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VOLUME XX VI II
PLATTSMOUTII, NEBRASKA. Til U US DAY, NOVEMBER IS) OS
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Krorn M..iiil:iy'i l;illy
The record for crime of the last sev
eral months was swelled last evening
at about 5 o'clock by the atrocious mur-
der at Weeping Water of Charles A. i
Ba'.ston, night watchman at that place,
by one of several "ycggmen" or hoboes.
From all accounts the murder was one
of particular atrocity and there may be
short shrift given the perpetrators
when they are captured. The bloody
crime was the outgrowth of an effort
on the part of Kalston to locate some
men suspected of the robbery of the
Manley bank a few nights ago.
The men who did the deed came to
Weeping Water Saturday night and
put up at the Riverside hotel, register
ing under the names of Charles Sheld
ers and Arthur Munster. They took
breakfast at the hotel and were eating
a dinner in Johnson's restaurant when
Ilalston in comnanv with a detective
sent there to look up the men suspected ;
of the Manley burglary entered the j
restaurant and after sizing the men up ;
and comparing their description with
the printed description of the two j
"vercrs" which the detective had,
the
men seemed to suspect that they were
being watched and one of them glanced
over the shoulder of the detective and
saw the picture upon the description.
They at once left the restaurant and
went to the M. P. depot, going from
there up the tracks.
There were two freight trains stand- :
ing in the yard and the detective and
Ralston suspecting that the men were
about to make their escape followed
them up the tracks to the west, Rals
ton going along the north side of the
tracks while the detective took the
other side and traveled in the rear ol
the men. After going several hundred
yards west of the depot, the men had
gotten in between two freight cars
standing in a westbound freight train
which was ready to leave. Ralston
finally came opposite them and some
little distance away. As soon as he
came in sight the men fired. There
is some divergence of opinion as to
whether both men fired or one. Ralston
fell to the ground at once while the
two men leaped to the ground on the
other side of the train and fled.
The sounds of the shots attracted the
train crew who rushed immediately to
Ralston's aid, the engineer seeing him
fall. They got there only to find that
he was dead, having been shot through
the heart. The body was picked up
immediately and taken to Stratton's
undertaking rooms while Drs. Hungate
and Rickard were hurriedly summoned.
They arrived in a few moments, but
nothing could be done. An operation
by the surgeons to locate the bullet,
seemed to prove conclusively that there
had only been one bullet take effect. It
entered the left arm near the wrist
and passing out near the elbow, pene
trated the left side just above the nip
ple going through the heart and lodg
ing on the right side of the abdom. The
bullet recovered was a
,35m, bullet apparently
steel-jacketed
fired from an
automatic revolver. This is the kind I the reason for failure to confirm the
'of a gun used by all noted crooks. j reported capture is because of the com-
Just as soon as it was possib'e, the j missioners not offering the reward un
entire village was aroused and men j til this afternoon.
with guns and revolvers were scouring
the country for the villains in every di
rection. Sheriff Quinton at this city,
was notified at once and started for the
scene in the automobile of T. E. Par
mele, taking with him the bloodhounds
of "Doc" Young. At the same time
Lincoln officers were notified and De
tective James Malone with other blood
hounds departed for that point in an
automobile arriving there after a very
fast trip. In the meantime the tele
phone and telegraph wires were set
working in every direction and all the
surrounding towns were notified while
all places of exit from the county across
the line toward Omaha, Kansas City,
Lincoln and the east. Particular watch
is being kept toward the Missouri
river. This morning the men had not
been captured and there were no authen
tic reports as to whether they were sur
rounded or not. They are unquesiion
ably desperate criminals and it is likely
that a desperate fight will ensue before
they are taken. There is strong talk
of lynching should the men be taken but
this is not likely.
Sam C. Griffin, who came here from
Colorado just a few days ago to take a
farm near Weeking Water, happened
to be there at the time of the murder
and was in the city this morning! He
states the facts of the murder prac
tically as set out above. The men were
eating dinner or rather, supper in John
son's restaurant when the detective
whose name he does not know and Rals
ton came in. The detective pulled a
printed description of two men with
their pictures upon it, out of his pocket,
and together they studied the picture
and the men coming to the conclusion
that one of the men resembled
one of the pictures so strongly as
to warrant them being watched, the
two men became suspicious and one of
them got a glimpse of the picture, rec
ognizing it. They became excited and
left. Ralston and the detective fol
lowed them as outlined above with the
result as stated. Mr. Griffin was pres-
ent when .he doctors performed the
autopsy and states that they agreed
that only one bullet penetrated the
body.
