Neb
plattsmoutb
Srournai.
VOL. XXXIII.
PLATTSMOUTII, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY. DFCFMBFR 31. 1911.
THE INQUEST OVER THE REMAINS
OF MRS. STULL BURNED TO DEATH
In the Disastrious Fire
Main Street, Which Called for An Investi
gation by a Coroner's Jury.
A NUMBER OF WITNESSES CALLED TO TESTIFY
Mrs. Monroe, Daughter of the Burned Lady, Was
Sick in Bed and the Jury Failed to Get Any
Evidence From That Direction
From Tuesday'B Daily.
The coroner's inquest to establish
the facts in regard to the death of
Mrs. Frederick Stull in the fire in the
Monroe building' here on Christmas
day, was held this morning at the
equity court room in the court house.
The hearing: attracted a great deal of
attention and the court room where
the hearing was held was crowded
with those interested in trying: to
learn the truth of the matter. The
inquest was presided over by Coroner
Clements of Elmwcod. The jury had
viewed the body at the undertaking
rooms on Saturday evening: and the
hearing today was opened with the
callir.fr of witnesses.
William 11. Egenberger was the
first witness called for the inquest.
He had pone up the front stairs of
the building where the fire was. a few
minutes after he learned of it, but
the smoke was so dense that he could
iot see and came down ir.to the store,
where Mrs. Monroe was, and asked
her where her mother was, and she
had replied, "Oh, my God," and sat '
down on a chair crying. He had gone
up the back way and kicked open a
window and attempted to get in, but
the smoke was too thick for him to
see much. The fire seemed to be in
the room in the center of the build
ing. He was in the Spies cigar store
when Wes Bookmeyer came in and
told them of the fire.
Frank Gobelman was then called,
but did not know any of the details of
the fire. He and his wife were at
the Val Eurkle home when Bobbie
Burkle had come up and said that the
Monroe store was on fire, and he had
then walked up to the place, but did
not enter the building at all.
Max Pries, one of the firemen who
assisted in the work at the fire, was
hen called to the btand and recited
the facts as far as he knew them. He
had gotten to the scene of the fire a
few minutes after the alarm had
sounded and assisted in bringing
down the hook and ladder wagon to
the scene. He did not remember who
had helped set up the ladder, but
saw Lawrence Stull had come up and
raid his mother was in the front room
of the burning building. Lawrence
had gone up the ladder into the room
and he followed him. Could hear him
moving around on the floor and call
ing his mother. The witness had, in
moving through the room searching
for the body found toward the center
of the room and had called to Law
rence, who grabbed the body and
clasped it. Witness had then gotten
out on ladder and told Stull to hand
the body of his mother out to him,
which he did, and the witness had
ihen passed it down the ladder to Wil
liam Ilinrichsen and it had then been
taken to the tailor shop of James
Sochor. He staged there was over
two feet of water in the room at the
time they were searching for the
body, and as they lifted it up what
seemed to be feathers from a pillow
were quite thick on the water. Later
an old pillow had been picked up near
the body.
James Blaha, one of the firemen at
the fire, was then placed on the stand
and stated that he was at home on
the day of the fire and saw Jess Green
and wife run past th house toward
Main street, and going out he saw a
large crowd standing near the Donat
corner, and putting cn his cap and i
sweater had ran to the comer, where j
he saw the smoke and ran down to;
the burning building. He had got j
hold of the hose and was acting as .
...,.lmn o tVlO front, of the build- '
ing. He had heard some boy say that i
his grandmother was in the burning i
That Occurred On Lower
building. Most of the fire seemed to
be in the front room. The fire was
under good headway when he came
up. Pries and Lawrence Stull had
gone up after the body of Mrs. Stull.
Hehad saw Mrs. Monroe at the Wolf
home, near his own, but she had not
said anything to him at all. He had
also assisted the firemen in pulling
the hose over the roof in the back of
the building.
