ML JOSEPH SHERA FOUIIO SI
HER HOME FOULLY MURDERED
Three Bullet Hole in Back of Head Shows She Was Murdered
Satchel Containing Money Taken by Murderer.
From Saturday's Daily.
One of the most mysterious and
cold blooded murders ever perpe
trated in this locality occurred, It
is supposed, last Thursday morn
ing, Mrs. Joseph Shera of Rock
Bluffs being the victim. The bloody
crime was not discovered until late
last Bight when Will Shera, the
murdered woman's son, in company
with Will and John Smith, near
neighbors of Mrs. Shera, went to her
home to look for her.
Mrs. Shera was last seen alive on
last Thursday morning, she having
stayed ffll night Wednesday at the
home of her son, Will, leaving his
house earlq Thursday morning to go
to her house which i3 a few blocks
from her son's residence. Mrs. Shera
kept the store, having her own resi
dence only a few feet from her place
of business. Her custom was to take
her meals at her own home and at
night lodged at her son's home. On
Thursday morning she left Will's
home intending to get her breakfast
and go to Omaha that day, and pass
ed the home of th6 Smith's carrying
her hand satchel in which she is
thought to have had some $50 or
$75, this was the last seen of her
alive. When she did not return on
Thursday evening, her son did not
feel much uneasiness, but supposed
she had remained with her daughter,
Mrs. James Holmes over night. On
Wednesday, evening J. II. Holmes,
6on-ln-law of Mrs. Shera went to
Chicago, and Mrs. Holmes wanted
her mother to come to Murray and
remain with her during his absence.
Mrs. Holmes called up her brother
to find that her mother had gone to
Omaha, as she had not returned to
his home during the day, and the son
of course believed she had gone.
Mrs. Holmes then went to Omaha
to look her mother up, but on finding
no trace of her in Omaha, and that
she had not been in Omaha, she be
came alarmed and phoned her broth
er that their mother had not been
at Omaha and that a search should
be made at Mrs. Shera's home. It
was nearly ten o'clock when this
news was received by Will Shera,
who, with his neighbors, Will and
John Smith went to the premises,
finding the doors and windows lock
ed. The kitchen door was then
broken in and to their horror there
lay Mrs. Shera prone on the floor
face downward in a pool of dried
blood. In a basket she had some
dried sticks which she had brought
into the house to kindle the fire.
This including some paper in the
bottom of the basket were strewn
over her dead body..
There were three bullet holes in
the back of her head, one ball enter
ing just below the left ear had gone
entirely through her head, coming
out just under the right eye, the
other bullets had entered the back
of the murdered woman's head two
inches below the first described.
As soon as the murder was dis
covered the sheriff was notified who
with the county attorney and deputy
Manspeaker went to the scene of the
crime. A Jury of six men was em
paneled consisting of Wesley Burnett,
W. Byers, Mark Furlong, John
Smith, William Smith and L. E. Ran
nard who with the sheriff investigat
ed the facts as developed, and after
deliberation the Jury brought in a
verdict finding that Mrs. Shera came
to her death by being murdered by
a person unknown to the jury.
Many rumors are afloat regard
ing the mysterious person who com
mitted the foul deed. Some days ago
a phone message was received irom
a party at Lincoln by a neighbor of
Mrs. Shera's who lives about 160 rods
from the store, to call to the phone
a man who was a stranger "in the
neighborhood. The neighbor went in
quest of the man wanted at the tele
phone and found him at Mrs. Shera's
store. This party has disappeared
from the community and has not
been seen since.
There was little about the pre
mises to Indicate how the murder
came or went. The kitchen door j
has on it a spring lock, and the mur
derer pulled the door shut behind
him which locked. A string on the
garden gate had been broken and
it is supposed that the murderer es
caped through the corn field at the
back of the house.
