouth, where he formed
hosts of friends. While they are un
able to aid him with their votes, they
all wish him success in his aspirations,
and if a good word "put in", now and
then will help him, he will most cer
tainly receive that from his friends,
who known him on this side of the
river.
msm mm
The Oldest Town in the Stale Hit Much Harder
by the Tornado Than at First Reported
(From the World-Herald)
Historic Bellevue has become still
more historic, and most unfortunately,
for it has been through an awful
calamity.
The old indian trading post, the
landing place of the early day steam
boats, the pioneer village, the long
ago territorial capitol is listed now
among the western tornado towns.
Through the quiet place of peaceful
retirement and interesting memories
the whirling fury of the storm has
passed, and the same tale is told as af
ter all these disasters death, hurts
and buildings in ruins.
Next after those whom the event has
put in mourning for the dead or who
have suffered wounds or ierious loss of
property the sympathy of the people of
the state, and especially of this part
of the state, goes out to President
Wadsworth and the entire management
of the Bellevue college. That noble
eminence, Elk Hill, commanding a view
of one of the most magnificent land
scape scenes lying below any height,
and from which the town received its
name, was crowned with a noble monu
ment which the storm spared not. The
tower of Clarke hall, familiar for many
years to those passing within many
miles from the spot, is broken on the
ground and the upper story of the
Aid for Louisville.
M. S. Briggs, the Journal reporter,
started out Friday morning with a sub
scription paper to raise funds for the
Louisville sufferers, and up to the noon
hour he had raised about $125. He done
this while attending to his duties as re
porter. Our business men have re
sponded very liberally, and it is possi
ble that at least $200 will be contrib
uted, as we are informed that there are
one or two other papers in circulation
FALLS FROr.1 HAND
GAR AND INJURED
Mariosa Paula, a Greek Sec
tion Hand.While at Work
Today is Run over.
In the shop yards, while a gang of
Greek laborers, were on a hand car,
going to do some work, which their
nccupation called, Mariosa Paula, one
of the gang, fell from a moving hand
car, the same running over him, the
wheels passing over one of his legs be
tween the knee and ankle, bruising it
badly. The injured member was dress
ed by the company's physician. The
wounded man is staying in his bunk
near the elevator, where he is caring
for his wound. He is kept company
by a fellow workman by the name of
Bar Joana, who is off with a fellon on
his hand, which is to be lanced today.
Has Arm Injured at Shops.
Saturday . while at his accustomed
duties in the Burlington blacksmith
shop, George Lamphere had a peculiar
accident happen which will keep him
from his duties for some time. He was
cutting a rivet head from the transom
of a car, when one of the heads flew,
striking him on the arm and cutting it
very severely, the piece of steel re
maining in the wound.
Mr. Lamphere pulled the piece out,
and then went to the Burlington physi
cian, who dressed the wound, it requir
ing some five stitches to close. Mr.
Lamphere will not work for some time,
an I will have a very sore arm.
Injured Hand Friday Morning.
While cleaning his gun Fridaymorning,
F. C. Wheeler ran a splinter from the
ram rod of the gun through his finger
passing into one of the joints, which
made it stiff and caused so much pain
that he is not able to work. He had it
dressed by a physician, and while he
does not apprehend any serious trouble,
it is giving a great deal of pain, having
gotten some burnt power in the wound.
Stops itching instantly. Cures piles,
eczema, salt rheum, tetter, itch, hives,
heroes, scabies Doan's Ointment. At
9
any drug store.
building wrecked. The girl's dormitory
was unroofed and the structure great
ly damaged. The residence of the
president did not escape harm.
The loss is heavy for a young and
struggling college to sustain. It will
be particularly felt in Omaha, several
of whose Presbyterian pastors and lay
men have always been officially con-"
nected with the institution. Bellevue
college has thus been somewhat of an
Omaha concern, and since the opening
of the motor line a year or more ago
Bellevue has been the outer edge of
Omaha to the south.
President Wadsworth is quite right
in considering as only a temporary mis
fortune the blow that has fallen on
Bellevue college. Twenty-six years
ago, at the time of the famous Grinnell
tornado Iowa college suffered far worse
than Bellevue. The only result was
that its stricken plight made its sup
porters more generous and zealous
than before. Better buildings speedily
went up in place of those that were
ruined and not long afterward other
buildings were added. The career of
the institution was not hindered but in
the end advanced by the misfortune,
and the college is now one of the very
best in the west.
So it ought to be with Bellevue. So
we may expect it will be.
SURPRISE FRIEND
FRIDAY EVENING
A Most Surprisingly and En
joyable Event to the
Guest of Honor.
Friday being anniversary of the
birth of Miss Etha Crabill, her mother,
Mrs. W. F. Crabill in conjunction with
Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Crabill, worked a
surprise upon the unsuspecting young
lady, which was executed to perfec
tion. When all preparations had been
made at the home of Mr. and Mrs.
John Crabill, which is but a short dis
tance from the home of her mother,
she was called over, and when she ar
rived found a crowd of people congre
gated there, of whom she knew none,
as they were all masked. None would
talk, and when the bewilderment of
Miss Etha was pronounced some had to
laugh and her quick ear caught the
identity of the person by the laugh and
was able to feel that she knew some of
them, immediately in poped two colored
washer women with a basket of the
daily wash, as it would appear, and
began presenting Miss Etha with pres
ents of various kinds, which consumed
some time. After which the masks
were removed, revealin.r the Misses
Margaret Mauzy, Zelma Tuey, Carrie
Becker, Lucile Randall, Ella and Efa
Kennedy, Genevieve Howard, Leona
Brady, Mable Trussler, Mesdames Mae
Morgan, W. L. Street, M. Howland,
W. F. Crabill, J. F. Crabill and Messrs.
J. W.. Crabill, Jesse Brady, Robert
Hays, Mr. Grant, Russell York, W. G.
Brooks, M. Brown, George Becker and
E. H. Wescott and wife. The even
ing was very pleasantly spent with
music and social conversation, inter
spersed with games, and made more en
joyable with a delightful luncheon. The
merry friends wished Miss Etha a very
pleasant trip through life and many
happy recurrences of the event.
For Sale or Trade.
Tom Barnum, Will Mark and Alva
Stites went out scouting for big game
west of town last Saturday morninfr,
and surrounded a coyote den that they
thought ought to pan out pay dirt. Tom
was detailed to make the first attack,
and with the bravery of a Daniel he
dived into the den so far that only his
little feet remained in sight, and he
soon had something within his grasp,
he wasn't sure whether it was a cub's
tail or a Chinaman's queue, but an ex
amination of the "haul" proved it to
be a yourg coyote. Seven of the little
cubs were dragged out of the den and
brought to town, where they were given
to those who wished to raise pets, but
we think the pets (?) are now for sale
or trade. Union Ledger.
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