The men doing the killing are des
cribed as follows: Shelders is a man
about 25 years of age, five feet ten or
eleven inches in height, dark hair, dark
eves and complexion, slender build
weighing about 140 pounds dressed in
dark clothes with a black, soft hat.
Munster is described as about 23 years
oY age, five feet eight inches in height,
dark-brown hair, blue-gray eyes.slight-
ly stoop shouldered and weighing about
160 pounds, dressed in dark clothes and
black, soft hat. He was apparently a
foreigner.
The dead man was one of the best
known citizens of Weeping Water and
a very popular man with all who knew
him. He had served as night watch
man at that town for some ten or
twelve years altogether discharging the
duties of the office to the eminent sat
isfaction of all concerned. He left
surviving him a wife and several daugh
ters and sons, two of the latter living
at Omaha. A brother Alfred Ralston
of Weeping Water also survived him as
did a sister, Mrs. Arthur Marshall of
the same place.
Ralston during his lifetime was a
member of the Methodist church being
one of the strongest church workers in
the community. He bore an excellent
reputation as a temperate and conser
vative man and the sympathy of the
entire community rests with his stricken
family.
A persistent rumor has been in circu
lation all afternoon to the effect that
the murderers had been captured near
Lincoln but no authantic information
has been received to that effect. It is
also reported that they are under ar
rest at Nebraska City and Omaha so it
can be seen nothing is known. Tele
phonic advices fail to confirm the ru
mor and it is given for what it is worth.
There seems to be general fears that a
lynching will occur should the rumor
prove true and for that reason it may
I be difficult to confirm the reported cap-
i ture. It is the opinion of several that
No Name Signed.
The Journal is in receipt of a com
munication signed "Honest Working
man Reader" which is not accompanied
by the name of the writer. For this
reason it cannot be printed, the invari
able rule of the office being that all
communications must be accompanied
by the name of the writer, not necess
arily for publication but for the infor-
! mation and guidance of the editor.
Party at Windham Home.
Hon. R. B. Windham for the past
several days has been entertaining at
his handsome residence upon North
Sixth street a house party in honor of
many relatives and friends. Those
present included B. K. Windham and
wife of Glen wood, la., Rev. A. Bonham
and wife, nephew and niece of Papil
lion, Neb. ; Misses Mary and Eva Wind
ham, nieces of Omaha, Neb.; R. B.
Windham, jr., wife, baby, son and
grandson, Greenwood, Neb., and Miss
Kathryn Windham, daughter from the
State University at Lincoln, Neb.
District Court Notes.
From Mondiiy'H Dally
Judge Travis this morning held a
very brief session of District Court and
adjourned until Wednesday. In the
case of Ilaldeman vs. Murray a decree
of foreclosure was entered. The case
of (lering vs. Leyda et al which was to
have been tried on Thursday was con
tinued until the next term of court, the
court sustaining a motion of the plain
tiff to that effect. In the case of Hen
ton vs. Woodmen ot the World the
case was set down for trial upon next
Thursday. This was all the business
transacted except to fix the date for
the trial of Matt Bozarth for the mur
der cf James Dyer which is noticed in
another place.
Three Hundred Dollars Reward.
From .Monday's J):iily -
The County Commissioners today
were in regular session and one of the
first moves which they made was to of
fer a reward of Three Hundred Dollars
for the arrest and conviction of the
murderer of Charles A. Ralston at
Weeping Water last evening. This re
ward was authorized this afternoon.
In addition the commissioners appointed
B. F. Hall as justice of the peace with
in and for Salt Creek precinct to fill a
vacancy. A petition was also presented
them organizing the Liberty drainage
4 district. No action was taken on it.
The remainder of the session was de
voted to routine business.
HICKSON COM
PLAINT IS FILED
Charges Kim With Assault With In
tent to Do Great Bodily Injury.
Thomas in Bad Shape
From Monday's Daily
County Attorney Rawls today filed a
complaint with Justice Archer charging
Charles Hickson, the man who assault
ed W. H. Thomas Friday with assault
with intent to do great bodily injury.