As the gate had been thrust open
the opposite from which it should
swing on its hinges, and tracks, and
broken corn stalks were in evidence
that the murderer passed through the
corn field. Mrs. Shera's pocket book,
hand satchel and all contents were
taken. There was also evidence that
the murderer approached the de
fenseless woman from a clump of
bushes near the house, as the one j
bullet ranged from about this spot
to where it passed through the old
lady's head and into the casing on
the doorway. Every indication is
that Mrs. Shera was murdered just
as she entered the door of her home,
which was about 6:30 o'clock on
Thursday morning, and by some one
who was hidden about the premises
awaiting her arrival, possibly aware
of the fact that she was going to Om
aha for a visit with her daughter and
would have considerable money in
her possession. Thus in old Rock
Bluffs, one of the oldest towns in
Cass county, has one of the oldest
pioneer and most highly respected la
dies been most cruelly murdered.
Mrs. Shera has lived in that locality
for many ycr.rs. in fact, in the days
when Rock i Huffs was the nietrop
olis of Cass county, and bid fair to
be one of the leading towns of tlie
state. Joseph Shera, who died some
years ago, was postmaster of Rock
Bluffs for many year3, and after his
death, Mrs. Shera was appointed and
and filled the position of postmist
ress up to a few years ago when the
office was discontinued and the bus-
iness of the vicinity passed over to
the rural routes. Since this time
Mrs. Shera has carried on a minor
mercantile business, also the only
eating house or resturant and resid
ed in the rear of the building, but
of late had been sleeping at the
home of her son.
CJoea to St. Joseph Hospital.
From Saturday'! Paily.
Adam Stoher, a prominent farmer
residing three miles west of the city,
went to St. Joseph's hospital at Om
aha this morning to undergo an op
eration for appendicitis. Mr. Stoher
has been ill for several days and has
suffered very much during that time.
He was accompanied by Dr. Cummins
and his father-in-law, Leonard Born.
Mr. Stoher'B numerous friends hope
that he may soon recover his usual
health.
EPWGRTH LEAGUE ENJOYS
AVERY FINE MEETING
SHALL I GEI
F
HE
This Remains With the Citizens
of Plattsmouth. Have You
Done Your Part?
We are still in suspense as to this
one most important questions now
before the people of this city. The
Messrs. T. H. Pollock. H. E. Schnei
der and E. A. Wurl, have been work
ing like beavers for the past few days
endavorlng to secure the $3,000,
which amount Is required to Insure
the removal of the engine factory
and iron works from its present lo
cation in Iowa to Plattsmouth. Up
to the present time the committee
has raised only $3100, when the full
amount should have been subscribed
within a few hours. When the com
mittee undertook this very undesir
able task they set their figures at
about what they thought would be
about the proper amount that each
Individual or firm should contribute
In some places these figures have
panned out very . well, and the
amount has been paid without any
argument, but in others they have
fell flat, in fact, they have been turn
ed completely down. Many of the
merchants and business men can
readily see where the advantages are
in endeavoring to land factories of
this sort, while others do not. A
grea many are giving quite liberal-
From Saturday's lally.
The Epworth league of the M.
E. church held Its regular business
meeting last evening at the beauti
ful home of Mr. and Mrs. E. II. Hill
at the corner of Pearl and Ninth
streets. It had been planned to
make the meeting a lawn fete, but
the low temperature of the atmos
phere precluded this, and the meet
ing was held in doors.
There were about forty members
of the organization present to enjoy
the occasion, an improptu program
was speedily gotten up by Miss Alice
Tuey, who has charge of this branch
of the work. And after & brief busi
ness session in which plans for fu
ture work were considered, the com
pany was invited to participate in
games and musical program. One
of the amusing games of the evening
was that of changing cars, which
excited considerable merriment.
Mr. Hilt Wescott gave several in
strumental selections and the entire
membership Joined in several songs,
after which a general conversation
was enjoyed. The meeting through
out was an enjoyable one and each
member went home feeling that It
never pays to miss one of the social
meetings of the league.
