ebr. State Historical Society
VOL. NO. XLVm
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 1932.
NO. 26
Catholic Daugh
ters Initiation is
Well Attended
Class cf Plattsmouth and Nebraska
City Are Initiated State
Regent Here.
Lady of Loretto court of the Cath
olic Daughters of America, of this
city. Sunday afternoon held a large
ly attended meeting at the K. of C.
hull and at whuh time a class of
i:ine were initiated.
Inimanuel court of Nebraska City,
represented by some thirty members.
were present to take part in the cere
monies of the afternoon as well as
visitors from several other points
who came to enjoy the fine exposi
tion of the ritualistic work of the
order.
The hall was very handsomely de
corated for the occasion with the
spring flowers in profusion and the
purple, gold and white colors of the
fociety, making a colorful setting for
the event.
The initiation was carried out bv
the drill team of the local court in
a very impressive manner as the
members of the class were received
into the order.
A large party of distinguished
visitors were present at the meet
ing inciuding Miss Veronica O'Con
nor. Omaha, grand state regent; Mrs
P. Tomek. David City, district de
puty; Mrs. P"rar.k Mullen, Platts
mouth. state monitor; Father Mar
celles Agius. Plattsmouth, chaplain;
Miss Mary Zimmerer, Nebraska City,
regent of Immanuel court and Mrs.
Fred I. Rea. Plattsmouth. regent of
Lady of Loretto court. The officers
and visitors were each heard in brief
remark? at the closer of the eere
inonies. The Immanuel court of Nebraska
City gave the program of the after
noon, under the direction of Miss
Meyers. Vocal solos were given by
Miss Cullen and Miss Gardner, a
reading by Miss Philips and a piano
accordian solo by Miss Straub.
Following the program a dainty
two course luncheon was served by
the Plattsmouth ladies which proved
a very delightful ending of the af
ternoon of pleasure and profit to all
in attendance.
CELEBRATES EIRTHDAY
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Ray
Backer was the scene of a very
pleasant gathering of little folks on
Thursday afternoon, the occasion be
ing the observance of the eleventh
birthday anniversary of Betty Ann
Valiery. niece of Mrs. Becker.
The afternoon was spent in games
of all kind.- at which a great deal
of merriment was derived, while mu
sical selections also aided n the pass
ing of the time. In the games Janet
Westover proved the most success
ful and was awarded the prize.
At a suitable hour dainty refresh
ments were served that completed a
day of the rarest pleasure for all and
at the homegoin?: hour the members
of the party jointed in their well
wishes to Betty Ann.
Those who enjoyed the occasion
were Frances Cloidt, Shirley Keck,
Barbara and Ella Rhoden, Betty
Jeanette Moritz, Rose Mary Steppatt,
Lila Jane Elliott, Eleanor Giles,
Edith Luschinsky, Janet Westover,
Anna Mary McMaken, Maxine M.
Nielson. Mary Alice Ault, Ruth Ann
Ilatt. Kathryn Barkus.
MARRIED AT WASHINGTON
"Word has been received here of
the recent marriage of Miss Treva
Edevrton. of Washington. D. C. for
merly of this city, to Mr, R. LeRoy
Grady, also of Washington, in which
ciT3 the ceremony occurred.
Mr. Grady is studying clinical
pathology at the national capitol city
while the bride has been engaged
there in government work for the
past several years.
Mrs. Grady will be remmebered for
her musical talents and activities of
which she gave so freely to her
church and the community. She is
a daughter of J. A. Edgerton of this
city and was graduated here from
the high school in the class of 1927.
The friends here will unite in
-wishing her the greatest of happiness
in her future wedded life.
GOLFERS SHOW INTEREST
The few good days in the past two
weeks have showed a renewed inter
est in the good old game of golf.
players who have been hibernating
during the long and severe winter
are now starting in on the sport. A
number of new players are to be
seen on the local course, promising
a great deal of interest in the sport,
while the veterans of the club are
right on the job of preparing for a
pleasant spring and summer of golf
ing. City Council
is Planning to
Save $5,000
Cuts Estimated to Save This Amount
for City in the Various
Economy Moves.