Val Burkel, who resides in the
apartments over the Egenberger coal
office, testified that he was at his
home when his son. Robbie, had come
over from the Goos hotel, where he
was playing, and told him that the
Monroe store was burning, and he at
once ran up there and into the store,
where he met Mrs. Monroe, who said:
"For God's sake go up and get
mother; she's up stairs." He had
gone up into the hall, but the smoke
was too dense to see anything very j
clearly, and after that Stull had come j
up on the back roof and entered
through a window, but was told that '
he could not get through on account i
of the smoke, and he had said, "Don't
keep me from my mother." He had j
not seen Mrs. Monroe after that.
Could not tell just where the fire was
or what kind of smoke it seemed
to be.
William Ilinrichsen, who arrived on
the scene some five or six minutes af-
ter the alarm was sounded, went up I
stairs, hut the smoke was very dense; J
most of the fire seemed to be on the j
floor leading south and east of the
hall, but later he noticed it climbing
toward the ceiling, as it showed
through the transoms from the front
room. The door leading into the hall
at the top of the front stairs was
locked and he had tried to secure an
entrance into the room, but th door
could not be opened. He had tried to ;
Wick it in and later attempted to beat
the panel in with the nozzel of the
hose. He had not seen Mrs. Monroe
and did not learn until later that ?.Irs.
Stull was in the burning building. He
had received the body of Mrs. Stull
from Max Pries when it was brought
from the building.
Mrs. Emma Egenberger was called
to the stand to relate as far as she
could the incidents of the fire in the
building. She stated that she was in
the L. B. Egenberger apartments and
that the Christmas tree of Stewart
Egenberger, the younger brother of
her husband, had gotten afire, but
had been put out and she had then
gone out into the hall, where the
smoke seemed much greater than it
should from the little Christmas tree
blazing up. ' She had gone back into
the Egenberger apartments and told
them there was a fire somewhere in
the building and had then gone out
into the rear hall, where there was
much smoke. Had seen Mrs. Monroe,
who said, "For God's sake, there's
fire," but did not see her afterwards.
In reply to the question of Attorney
Gering, Mrs. Egenberger stated she
had opened the door leading into the
hall of Mrs. Monroe's apartments,
but could not see the place where the
fire was raging.
R. W. Clement stated on the stand
that the first he saw of the fire was
on coming down Third street a few
minutes after the alarm sounded,
when he noticed a small blaze on the
Monroe building. He had gone up the
back stairway and the fire seemed to
be about the center of the building
&nd was just starting to break out on
the roof. He had gotten into the room
in fVoa rn'jr rf tVl Knilrti n rr oriel eot
two beds unoccupied, but there was i
no chance to go farther toward the
front of the building.' He hail told
one of the firemen to bring .some of
the hose around to the rear of the
building, but in a few minutes saw
them playing the water on the front
of the building. He had then gone
down stairs and saw Mrs. Monroe sit
ting on a chair crying; she said she
had come down to get dinner and told
of her mother having tried to set lire
to the house several times, and she
had placed the hanging lamp in the
room out oi her reach. She stated
her mother had said she wanted to
die. Lawrence Stull had come in and
asked where his mother was and Mrs.
Monroe had told him she had put her
to sleep. He did not hear anything
further between the brother and sis
ter. Louis Egenberger, jr., told of the
staiting of the fire as far as he knew
of it. He stated that he was lying
down on a couch in the living room of
the home then his sister, Helen, came
in and told him that the Christmas
tree in the front room was afire, and
he had gone in there and assisted in
putting the fire out and throwing the
tree out into the hall, where the rest
of the blaze was extinguished. A
quilt which had been used to smother
the biaze on the Christmas tree was
then blazing up and he had thrown it
out of the back door into the snow. He
I had then noticed the smoke getting
very thick and he heard Mrs. Monroe
exclaim, "My God, it's in mother's
room." This was in Mrs. Monroe's
hall. He had not seen her, however,
but had recognized her voice. He had
met Mrs. Gibson carrying down some
dishes at the rear of the building. He
had come back and told the family to
get ready and get out and had then
gone out the back way, while the
others came out through the other en
trance. He had then started to look
for his father, who was not at home
at the time of the fire. He had saw
some small bov fall in the Monroe
building while getting away, but did
not know who it was.
