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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (May 10, 1917)
DC you xxxiv. PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA,' THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1917. No. 20". MILLER DEAD BULLET WOUNDS Tragedy Culmination of Steadily In creasing Street Car Violence. Fmm Tuesday' Daily. The Jacob Miller famny in this city last evening received a message from Lincoln from August Sitzmann and Frank Streets, brother-in-laws of Will- iam Miller, stating that they had identified the body in the Lincoln morgue as that of their relative. The tragedy has come as a severe blow to the family in this city and since the first message was received yes terday morning, they had been hoping that it might be some other person that had been killed rather than the son and brother, but this hope was dashed when the message was re ceived last evening. The Lincoln Star of last evening gives the following account of the tragedy as far as could be learned: "William Miller, a barber, was found dead at Twenty-seventh and Fair streets at 11:20 Sunday night, after a University Place car coming to Lin coln had passed the spot. The body was found close to the track, with a bullet above the right eye. Witnesses tell of shots coming from the car. "A short time later, the police ar rested Calvin Lambert, 129 North Twelfth street, conductor on the car. He was found conferring with General Manager Bramlette, in the offices of the Lincoln Traction company. Lam bert has refused to make a state ment. "Three boys reported the shooting to the police. They were Charles 0Dell, S3; North Twenty-seventh street; Joe Shepherd, f22 North Thirty-first street, and Freeman Roberts, 8.7 North Twenty-sixth street. The boys tell of hearing a shot. The boys were on the north side of the track. Miller was on the south side of track. Heated words had ensued. Another shot, they say, and Miller turned and walked about twenty-five steps east and fell. The car went on. The boys telephoned for the police. Miller was dead when the officers ar rived. .Two Different Stories. "The motorman on the car was Clay Hester. He told officers of having heard shots, but he was watching the track ahead and did not know who fired them. "The police claim that two witness es, passengers on the car, say they saw the conductor fire the shots. Their names are withheld. "Sheriff Simmons says Miller, ac cording to witnesses, was standing on the sidewalk intersection on the east side of the street, when the firing oc curred. He was ten or a dozen paces from the spot where the car stopped to discharge passengers. According to the sheriff, Miller walked about sixteen paces east and fell dead, after the shooting. This, the sheriff says, was about twenty-eight paces from the street car. "One of the witnesses on the car was Dick Hyatt, of University Place, a traveling man for Grainger Bros. The sheriff savs he saw the conductor shoot. " 'Take that, vou " a man and a woman close to the scene heard the conductor say, according to the sheriff Inquest on Today. "County Attorney Peterson will hold an inquest probably Tuesday, he says. Lambert was taken before him this morning to be questioned. "Lambert was not a deputized offi cer, the sheriff declares. Only depu ties are authorized to carry fire arms. "The police say Miller had taken a Ilavelock car from Lincoln and had gotten off at Fair street. The car on which he rode out passed the Uni versity Place car coming to Lincoln at University Place. He was alone. "Minor street car disturbances were reported to the police earlier Sunday evening at Twenty-seventh and Vine, Twenty-seventh and Fair and Twenty seventh and Holdrege. "Officers say that rocks and stones were found close to the spot where Miller fell. They believe he may have been helping create disturbances. Miller had been drinking Sunday aftternoon, the sheriff says. His em ployer, F. M. Francisco, on 'North i Twenty-seventh street, told the sheriff that he had been a strike sympathizer. "Miller's body was taken to Brown & Doyle's." PURCHASES NEW OVERLAND. Frnm Tuesday's Daily. John Bauer, the local agent of the Overland and Willys-Knight automo biles, was a passenger this afternoon for Omaha in company with Albert Tschirren, one of the prosperous farmers of this leoality, where they go to secure a fine new Overland car t t m i m i yv i 101 -r. lsenirren. ine uvenana car j is one of the favorites in this section of the country and several of the new style machines have been disposed of by Mr. Bauer to the residents of this county EOFLE BECOMING IN TERESTED IN COUNTY DEFENSE COUNCIL From Tuesday's Dnily. The citizens of Plattsmouth who are interested in the county defense coun cil which nas been urged in every county of the state by Governor Ne ville, should by all means be present at the meeting Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock at Weeping Water. It is im portant that' this meeting be well at tended as there will be formed the or ganization that will direct the work of the council. Hon. Richard L. Met calfe, of Omaha, will be present at the meeting and will outline the proposed conscription act for the benefit of the persons present at the meeting, and which will give them a clear idea of what the people of Cass county will be expected to do in