The finance committee of the coun
cil with the mayor and the general
council body, have launched a pro
gram that they hope will allow the
cutting of $5,000 from the city ex
pense for the ensuing year.
The city has more than half of
its entire expense taken up with
that of bond retirement and interest
payments, a charge that must be met.
thus making it necessary for any
economy moves to be made in the
direction of clipping the other ex
penses of the city. In view of this
fact the cuts and savings will mean
practically a saving of twenty per
cent in the funds that are available
for the city operating expense.
The council and mayor have esti
mated the various savings in the dim-
ferent departments of the govern
ment which will be as follows:
Library $ 650
Fire hydrant rental 1,750
Park- . .300 -.
Amusement - 300
City attorney 150
City clerk's office 120
Police Judge 360
Street work 600
Total Estimated Saving 1 5.000
The city government expects as
soon as court action will have dis
posed of the litigation over city war
ms, be able to effect an annual
saving in interest of from $750 to
$1,000 by the refunding of the war
rants into low interest bonds. Many
of the city warrants now bear six
per cent interest and the council by
refunding them could find a much
lower rate of interest.
As has been stated, the city can
save only in the amounts that are
used in the actual administration
of the city government, which is
only half of the total expenditures of
the city. The council and mayor are
doing all possible to make the cost
of government less and reduce the
tax burden.
ENJOYS BIRTHDAY PARTY
W. E. Rosencrans, well known
real estate dealer, was the guest of
honor at a very delightful family
dinner arranged by Mrs. Rosencrans
Sunday. The event was in honor of
the passing of the sixty-sixth birth
day anniversary of Mr. Rosencrans.
The dinner was featured by the large
birthday cake and its glowing can
dles. All of the members of the family
circle in the city were in atendance
at the dinner party and which was
an event that all will long pleasant
ly remember. Those who were pres
ent were Mr. and Mrs. Clayton
Rosencrans and family, Mr. and Mrs.
B. A. Rosencrans and family, Mr.
and Mrs. Waldemar Soennichsen and
family, Mrs. Mary Hickman and Mr.
and Mrs. W. E. Rosencrans.
PLEADS NOT GUILTY
From Tuesday's Daily
This morning in the county court
a complaint was filed by County At
torney W. G. Kieck, charging A. R.
Blunt with failure to comply with
a district court order to pay an
amount ordered by the court for the
care of minor children. The com
plaint was made by the former wife
of Mr. Blunt who is now residing
in the west. The defendant in the
case entered a plea of not guilty to
the charge and waived the prelimin
ary hearing and was bound over to
the district court for trial. Bond was
supplied in the case until the hear
ing in the district court.
Local Students
Win Honors at
Forensic Meet
Edward Wchrbein and Greth Garnett
Score Firsts and Madge Garnett,
Win. Wetenkamp and Anna
May Sandin Seconds.
The meeting of the Nebraska Na
tional Forensic league at the North
high school, at Omaha on Saturday
resulted in a triumph for the Platts
mouth entries which brought to the
local school an outstanding record.
The Plattsmouth school entered
speakers in five events, extemperan-
eous speaking, original oratory, ora
torical declamatics, humorous and
declamatory, capturing a first or sec
ond in each of the events. Platts
mouth was the only school to qualify
for national competion at Sioux City.
Edward Wehrbein was the win
ner of the state title in the orator
ical section of the meet, his num
ber being "Public Opinion vs. Or
ganized Crime. The speaker was
also the author of his oration, which
was well prepared and presented,
showing perfectly the criminal situ
ation in America today and propos
ing a logical remedy.
After winning second in the Tri-
State meet at Tarkio college, Greth
Garnett came through for the state
title in the dramatic section of the
meet, with the selection, "The
Bishop's Candlesticks."