The witness stated that the fire was
a good ways toward the center of the
building, apparently. He had neve.
been in only the two front rooms of
the Monroe apartments, when Mr.
Monroe died. He had also seen Mrs.
Monroe after the fire started sitting
on a box or trunk in the rear of the
sto.e.
The principal witness of the morn
ing was Llovd Stull, the little twelve-
year-old lad who has been making his
home with Mrs. Monroe, and th3
bi ight little boy was clear with his
answers and showed a keen grasp of
the questions asked him. He stated,
n response to the oueries of County
Attorney Cole, that he had lived with
M;r. Monroe for the past year and
was in the thud grade at the public
.ch.ol. On Christmas he was in the
. tore at the rtar of the building. He
incj fWept out and cleaned up the
LrtSd.fast dishes. They had had lunch
on Christmas day about 12 o'clock,
but had not had dinner. Mrs. Stull,
the aged lady burned to death, was
not able to come down stairs and the
witness had taken her breakfast and
dinner up stairs and she had eaten
them. He had taken the dishes down
stairs and later came back up to see
if there was anything wanted by the
olu lady, and when he asked if she
v anted a drink of water she had said
?he would like one, and he had got
ten it for her, and then went back
down stairs again. She was sitting in
a chair near the window at the time
he was there. Mrs. Monroe asked him
if her mother was ready to lie down
for a nap. He stated the room oc
cupied by Mrs. Stull was just north
of thnt of Mrs. Monroe. He had used
the L ack stairs in going up and down.
Mrs. Monroe had told him to get busy
and wash up the dishes so that they
could all go up stairs and visit with
Grandma Stull. She had gone up
stairs to change her clothes to help
crub and clean up for Saturday, and
later came back down stairs. She
was working around the stove where
a chicken was roasting, when Mayor
Sattler came in the store and said
that the building was on fire, but she
did not seem to understand at first,
and asked Mr. Sattler the second time
as to the fire.- The witness and Mrs.
Mcnioe had ran up the back stairs to
the scene of the fire, where the smoke
was quite thick. Mrs. Monroe had at
tempted to get into her mother's
room, but the blaze and smoke drove
her back, she had said, as the blaze
was toward the folding doors connect
ing her room with that of Mrs. Stull.
He stated also that Mrs. Monroe told
him there was a man there who had
pushed her back and told her not to j
go into the room, as the blaze was
too fierce for her to e-ei through. The
boy did not see or hear the man, but
only what Mrs. Monroe ha 1 told him
of the matter. After this they had
gotten a trunk that was in the room
of Mrs. Monroe and he had assisted
in cairying the trunk down the back
stairs and a greater part of the dis
tance lie had carried it alone. When
asked as to the locked door leading
into the hall he stated that it was be
cause Mrs. Stull was afraid that some
children or someone might come in
, the roo!n' hut later' when questioned.
he stated that it was kept locked be
cause it was feared that the old lady
might get out in the hall and fall
down stairs, and they had the key
hanging from a nail near the door in
the room of Mrs. Monroe. Mr.". Stull
was a very heavy sleeper. The fire in
in the building seemed to be in the
partition near the double doors con
necting the rooms of Mrs. Stull and
Mrs. Monroe. There were two doors
from the room of Mrs. Stull into that
where the locked d;or was, and the
one into the room of Mrs. Monroe,
which was the only means of getting
into the room where the aged lady
stayed. He had seen nothing of the
man claimed ty Mrs. Monroe to have
talked to her. He had saw Henry
Egenberger in the Imllway, but hail
not heard him say anything, although
Mrs. Monroe' had to 1 him that she
had asked him to kick in the door
leading to the room of Mrs. Stull. He
also stated that Mrs. Monroe had
s.aid she did not care about losing
everything if she could get her
mother out. This testimony was the
most interesting of any offered anJ
attracted much attention from every
one. Henry Egenbtrge, in hi.; testi
mony, denied that rs. Monroe had
said anything about kicking down the
door to him and a to her nioth'T be
ing in the room.