the defense of their country, both in a military and industrial way. The meeting will be one that will be of unusual importance, and already a large number are proposing to attend and hear what Mr. Metcalfe has to offer, as well as to take part in the formation of the organization of the county defense council. Let everyone who can possibly get away be present at the meeting and take part to repre sent in the proper manner this section of the county. It is something that concerns every citizen of the county and should be largely attended. THE PEOPLE TURNED OUT IN ANSWER TO ALARM LAST NIGHT From Tuesday's Daily. The sounding of the fire whistle last evening shortly after 8 o'clock aroused the residents of the city and the fact that it was announced that the oil house near he Burlington was on fire in a few minutes brought to gether a crowd of several hundred persons, who hastened to the scene ot the fire, but by the time the crowd had gathered at the oil hour,e the blaze was extinguished. The fire started on the roof of the small frame shed that houses the pumps used in getting oil out of the two large tanks and it was evidently caused by sparks from a passing locomotive. The fire was dis covered by several boys who wei'e passing near the house and as good fortune would have it Fire Chief P. F. Field was at this time returning home and the boys notified him of the blaze and Mr. Fields hastened to the oil house, where a few minutes' work served to tear the burning shingles from the roof of the building, and before the hose cart reached the scene the excitement was all over. It is most fortunate that the chief was near the scene when the fire broke out, as a few minutes' start would have caused a fire that certainly would have been one of the most de structive in the city's history. ENLISTS IN THE NAVY. From Tuesdav's Daily. Eugene Lister of this city, who has been in the employ of the Burlington in their shops here, has entered the ranks of the defenders of the coun try and enlisted in the navy. Mr Lister will depart Friday for Omaha and from there go to the Great Lakes 111., training station to spend a short time before being sent to the training ship for the completion of his instruc tions. Plattsmouth has made a splen did showing on the recruits for the navy secured and the number now veaches fifteen who have entered that j department of the service. COUNTY CLERK LIB ERSHAL AND SHERIFF QUINTON GET LETTERS From Tuesday's Daily. County Clerk Frank Libershal, as well as Sheriff C. D. Quinton, have received notice from Governor Neville of the forthcoming conscription or se lective draft that is to be made a part of the war program of the govern ment. As will be seen by the letters sent out by the governor, there will be need of a great many in each precinct to act as registrars, and this service must be without recompense and as a patriotic duty. Sheriff Quin ton has already secured! a number of volunteers for this work and others will be needed so that those who may desire to take up the work should notify County Clerk Libershal or Sheriff Quinton as to their willing ness to serve. The letter of the gov ernor is printed that the public can know just what is expected at this time, and is as follows: Lincoln, May i, 1917. County Clerk, Plattsmouth, Neb. Dear Sir: An act of congress, re cently passed, gives the President of the United States authority to call upon the state and county officers and citizens for such services as he deems advisable, as follows : "Section 5. That the President is hereby authorized to utilize the serv ice of any or all departments and any or a;l oincers or atrents ol the united States, and of the sevearl states, terri tories, and the District of Columbia, in the execution of this Act, and all officers and agents of the United States and of the several states, ter ritories, and the District of Columbia, are hereby required to perform such duties in the execution of this Act as the President shall order and direct, and officers and agents of the several States shall hereby have full author ity for all acts done by them in the execution of this Act by the direction or request of the President." Under the authority vested in him by this act, the President of the United States has directed me to communicate with the sheriffs, county clerks and county physicians in every county in Nebraska, advising them that a military census will soon be taken for the purpose 'of registering citizens of the state. It is the Presi dent's intention to issue a proclama tion within a short time, designating the age limits and containing other information. All citizens of the classes named will report for regis tration to their accustomed polling place on a day designated by the President. The law carries a pen alty for a failure to so report. The services of public spirited citi zens should be secured to act as regis trars, two being assigned to each pre- cnict. County defense councils, where organized, can render great assist ance in taking this census. It is hoped that this work will be accomp lished so far as possible without cost to the government, but the federal government is prepared to pay neces sary expenses. Registration blanks and necessary information will be mailed to county sheriffs and by them distributed to the polling places. It is hoped that