Hickson was brought down from Om
aha last Saturday night and is now in
in the county jail. He has little to say
concerning the crime and there is no
knowing for certain just what defense
he will put up. Thomas, the man who
was so badly done up is at the room in
the Waterman Block, in a very bad
condition. He is delirious at times and
those who sat up with him last night
had to call in the aid of the police to
keep him under control. That his in
juries are much more serious than
would appear on the surface is general
ly conceded although Dr. Hall who is
attending him does not think they will
result dangerously. jHe keeps constant
ly calling for help while delirious and
seems in mortal terror of Hickson.
Charles Miller who sat up with him last
night reports that throughout the night
he kept crying out for protection from
his imaginary assailant. He presents
a gory spectacle and it will be some
time before he will be able ' to be out..
There is no probability of an examin
ation of Hickson before sometime next
week as County Attorney Rawls will
be busy in district court practically all
the coming week, and in addition, he
desires time in which to realize the full
extent of the injuries to Thomas.
Bozarth to be Tried Friday.
By agreement the case of the State
vs. Bozarth was set down for trial next
Friday the 6th. inst. County Attorney
Rawls has been working hard getting
matters for the trial of this case, he in
company with Attorney Sullivan who
represents Bozarth having spant Satur
day in Greenwood looking up evidence
in the case. Bozarth is charged with
murder in the first degree and the
defense will undoubtedly be insanity.
WAGON WILL
STILL RUN
Gering's Medicine Wagon Will Con
tinue to Make Trips Every
Week This Winter
The many Cass county farmers who
have been in the habit of patronizing
Gering's medicine wagon, will be pleas
ed to learn that they will be able to get
their medical supplies this winter the
same as during the summer months.
Ed. Rynott who has been driving the
wagon has had it remodeled for the
winter and it is now fixed up as cosy as
it is possible to make it. Having it
fixed in this manner it is possible- for
him to keep going all winter and made
the trips with regularity so that all can
get their wants supplied in the same
manner as heretofore. The wagon is
fitted with a stove and so heated that
the medicines will be kept in good
shape as well as making it a comfort
able nlace to ride in. There will be no
I break in the regular trips this winter.
THE STRENGTH
OF THE PEOPLE
A Great Lecture By the Noted His
torian and Writer Dr. Guy
Carleton Lee.
At the Parmele last Saturday even
ing before a fair sized audience Dr. Guy
Carleton Lee of Baltimore delivered
his popular lecture "The Strength Of
the People." The subject is a broad
and practical one, and Dr. Lee handled
it with a skill that demonstrated clearly
that he is a profound student of the
people and institutions of our country
of the present day. He took a strong
progressive but not radical position on
the reforms needed iu the nation. He
saw good in Pessimism, if carried only
to a common meeting point with optim
ism. Discussing the condition of the
people "He asserted that crime and
immorality are not confined to any one
class, but is found to a greater or less
extent among all classes " The reason
why reform measures do not succeed
as they should, the speaker declared,
was because the average citizen is not
afnlliated with them, which was due to
class prejudice and hatred resulting
from ignorance and neglect to read
statistics.
The subject was handled with the
broad scope of master mind and forcibly
delivered, being not only entertaining
but highly instructive. It was a rare
treat for the people of this city to see
and hear one of the foremost educators
of the nation, a philosopher who has
studied deep into the problems that are
daily confronting the people, and whose
reforms are wholesome, conservative
and sound, yet progressive. No com
munity can listen to such a lecture
without being the better for it. If Dr.
Lee should ever lecture here again, we
predict that the opera house, would be
crowded to the limit.
Had a Great Big Time.
From Monday's Daily
The home of Mrs. Thomas South, in
South Park, last Saturday evening was
a scene of festivities and merriment
for several hours, the occasion being a
Hallow'een party given by Miss True
South to a large number of her young
friends. As is always the case with
parties given by Miss South the eve
ning was made one long to be remem
bered by those fortunate enough to be
her guests. There were new and
original hallow'een games devised for
the occasion and there were all kinds
of strange and uncanny doings. Every
one who went through the experiences
of the games felt that the evening was
more than a success and they were all
glad they were there. There was all
the usual fancy doings of such a party
and to crown the entire evening Mrs.
South had provided a sumptuous lunch
eon which all the; young folks, did full
credit to. It was a late hour when all
had gotten their surfeit of the good
things provided and had seen all the
mysteries which Hallow'een provides
and had turned their steps homeward,
sorry that the occasion comes only
once a year and regretful that there
were not many more hostess' like Miss
South.