Lawrence Stull, the son of the lady
burned te death, dittoed the facts as
to his having made an entrance into
the room, and in company with Max
Pries, searched for her body. He did
not arrive until the fire was well un
der way, and attempted first to get in
through the rear, and then later
came up through the window in the
front of the building.
The condition of Mrs. Monroe was
such that she was unable to appear
at the inquest and the coroner's jury,
accompanied by the County Attorney,
sheriff and Attorney Gering, made a
trip to the Perkins House, where the
lady is staying, and attempted to get
her testimony, but nothing of any
interest could be secured, as she
broke down and cried the greater part
of the time the jury was in the room.
They were then taken to the scene of
the fire to view the different places
described by the witnesses in the case.
At the close cf the testimony the
mystery seems as deep as ever anJ
there seems to be some link misshig
to complete the story as to what
really caused the fire.
The jury this afternoon at 2:45 re
turned a verdict finding that Mrs.
Stull came to her death as the result
of burns received ' in the burning
building, and the cause of the fire
unknown. The jury was composed of
J. C. Peterson, Hans Seivers, X. K.
Peoples, J. H. Thrasher, J. W. Peters
and C. R. Frans.
A VERY INTERESTING
CASE IN THE DISTRICT
COURT NOW ON TRIAL
""-om Wednesdays Dally
This morning district court con
vened to take up some matters of the
November term that are as yet undis
posed of, and the first case called was
that of the matter of the estate of
William O'Brien, which is brought up
from the county court. This involves
the settlement of the estate of this
aged gentleman, who was for many
years a farmer south of this city, and
later on, becoming blind, made his
home here with his niece, Mrsv Wil
liam, Morley, to whom he left his
property in a will at his death, but
the settlement has been contested by
his widow and two sons, who reside in
Missouri, having moved from this
county several years ago. The case
promises to involve some very in
teresting points of law.
1915 Calendar Pads at the Journal
office.
Secures a l ine Machine,
From V.,-inf-iln ys r:iily.
Claude Shoemaker of this city has
just invested in a fine machine that
will furnish popcorn and fresh roast
ed peanuts to all who desire these
toothsome delicacies, and they will be
fresh all th time. The machine has
been placed in the east window of the
Dunbar pool hall arid a coiivenicent
opening made in the window where
the passers-by can secure their pop
corn and peanuts without trouble and
find that the. c
thev desire.
delicacies are all that
JSP YOUNG FEELS VERY
THANKFUL TO FARMERS
ON HIS RURAL ROUTE
From Tuesday's Kalir-
Plr.ttsmouth, December 2S, 1114.
Mail carriers can talk about getting
presents from their patrons on their
loutes, but you have got to get up
before daylight if you beat carrier on
route No. 1 out of Mvnard. During
Christmas week we have received
quite a number of pre-ents. nearly all
fre.-h meat, just what we need and
have got to have, and for which we
feel very thankful. We are confident
that we will get more, for farmers on
my route are well-to-do and always
see that their carrier never goes
hungry. Those that have remember
ed us during Christmas time are:
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Wetenkamp,
Mr. and Mrs. -Jake Krager, ?dr. and
Mrs. C, rover Will, Mr. and Mis. Toy
Howard, Mr. Charles Mutz and Mr.
Fritr Lut;:. Mr. Jake Hild gave us a
iiloe present, something very unusual
for patrons to give, and we are so
proud of it that wo are not going to
feli just what it is, but let you guess.
It is all ready to use, and we can
urry it m oar rocKct very handily.
Mr. Albert Wetenkamp this year, in
addition to his annual present, gave
us a two-bushel sack of oats for our
horse, which costs us a whole lot of
money during a year We feed our
te?m every day at Mr. and Mrs. Fred
Hild's, and it is a hard matter for
us to get away from Fred's without
the carrier being fed, too. Many
hanks, patrons, and a Happy New
Year. J. M. Young.
Route No. 1.
THE MISSOURI PACIFIC
HAD ANOTHER WRECK
NEAR AUBURN SUNDAY
Prom Tuesday's Daily.
In speaking of the Missouri Pa
cific wreck near Auburn Sunday the
Nebraska City News says: "There
was another wreck on the Missouri
Pacific yesterday about noon some
three miles this side of Auburn, and
with its good luck no one was killed.