preparations will be completed for the taking of the census within fifteen days after the issuance of the Presi dent's proclamation. You will take immediate steps to organize the machinery to carry out the President's program as outlined above, and for further information communicate with the Secretary of the State Council of Defense, Lincoln, Nebraska. MOVES INTO NEW GARAGE. From Tuesday's Daily. The Plattsmouth garage has moved into the new building erected on South Fifth street just north of the resi dence of Adolph Geise, and hence forth Ed Mason, the owner of the garage, will be found in this new lo cation. The new building is made as near fire proof as possible, with con crete floors and the walls of concrete tile, and will make a splendid place for Mr. Mason and his force of work men. The garage is so situated as to be handy to all who desire to use it, and being strictly modern and up-to-date, will be a much appreciated ad dition to the auto owners of the city and will take rank with the other well equipped garages of the city. Dawson Wiii Fix It. M'CONIHIE POST, G. A. R THROUGH SENATOR MATTES, GETS FLAG From Tuesd.iv's Daily. Col. J. II. Thrasher, who during the past winter was employed in the state senate as one of the assistants to the judiciary committee, at the dost of the session interested Senator Jchn Mattes of this district in a proposi tion to have the flag that floated over the senate wing of the state capital sent to this city to be presented to McConihie post of the Grand Army, Senator Mattes taking the matter in hand, secured the consent of the sen ate to the giving of the flag, and it will soon be sent to this city for pre sentation to the local post of the G. A. Ii. The flag is of large size and will be a token that will be held in high esteem by veryone of the old sol- liers who has fought beneath the stars and stripes on many a bloody battlefield of the great civil conflict. SHAKESPEARE CLUB ENJOYS AN EVENING AT THE BERING HOME From Tuesday's DaHy. Last evening the members of the Shakespeare club met at the beauti ful Gering home on North Sixth street to enjoy a social evening which marked the close of the year of study of the members in 'the works of the bard of Avon. The members of the club, together with a few of the for mer members, enjoyed one of the most delightful evenings in the history of their organization. The home was charmingly deco ated with sprays of the sweet- cented plum and pear blossoms that ent a touch of springtime to the scene and made a fitting setting to the pleasureable gathering. The evening was largely devoted to contests that tested the knowledge of the members of the club in the differ ent works of the great English poet and dramatist, one room of the home being arranged with some fiftv p:c- ures, each of which represented a scene from the works of Shakespeare, the members of the party being re quested to name each picture and the work from which it was taken. An other of the pleasing contests was af forded when the members of the party were given letters that placed to gether represented a quotation from some of Shakespeare's dramas. In the contests of the evening, when the points were judged, it was found that Miss Hazel Dovey and Mrs. W. A. Robertson had tied for the honors of the evening and in a drawing Miss Dovey was awarded the prize, a hand some volume of quotations from Shakespeare for each day of the year. A number of very delightful musical numbers were also given by Miss Verna Cole that added greatly to the enjoyment of the members of the party. The dining room of the Gering home, where the dainty and delicious two-course luncheon was served, was very pretty with the springtime blos soms, while at each place as a pic tured repersentation of a scene from teh plyas of the greatest of all poets that proved an interesting feature of the evening. At a late hour the mem bers adjourned for the year, feeling that the time of study had been brought to a close in a most delight ful manner. TO TAKE OFFICERS' TRAINING. From Tuesday's Daily. Paul II. Roberts of Cedar Creek and Edwin Fricke of this city have had their applications for positions in the officers reserve training school at Fort Snelling, Minn, ated upon fav orably, end will be called to report at the fort by May 14, -when the course of instruction in the handling of an army will be given by the United States army board. This is a very high honor as a great many ap plications are rejected eadi day by the examiners. The officers' school is to prepare the men to have positions in the new army of 500,000 that is to be raised under the selective draft of the government. As soon as the draft is made the men and the offi cers will be sent to the training camps where the army is to be brought up to the standard that will enable them to take the field when needed. RT HELD lER'S JURY Says Street Car Conductor Fired Shot Which Terminated Fatally. From "Wednesday's Dailv. unuc-r me nnoing oi a coroner s jury last night, which returned a ver ik-l naming conductor Calvin Lam bert responsible for the death of Wil liam Miller, a barber, Lambert will be held and a complaint filed against him, County Attorney Peterson said The jury's verdict: "That the said William Miller, de ceased, came to his death as a result of a bullet shot from a revolver about 11:10 p. m., on May (5, 1917, at Twen ty-seventh and Fair streets, Lincoln, Neb., having been fired by Calvin Lambert, a conductor on a University Place car, said car having been stoned by William Miller and com panions, alter which said Lambert fired the shot which killed Miller." The jury consisted of C. W. Beans, I. J. Brinegan, G. M. Porter, Don Critchfield. Fred Cornell and L. S. Mgenbaum. Conductor Lambert heeded the ad vice of his counsel and did not testify. Testimony to the effect that a gun was given the conductor on the out going trip was given by Motorman H. C. Hester and an eyewitness testified to seeing the conductor pull the gun ut of his pocket and fire out of the window, which had been shattered by i fusilade of rocks. Sharp's Testimony. President W. E. Sharp and Man ager Bramlette of the traction com pany testified to a conversation with -ambert in Mr. Bramlette's office late Sunday night, during which Iimbert admitted firing one shot. The officials said the carmen expressed surprise when informed a man had been killed at Fair street. Doth Mr. Sharp and Mr. Bramlette estified carmen had been warned re peatedly against carrying weapons, but in his testimony Motorman Hes ter denied having received any such nst ructions. Mr. Bramlette said Lambert had been in the empiove oi tne traction ompany about three weeks and that e came from Omaha, where he was a onductor for six years. A Shower of Rocks. Mr. Sharp said Conductor Lambert eported the car had been stoned on mict it-ally every trip Sunday night uid on the last outgoing trip some broken glass struck a woman passen- er. When a passenger boarded the car at l wenty-sevemn anu rair streets, he "ducked" and in an in stant a shower of rocks came through the window. Mr. Sharp said Lambert stated he saw no one at the time he fired the shot. Clifford Hans, Duckling ball player, passenger on the car, testified to see ing the conductor fire one shot and then leap from the car and fire a sec ond time. Drs. Sawyer and Shoemaker testi fied to finding a .38 calibre bullet in Miller's head and that the wound had caused instant death. William Bruchman, of Firth, car passenger, told of hearing some one remark, "111 get you,' t-elore tne shooting occurred. Three bovs, Charles Odell, Freeman Roberts and Joe Shepherd, who ad mitted being Miller's companions dur ing the evening, confessed to stoning the car on its outgoing trip and fir- ine: another deluge of rocks as it re turned past Twenty-seventh and Fair. Boys Tell Story. The boys at first refused to give any reason for being at Twenty-sev enth and Fair, but later took the wit ness stand and told the whole story of the affair. They said the conductor a University Place car fired one shot at them at Twenty-seventh and Orchard streets forty minutes before the fatal shooting. While on the stand the first time young Roberts refused to state what subject was xinder dis cussion just prior to the shooting, and also whether he had thrown any rocks. County Attorney Peterson or l.TPr! thp witness taken to jail bv the j sheriff, but the boy was brought back i later. Roberts said the second shot was fatal to Miller. The boys admitted Miller had been drinking during the evening. The boys all told similar stories of meeting early in the even LAMBE FOB TRIA v r r coeo ing and of the activities against the street cars. Odell said he was six feet away from Miller when he chopped dead. The boys said the shots were fired from the back end of the car. The boys said a man told them before they took the stand that if any questions were asked about stoning the cars they should refuse to answer Gives Gun to Lambert Motorman Hester said he gave his pun to Conductor Lambert after the car had been stoned the third time Hester said the gun was borrowed from a teamster. Hester said he carried the gun behind the controller box on the car. After the incident he took the weapon and placed it in his locker at the traction company, After the shooting at Fair street, Hester said Lambert declared he shot to scare the stone heavers. Hester admitted toting a gun, but not con cealing it, since the aoutn lentn street occurrence several nights ago. Other witnesses examined were Sheriff Simmons, Fred W. Ruckert, 1905 North Twenty-eighth street; G. S. Cooley, 1925 North Twenty-eighth street: Attorney E. J. Haines, J. II. Losey, University Tlace; Fred Shields, a student. FUNERAL OF MILLER, KILLED IN LINCOLN, WILL BE HELD TODAY From Wednesday's Daily. Last evening the body of V llliam Miller, who was shot and killed in Lincoln Sunday night, was brought to this city on No. 14 over the Bur lington and taken from the station to the home of the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Miller, where it rested until the funeral services, which were held this afternoon at 2:30, and the body laid to rest in Oak Hill cemetery. A large number of the old friends of the young man were at the station to meet the body and al'o in attendance at the funeral service to share with the fam- i the grief that the sudden and tragic death has brought to them. The coroner's jury at Lincoln yes terday morning, at the inquest, held Calvin Lambert, a conductor on the University Place street car line, for the shooting and killing of William Miller, at the corner of Twenty-sev enth and Fair streets, at 11:40 p. m. May Gth. The evidence of a great