Those who gathered and enjoyed the
occasion included Misses Guinell, Ham
burg, Agnes Anderson, Thelma Den
son, Lepa Lair, Messrs. Clarence Ham
burg, Joe Reynolds, Holly Jones, Roy
Denson, Otto Bolin, Joe Bolin, Giles
Lair and Roy South, besides several
others whose names the Journal did
not obtain.
Enjoyable Hallow'een Party
At the pleasant home of Miss Henri
etta Chaloupka in the western part of
the city last Saturday evening occurred
a very enjoyable Hallow'een party. For
the occasion Miss Chaloupka had decor
ated the house throughout with oak
leaves and Jack-o'Lanterns and the
decorations where indeed fine and pre
sented a beautiful sight. There was
music and hallow'een games in plenty
and a delicious supper served to top
the entire program. After supper
which every one called the best they
had had for a long time, the guests at
tended an auction sale which was one
constant roar of laughter. The sale
concluded an evening's entertainment
of rare merit and all departed voting
Miss Chaloupka a royal entertainer.
Those who attended included Misses
Hermia and Mary Nevotny, Clara and
Anna Jirousek, Anna Libershal, Anna
Vittersnik, Margaret and Rebekah
Haines, Henriett Chaloupka, Anna
Janda, Francis Hiber, Josephine Jele
nek, Mary and Tony Janda and Blanche
Sonbern. Messrs. John Hadraba. Roy
Holly, Chas. Hula, Frank Libershal,
JoeHiber, James Rebal, Anton Veter
snick, Frank Bestor, Anthony Nesladek,
Albert Janda and Frank Korenz.
Sophomores Enjoy Themselves.
The numerous class celebrations of
hallow'een given in the citv last Satur
day night made the number of such
parties unusual, but of them all, that
given by the Sophomores was as good
as the best. For the occasion an empty
house at the corner of Pearl and Eighth
streets had been secured and it was
fitted up in a manner befitting the char
acter of the celebration.
"Jack o'lanterns" trrinned and crim-
anced at everyone from all corners and
the decorations of the rooms were in
true autumnal style, leaves of the hues
of fall and flowers of various kinds be
ing cast about in profusion.
For the occasion there was a program
of story-telling such as goes with the
hallow'een season, ghostly and full of
scary things while the games were of
the kind befitting the occasion. At the
close there was a luxurious feast of all
the good things of autumn which every
one enjoyed. The party was under the
chaperonage of Mrs. Anna Britt and
was a big success.
HE WENT BY
THE GftS ROUTE
Asphyxiation Claims Gus Johnson of
Weeping Water, In Omaha.
Last Saturday morning at Aetna
hotel, a lodging house at the corner of
Thirteenth and Dodge streets, Omaha,
Gus Johnson and Frank Jots were
found dead in bed. Death was due to
asphyxiation. The men had been
drinking heavily the night before and
retired about one o'clock. It is general
ly presumed that they turned the gas
off but being so drunk they could not
tell whether they turned it back on or
not they fell to sleep and did not wake
up. The gas jet was turned on full
force.
The night clerk Joe Zimmerman,
discovered the escaping gas at 7 o'clock
Saturday morning and on investigation
found both men dead in bed with an
empty whiskey bottle between them.
They were laboring men and it is be
lieved that Johnson came from Weep
ing Water as he had letters in his
pockets addressed to him at that point
from a woman signed "Emma."
Coroner Brewer of Douglas county
took the remains in charge and an in
quest will likely be held today. An
effort is being made to locate relatives
of the two men. There is no suspicion
of suicide.
THE JUNIORS
ENJOY A TIME
How They Celebrated Hallow
'een Saturday Night
The celebration of Hallow'een by the
Juniors of the High School took place
last Saturday night at the large barn
garage of C. C. Parmele, on North
Sixth street, and it was one of the
genuine real hallow'een kind. From
the entrance to the end of the building,
real grown, some decorations stated one
in the face and the guests had all kinds
of uncanny dreams after the celebra
tion was over.
To get into the barn it was necessary
f r the guests to go through an open
ing three by three feet in size in the
basement, entrance through which
could only be obtained after using the
pass word. The basement itself was
filled with skeletons, skulls and corpses
which made one quiver with dread and
think of what was coming to him. For
the seniors anspecially prepared grave
had been dug in which reposed a skull
and white flowers, while the inscription
"To the Memory of the Seniors" was
carefully laid through the middle of the
grave.