Lowney's andies
r
i.cr
Just received a fresh supply from the factory of
this justly celebrated candy in bulk and in fancy pack
ages. Fresh and wholesome. Come in and try them.
This is a good time to do that painting and
paper hanging. Many good bargains in up-to-date
wall paper. Lome and see them.
ERIN & .,
PRESCRIPTION DRUGGISTS
Candidate Addresses Voters.
As a result of the primary election
held August 16th, I am made one of
the Republican candidates for state
legislature at the election next No
vember. In view of this fact, I con
sider it proper to make the follow
ing statement:
At the Republican county conven-
THE LADIES AUXILIARY
HOLD ANNUAL PICNIC
The Ladles Auxiliary of the Pres
byterian church gave their annual
picnic supper last evening on the
tlon held at Union in July, among spacious lawn of Mr. J. M. Roberts
other recommendations to go before on Main street. The tables were
the primaries was that of my candl- arranged to stretch for forty or fifty
dacy for representative; my name be- feet and covers laid for each lady
ing presented at that time absolutely member of the society and her hus-
without my knowledge or consent, as band or friend, and when covered
I have never either sought or held with the snowy white linen and the
public office. palatable viands which the members
My activities have always been 0f this society know how to prepare
confined to the cloth'ng business of o well, the tablo presented a beautl-
TIE BASE BALL TOURN
AMENT WILL MAKE A GO
Let everyone put their shoulder
to the wheel, grab a spoke and give
It a turn, and we will pull off one
of the greatest ball tournaments ever
held in this section of the state.
The preliminary steps are being
taken toward the organization of the
base ball tournament to be held in
Plattsmouth on the 13, 14 and 15 of
September. These first steps are to
see if sufficient money can be raised
by stockholders shares to insure the
payment of all expenses. Jonnle
Hatt started out on the soliciting
trip yesterday and while he has not
devoted a great deal of time in this
direction, he has secured the pledge
of sixty people who will take one
share each, which are being sold at
$5.00.
This is a good beginning and be
fore Monday evening he hopes to
secure the desired number to insure
the tournament a success. The pro
moters of the enterprise have figured
that about $600 will be required to
carry it through, allowing $400 in
the prizes and $200 for band and
other expenses. This amount can
surely be raised In Plattsmouth with
but very little effort, especially when
the terms of the movement is under
stood. The stockholders receive the
entire amount of the gatJ receipts,
which will surely repay them their
$5. Each stockholder is given a sea
eon ticket to all the games which is
equivalent to $1.50 and should he
receive $3.50 in return he should
feel that ne was pretty well paid for
the Investment.
FAST ONES WILL BE
HERE FOR THREE DAYS
The Storz Triumphs, one of them,
if not the fastest amateur teams in
Omaha, are booked for three games
of ball with the Red Sox on the Chi
cago avenue diamond one week from
today, Sunday and Monday, Septem
ber 3, 4 and 5. The Storz team is
the one that defeated Plattsmouth
at the Malvern tournament some few
weeks ago, and are a mighty fast
team, so you can look for youjr
money's worth on these dates. The
Red Sox are sure playing much bet
ter ball than when they went down
to defeat by the Triumphs, and It Is
doubtful if they will have a look-in
when they come down for the three
days session.
ly, and others refuse to even enter
tain the proposition, but the com
mittee are thankful we have only a
few of the latter.
This is a proposition that all espe
cially those who are able, should
give liberally toward. It certainly
cannot be a losing one when the com
pany makes us the offer they do.
Here is what the company agree to
give us:
They will remove to Plattsmouth
$12,000 worth of machinery, all new
and in perfect condition, they guar
antee to employ twelve skilled me
chancs In the manufacture of their
products, and give a bond that they
will remain for a term of at least
three years, and it is their intention
to remain all the time. Is this not
fair? Now, all they ask in return
is $2,000 bonas to be paid after the
plant Is moved here, $.".00 upon the
arrival, and $1,500 when the plant
is in operation.