The train from this city was a little
late and was trying to make up lost
time. When the engineer on the pas
senger was approaching the "Y"
where the Crete branch reaches the
main track he saw a freight train
standing on the switch and it looked
to him as if the main track was clear.
He was going at the rate of about CO
miles and when he approached the
freight tran he saw that he would
strike the cars. He reversed his en
gine, applied the emergency brake
and then he, the fireman and one of
the baggagemen jumped. There were
seven freight cars ruined, two being
coal cars. The engineer was render
ed unconscious and it is thought he
may have fractured his skull. He
was taken to Kansas City for treat
ment. The fireman was bruised slight
ly. Those who saw the wreck say
that a refrigerator car was picked up
and dumped into a furniture car,
seerrungly without much injury."
Glenn Pocock of Ord, Neb., a
nephew of Fred Patterson of this city,
and who has been here visiting at the
home of his uncle, departed this
morning for his home.
Herman Kleitsch, the enterprising
Weeping Water miller, was in the city
yesterday and remained over night
visiting with friers and looking af
ter come matters of business, and this
morning was a passenger for Omaha.
wher he will spend the day before
returning home.
MEETING OF THE
AOS 0 1IIICI
(I
The Mayor of Plattsmouth Was Pres
ent and Took a Prominent Part in
i liberations of the Meeting.
From Wednesday's Diiilv.
At the meeting of the heads of
municipal governments, which met
yesterday in Lincoln in response to
the call of Governor Morehead to take
some steps toward concerted relief
'.voi k for the Belgians, there was a
large representation from the differ
ent towns and villages and plans for
city and county organizations to aid
in the work were outlined. Mayor
John P. Sattler was present from
Plattsmouth to represent this citv and
atti acted considerable attention at
the meeting. The State Journal, in
speaking of the meeting, says:
After Govei nor Morehead had call
ed the meeting to order and stated
the object of the meeting "and had
suggested the election of a chairman,
Major Allen G. Fisher asked if any
of the delegates present were of Bel
gian extraction. No one answered.
Near the close cf the meeting
Mayor J. P. Sattler of Plattsmouth
arose.
"1 am a German," he said.
"So am I," said Chairman John E.
Miller of Lincoln.
"I know it is too late to ask why we
aid only Belgians." said Mayor Sat-
tier, because nothing else was men
tioned in the call issued by the gov
ernor. I will try my best to form a
county organization nnd do what I
can. If all states do as Nebraska is
doing there may be too much for the
people of Belgium. People of other
countries may be as bad off and need
help just as much. Perhaps if we
have anything left we can give to
other countries."
Mr. Gaston of Broken Bow explain
ed that many did not understand that
Belgium is the only country pro
visions and food can be shipped to
without fear of seizure by nations
that are at war. Germany and Erg
land have both agreed not to seize
food sent to Belgium. As to an over
donation, he said it was stated that
with all of the donations now in sight
in the United States it has been re
ported that the people of Belgium will
be out of food in February, if no more
is sent. Money can be sent to the Red
Cross for hospital supplies.
At the close of the meeting Mr. Do
lan of Western made a short address
commending the object of the state
organization and deploring hatred be
tween nations that had been engen
dered by the war in Europe. He il
lustrated by tellirg of a wounded Bel
gian soldier who said he hoped to get
well and rejoin the army and live to
see the imperial palace of Germany
in flames.
"I do not care to indulge in war
talk." said Mayor Sattler of Platts
mouth, "because President Wilson has
said we should not do that. The Ger
mans will be all right in the end."
AMONG THE NEW YEAR
FESTIVITIES IS THE ELKS'
BIG ANNUAL BALL
From Wednesday's Dally.
Among the New Year's festivities
planned in this city is the annual
grand ball given by the members of
the Elks' lodge for the members of
the order and their families. The
affair will be entirely informal and
the members are anticipating a most
pleasant time on this occasion. The
ball will be given in the handsome
ball room of the Elks' club and the
best of music has been secured for the
occasion. The events of this kind in
the past have proven most delightful
and there is no doubt but that the
members of No. 739 will have one of
the most pleasant social times in
their history at the 1915 ball.