many witnesses at the inquest brought out the fact that the shot was un doubtedly from a revolver in the hands of the conductor of the street car, as both passengers on the car and the companions of Miller testified as to this fact, while Lambert him self did not testify at the inquest on the advice of his attorney. It was shown at the inquest that the street I a x ? car had been stonea several times, and just prior to the shooting a show er of rocks had been heaved into the car. The officials of the street car company testified that the employes had been warned against carrying weapons, but this was not borne out by the motorman of the car, who stated that he had received no such instructions. The matter is now in the hands of County Attorney Peter son of Lancaster county, who will file a complaint against Lambert charging him with the responsibility for the death of Miller. ARMOURS OF OMAHA HERE NEXT SUNDAY From Wednesday's Daily. Our base ball foes ot years gone by the Armours, the fast representa tives of the Omaha packing house sec tion, will be with us next Sunday, as the game has been arranged by Man ager Johnson, and the fans will once more be given the opportunity of see ing this organization in action. The Armours this season have a number of new players and a few of the old fa forites have retired from the lineup of the team, but it is still one of the fastest organizations in the greater Omaha league and one that can be depended upon to show the goods in the base ball line. With warmer weather, the game should be one of the best of the season, and will un doubtedly mive a good crowd to wit ness the tangle between the Red Sox and the visitors. Do not forget to buy your cotton batting at the Big Fire Sale Saturday afternoon, May 12th. MERCHANTS AND BUSINESS MEN TO ASSIST FARMERS The need of the most intensive cul tivation of the soil this season is be ing brought most forcibly to mind every day and the lateness of the sea son is giving not a little anxiety to the farmers and those familiar with the agricultural conditions in this state. The work of the farmers has been retarded and now, when the corn crop should have been nlante! i - - - there is still a greater part of the land that is not yet ready for the planting of the corn. This condition has led the farmers to feel the need of all possible aid to assist them in the work and the civic organizations in the towns are preparing to lend their aid in providing men to assist n the planting and securing of a crop this year. The Plattsmouth business men and citizens are prenarintr to end what aid is possible in this way and a large number have enrolled through the medium of the C ,.;mcr cial clu,b to be ready to get o"t into the fields for a few days each week if . their presence is needed in carrying on the work. MR, JAMES CONN AND MISS EMMA GRAUF UNITED IN MARRIAGE Yesterday at the residence of Father M. A. Shine, rector of St. John's Catholic church, occurred the marriage of Mrs. James Conn and Miss Emma Grauf, both of Murray. The beautiful marriage service of the church was celebrated bv Father Shine in a most impressive manner. oining for all time the hearts and lves of these two estimable young people. The wedding ceremony was witnessed by Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Campbell of near Murray. Following the wedding at the parsonage, the young people returned to the home of the bride's parents, east of Mur- ay, where a reception was held for the members of the bridal patty, and the newlywed.s received the congrat ulations of their friends on the pleas ant occasion. Both of the contracting parties are well known in the vicinity of Murray, where they have been making their home since childhood, and none are leld in higher respect than these two estimable young people. The bride s a aaugnier oi Jir. anu .mis. r ranK Grauf and is a young lady of talent and charm of character and well be- oved by a large circle of friends. The groom is one of the young farm ers ol the .Murray neighborhood and is a son of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Mc- Natt and a gentleman of the highest ntegrity. Mr. and Mrs. Conn will make their home on a farm near Mur ray. 0ISP0SES OF BUSINESS IN CEDAR GREEK Yesterday afternoon Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Reams, of Cedar Creek, were in the city for a short business visit and to call on their friends in the county seat. Mr. Reams states that he has just disposed of his business interests in the confectionery and barber shop there to Mrs. Hans Schroeder. Mr. Reams has during his thirteen years' residence in Cedar Creek made many friends and has been one of the most active men in the community and his friends will regret very much to see him. retire from the active business life. How ever, Mr. Reams expects to assist in the barber shop in the evening, for the present at least, and will in all probability remain as a permanent resident of Cedar Creek. Mrs. Schroeder expects to continue the business along the same lines that Mr. Reams has followed so successfully. A. Palmer & Co., of Beatrice, Neb., have bought the Zuckweiler & Lutz $20,000 stock of goods, and the entire lot will be placed on sale, next Sat urday afternoon, May 12th. Every thing must be sold in ten days. The Fire Sale $3.00 per sack. is selling flour at