Now, $.1,000 remain which is to be
used in the construction of a suitable
building In which to operate the fac
tory, which is to be owned by the
doners, who take stock in the build
ing, only, and are in no way related
to the company or have any interest
in the same.
Mr. Chopleska agrees to lease the
building for a term of three years.
and at the close of which time he will
purchase the same. There Is no stron
ger evidence of the fact that he has
no stock to sell and that he has
an order now for 150 engines as
soon as they can be made. His busi
ness Is prosperous in every way, but
the railroad facilities will not per
mit him to compete with other firms
manufacturing similar lines of goods
where he is at present located.
The commercial club have done
their duty In getting this gentleman
interested in location, brought him
here to Investigate the same, he Is
well pleased, the committee are ex
erting every effort to secure suffi
cient funds to land the factory, and
It is now the duty of all those who
are able to contribute their share of
the cash, and we believe that you
will do so. The committee have one
more day (Monday) to report. Let
it be favorable.
C. E. Wescott's Sons of which firm
I am the junior member.
In receiving the nomination, I
am not Indifferent to the honor and
responsibility attendant.
ful appearance. The menu con
sisted of sandwiches, plekleB, fruits,
coffee, Ice cream and cake.
The fete last evening was In the
nature of a farewell for Dr. and Mrs.
If the voters of Cass county have n. Ulster who are soon to depart
pnn fi.ir.nrn that I can rerjer the
service they desire in the state leg-
iMintni-P. I Rhall endeavor to merit
such confidence and respectfully so
licit their support upon the RepuU-
lican state platform of 1010.
E. H. Wescott.
L. B. Brown from Kenosha, mayor
of the town and all around good
fellow, and one of those mighty good
friends of the Journal, 'was in town
tday looking after some business
matters and called for a few moments
chat at this office. Llg is one of
the good fellows that you seldom
meet and he Is always a welcome via
iter at these headquarters.
for their new home at Omaha. The
supper was served near the hour of
six p. m., and at the close of the
bounteous repast aproprlnto remarks
were made by Rev. L. W. Cade and
Prof. J. W. Gamble, both of whom
spoke commendatory words of the
hich esteem in which Mr. and Mrs.
Ulster are held by not only the mem
bershlp of the Ladles Auxiliary but
the entire citizenship of Plattsmouth
Both Mr. and Mrs. Elstcr made feel
ing responses to the addresses
When the twilight drew on tho
t i . i ..int. ..ii 1 1 l, t
the winter season on September Cth, company repa.reu 10 unm.niuy .....t-
I - i . - a at i.. mi J .n
with what is cuaranteed to be a first ea panors m aim. i..um. ...... -
.-in., nitration. "The Man on, the Joyed tho evening In nodal converse
Tfrw Tlilu mninnnv rnliiPfl to OUT I and inilSlf
I'UAi 1 inn -',J J "
1 . 1 I iU 1n w
C V Well roCOmnHMUKNl nnn urn nny
iu ifnnwn in innwt. nf the theater I CcorRe A.
in IT VII .w.w " . i."
patrons and many more have read were passengers on tne mo. nn in.
i, lr -hi,.h .oa imWrl verv mm- today lor Uiuailtt
UUU n, mix it mo v v. -v. rf i i
GRAS. ISNER IMPROVES
BJTJERY SLOWLY
Charles Isner, son of Mr. and Mrs.
T. J. Isner who returned from the
hospital about two weeks ago where
he underwent an operation for ab
cess of the hip, is still confined to
his bed at the homo In this city.
When tho young man was brought
from the hospital his entire left sldo
from the hip to his foot was bound in
a plaster parrls casting, where It re
mained up until a few days ago when
removed by the family physician. He
still remains In a very much weaken
ed condition, and has no strength
or control over the injured member
at all. With the returning of his
strength all hopes are entertained
for his speedy recovery. Tho young
man has had a serious sclgo of it,
and his many friends will bo pleas
ed to learn thnt he will be up and
around in a few weeks.