Farm Loans at Lowest Rates.
T. II. POLLOCK.
12-14-tfw
1 1 tr From Loi:i ille.
From Weil rii-'l;i y's 1 ; ; - -.
Henry Sass, Henn.i'i PanKonir.g,
Rev. Ilartman arid llimy Stohln.;m.
from Louisville. were in the ci'j a
few hours tdiy h-okim' after m.fi.c
business matters. 'J he cam" 1..u m
in the Schuyler t J 1 1 - ir,o in.". I'tmn
ing this afternoon. Wmle l,e:e Mi.
Sas3 paid the Joun.,-1 ..J!;t-e : brief
call, tthev.iii;' hi", jriytr for an .. thri
ves r.
DR. 0. SANDIN LECTURES
BEFORE THEYOUNG'MEN'S
BIBLE CLASS LAST NIGHT
From V'e1ner.l;j '.'- Ji.il'v.
The meeting at the Young Men'.;
Bible class looms !a-t Monday even
ing proved one of the nio-t enter t.iin-
ing that has been held f !' some time
and the lectuie given l y Dr. O. S.m
din, the veternarian, on the "Anatomy
of the Horse and Cow," ua.; wry in
structive. The lecture was illustrate 1
with charts showing the different
parts of these animals, and the doctor
made a very clear address along t In
different parts of the anatomy of ho' h
the cow and horse, which was m-t
interesting to his hearers. In addi
tion to the splemliil lecture the young
men had the plea.-ure of enjoying a
pleasant informal musical program i'i
which each of the numbers took a
part, and the evening wa? one filled
with much pleasantness to a!l in at
tendance.
CORN STALK DISEASE A
MENACE TOJHE COUNTRY
From tW-ilncsdn y's Dal! v.
The corn stalk disease is caused 1 y
hor?es and cattle eating disease 1 com
stalks and especially diseased corn.
In the chemical rnalysis of the dis
eased stalks ami corn, nothing ha
been found so far that would cause
poisoning if eaten by horses or cat
tle. Some ears of ccin are affected
with smut, some witn fungus and
some with "worm dust," as it is call
ed. From experiments that have been
made none of these substances eaten
separately will caue j oi-T.r.irg.
When the dLseased stalks are eaten i'i
sufficient quantities they undergo a
process of fermentation in the stom
ach, eliminating a poisonous gar arid
if enough of this gas should be foim-
ed and become absorbed into the rys
tem it acts on the nerves, causing
paralysis of the hind logs, arid affect
the nerves of respiration, causing
death. This peculiar disease is found
in some parts of the country and 'hot
in others and all the coin field-; i t
the same .locality are not affected.
The reason of this is not known. Th?
symptoms of this disease are weak
ness, stagrering and partial or com
plete loss of the hind leg.-, and ath.
disease-advances the animals become
unable to stand, it falb: and struggle
or has convulsions, and soon dies. The
only preventitive is riot to feel the
diseased corn to horses or cattle an 1
to keep them out of the corn sta'k
fields until late in the winter. D.s-
eased food of any kind is unsafe an 1
should never be fed to horses. In the
early stage of the di-en.-e the be t
treatment is to give two ounce aro
matic spirit3 of ammonia and two
ounces sweet spirits of nitre at a
dose in a pint of cold water and ic-
peat every half hour until five dose
have been given. This stimulant
seems to counteract the action of tin
poison and should be tried.
M'CONAHIE POST, NO. 45,
G. A. R. ELECT OFFICERS
FOR THE ENSUING YEAR
from TtieBday" Dalir.
At the regular meeting of Mc
Conahie Post No. 4". G. A. V.., held
on Saturday evening, December L''th,
the following officers were elected to
act for the ensuing year:
Commander W. II. Freese.
Senior Vice Adam Kurtz.
Junior Vice A. Jacks.
Adjutant R. B. Windham.
Quartermaster G. W. Glenn.
Chaplain J. 11. Thrasher.
Officer of the Day William Porter.
Guard John Renner.
Installing officer J. W. Johnson.