From the basement the way to the
upper floor was hard and uncertain. A
sliding stairway which would straighten
out and let the unfortunate come back
a great deal quicker than he ascended
created a lot of grief -for the pilgrim
who aspired to higher things.
In the upper world that were a new
order of things. The students were all
masked and many games served to
while away the time. A guessing con
test in which each student tried to
write the name of the masked and rob
ed figure opposite he or her served to
create much merriment, the prize for
the best guesser falling to MiS3 Anna
Snyder. Other amusements followed
in rapid order which were all highly en
joyable. A contest consisting of read
ing each one's fortune aloud wa3 had
and Miss Mattie Larson captured the
honors.
In addition to this there was a fine
luncheon or rather supper served and
the celebration closed with an old fash
ioned barn dance which served to close
a great and interesting hallow'een occasion.
SO FAR HAVE ES
CAPED CAPTURE
The Murderers of the Weeping Water
Marshall, Chas. A. Ralston.
From Tut'xliiy's Itiiily
Up to the hour of going to press
nothing further had been heard of the
men who killed Charles A. KhMoii Hun
day afternoon at Wet-ping Water. Al
though desperate elTorts were made by
various possees to locate the ciirninals,
no trace of them could be found. The
bloodhounds taken from this point to
trace them up were unable to locate
the scent and SherifT Quinton returned
yesterday evening with them after a
fruitless Hearth. Detective Malone of
Lincoln, mention of whose trip to
Weeping Water was made yesterday,
also returned to his home with his blood
hounds, he having been equally unsuc
cessful. It is considered remarkably curious
that the men could have so completely
disappeared. Many consider that the
men are still in hiding near the scene of
the crime and will appear later. There
has been no let up in the search and if
the officers and volunteer man hunters
do not locate them it will riot be their
fault.
Detective Malone of Lincoln states it
as his opinion that the men who did the
killing are desperate characters and
when they are taken it will be found
that they are the perpetrators of many
grave crimes, tie also helieves tlial
their capture will be attended with
great risk as they are unquestionably
desperate and will fight to a finish.
Ralston, the unfortunate victim of
the men's weapons, left a wife, and six
children besides an aged mother who
was visiting his family at the time of
the terrible event. A brother of the
deceased resided within a very short
distance of where he was killed.
Public sentiment around Weeping
Water has diminished in feeling but lit
tle since the commission of the c rime
and if the men are captured soon there
is every reason to believe that they will
meet short and scant consideration.
The unwarranted and bloody nature of
their deed has wrought the citizens to
a high pitch and threats are to be heard
on every hand. It is more than prob
able that after the capture of the men
they will be taken to some point where
they can be protected from the public
fury, and they may not be brought in
to this county until feeling has so far
abated as to make it safe.
This afternoon it is again reported
that trace of the murderers of Ralston
had been found at some point in the
western part ot the county and the de
parture of SherifT Quinton on the fast
mail at noon lent credit to the rumor.
As outlined above the capture of the
men will probably be kept quiet for
some time until the excitement has
subdued.
Almost Impregnable.
The work of the merchants along the
block between Fifth and Sixth streets
on the north side of Main street in pro
tecting themselves against loss by
flood, has been done so quietly as to
attract no attention whatever, but when
it is finished they will have made them
selves almost impregnable. They are
erecting a concrete wall along the back
of the block which will absolutely pro
tect them from loss. The wall is near
ly ready for building, the excavation
having been completed and the work
will soon be at an end. It will stand
several feet above the alley level and
will be of sufficient width to prevent it
falling before the waters. They are to
be commended for their enterprise in
making their property secure and if
property owners all over the city were
so enterprising there would be little
loss from water in the future.
In County Court.
In county court yesterday Attorney
D. O. Dwyer began an attachment suit
against one Anderson Mantooth alleg
ing that he, Dwyer, purchased real es
tate from Mantooth in Indiana which
was represented to be worth two thou
sand dollars but which on investigation
turned out to be worth only the sum of
one thousand. On this account he asks
a judgement of one thousand dollars.
In support of the petition in the case
he filed an affidavit alleging that Man
tooth was a non-resident of the state
and that he had fradulently made the
sale to Dwyer, and that the First Na
tional Bank of this city held a draft or
due bill payable to Mantooth in the sum
of $490.00 which he sought to attach
and garnish.
Judge Beeson issued the order of at
tachment and garnishment which was
served on the bank and the hearing set
for November 8th.
There were no marriage licenses is
sued today.