PARMELE THEATER OPENS
THE 6TH OF SEPTEMBER
The Parmcle theater will open for
Kaffonherger and wife
the
John Gorder Wins Race.
John Gorder who resides on the
old Gorder farm six miles west of
Plattsmouth, accompanied by his
wife and baby, attended the two-day
picnic at Springfield Thursday and
Friday. John being somewhat swift
on foot entered the fat man's race
and won out easily. John is not
quite bo fat as some of his brothers,
but he is fat enough to win out. Good
for John.
Dentil Claims Little (Jill.
Tho fourteen month old daughter
of Mr. and Mrs, J. J. Mclslngcr died
Thursday after a week's illtipss. The
funeral occurred Friday from tho
residence five miles northeast of
Louisville. The parents and family
have the sympathy of tho entire
community. Louisville Courier.
M'
where
, li 1. ..n.iA olinnnlriir
ular. Further announcements or tins i""' -
attraction will be found In tho col
umns of the Journal next week. Man
ager Dunbar tells us that ho has tho
entire season pretty well booked with
good attractions so as to have one
company appear in each week. He
has selected companies that he thinks
will appeal to the theater going pub
lic of this locality. The opening bill
will be on the sixth of September
Let there be a good attendance and
see if the Parmelo cannot be made a
paying investment for its owner. Tho
least the people of Plattsmotuh can
do is to see that It payB expenses,
which it has not done for several
years
they will
l'ut hi Improvements.
The popular firm of Lorcnz Bros.,
yesterday added two fine sectional
quilled meat blocks to their market
on north Sixth street. In tho eight
years of business these enterprlzins
young men have worn out two ordin
ary blocks and set them nside. They
say when the quilted blocks are worn
out they will probably go out of tho
meat business.
David Murray and Credo Harris
from near Union, were In the city to
day looking after somo business mat
ters. Whllo hero Mr. Murray called
at tho Journal office and renewed
for his copy of the Journal. This Is
Mr. Murray's first visit to the county
seat for almost a year.
Visits His Brother.
Joe Nevotney departed for Pocas-
set, Okla., yesterday afternoon where
he will visit his brother, Frank Ne
votney, and hia cousin, Frank Ne
votney and other friends for a week.
Although Mr. Nevotney has resided in
Plattsmouth twenty-seven years and
his brother is twenty-three years of
age, yet he has never seen him, he
having been born since Joe left Bohemia.
Ifrallen $100 Per Arce.
The Parmcle land In the Bright-
side district, occupied by C. A. Miller
for the past three years, was traded
last week to Phillip Trltsch, a weal
thy farmer of Cass county, Neb. There
is 400 acres in the farm and Mr. Par
melo gets three quarter section in
Custer county, Neb., and enough
cash to make the place realize him
$100 per acre. Thurman, (Iowa)
Times.
W. J. O'Brien of Gretna, superln
tendent of the state fisheries was In
tho city today looking after the
state's fish car at the shops. Wo are
indebted to Mr. O'Brien for a bundle
of lovely pond lillles which was laid
desk at his request. If there
Is one thing we admire more than
another It is a pond lily.
OST men believe in the kind
of economy we're proposing to you now;
not buying stulT simply because it's low
priced, but buying what's good, what you know
you can use, even when
you may not really need
it. We're bound to
clear these suits; and
at these terms we're
sure to do it; you'll be
the looser if you don't
take yours. Hart,
Schaffner & Marx
made them regularly
worth as high as $30,
now $14 and $18.
"Oust 'em out prices
$10, $14 and $18.
tepynibl Hirt ItbiHocr Ic Mil '
EThe display of our new
things for the Fall sea
son is well worth your
examination. New
browns and grays made
up in the new two and
three button models.
Come in Boon and look
them over.
The Home of Hart, Schaffner & Marx Clothes
Manhattan Shirts Stetson Hats
We carry the
Largest line
of Suit Cases
Grips and
Trunks In town
Prices surprls
Ingly low