The vote of the three judges were
1st, second and third for Madge Gar
nett; 1st, 2nd and 3rd for Keloise
Richlin of North high of Omaha. As
the result of the conference of the
judges. Miss Richlin was awarded
first place and Miss Garnett second
in the extemperaneous class.
William Wetenkamp won second
place- in the oratorical contest after
winning first in the local, first in
the sub-district contest at Auburn,
second in the Tri-State contest at
Tarkio, Missouri, and second in the
district contest at Fullerton.
Anna May Sandin in the humor
ous class was given second place in
her offering and in a field of much
competition. ,
The National Forensic league, of
which Plattsmouth is a member, is
an organization for the improvement
and encouragement of work in pub
lic speaking. The membership is
made up of schools from all over the
United States. Some fifteen schools.
including four Omaha schools, are
members from Nebraska. The pur
pose of Saturday's contest was to
select winners to represent Nebraska
in the national contest to be held at
Sioux City, Iowa, about the middle
of May. The winners of first and
second places are eligible for com
petition at Sioux City.
The local contestants were accom
panied by Gerald Kvasnicka, head of
the department of history and who
has been coach of the young people,
as well as L. L. Starrett, who has
been assisting in their training. Mr.
Kvasnicka is the president of the
local chapter of the National Foren
sic League.
HONORS PLAY DIRECTOR
From Wednesday's Daily
Last evening at the attractive
home of Mrs. James G. Mauzy in the
south part of the city, those who
took part in the playlet, "Neighbors."
presented by the dramatic department
of the Woman's club, entertained at
dinner in honor of Mis Helene Perry,
who so ably directed the playlet.
A delicious three course dinner
was served, the dining room being
decorated with the spring flowers
and making a most attractive pic
ture. After the dinner the mem
bers of the party enjoyed several
games in which prizes were won by
Mrs. William Baird, Mrs. James
Mauzy and Miss Helene Perry.
Miss Perry was presented with a
beautiful gift in appreciation of the
time and patience which she so
graciously gave.
Those attending were Mrs. John
F. Wolff, Mrs. Henry Ofe, Jr., Mrs.
W. L. Heinrich, Mrs. Phillip Hirz,
Mrs. Robert Troop, Mrs. Frank Mul
len, Mrs. William Baird, Mtrs. E. G.
Shellenbarger, Mrs. W. A. Wells,
Mrs. James Mauzy, Mrs. Glen Perry,
Mrs. Bert Coleman, Mrs. James T.
Begley and the guest of honor. Miss
Helene Perry.
MISSOURI PARTIES WEEDED
From Monday's Ually
This morning at the residence of
Rev. O. G. Wicbman, pastor of the
St. Paul's Evangelical church oc
curred the double wedding of young
people of Bethany, Missouri. Miss
Dorothy Bitting was joined in wed
lock to Mr. ClifTord Pike, while Miss
Helen Baker was married to Mr.
Earl I. Bitting, Jr. The young peo
ple served as attendants for each
other and at the conclusion of the
ceremony the newlyweds returned to
their homes in the Missouri city.
Rotary Club
Has Review of
Sport World
Robert M. Walling Gives Pleasing
Feature Mrs. Walling Heard
in Piano Selections.
The session of the Rotary club
Tuesday noon was one that gave
the members of the club an oppor
tunity of an insight into affairs of
the sport world as given by Robert
M. Walling, sports authority of the
club and a dyed-in-the-wool fan. Mr.
Walling enjoys the footba.ll, baseball
and basketball contests staged in this
ssciion of Nebraska each season and
from the wealth of observation and
siudy has a large fund of informa
tion. Mr. Walling discussed parti
cularly the baseball prospects, even
including the Cubs.
Mrs. Walling was also .heard on
the program with several very artis
tic piano numbers given in her de-
lighttul manner and which was a
much appreciated feature of the
session.
The two high school students who
have been members of the Rotary for
the past month, John H. Becker and
Marvin Tritsch, were heard in their
valedictory to the club. thi3 being
their laEt meeting. The two young
men gave excellent talks and express
ed their appreciation of being given
the opportunity of the associations
of Rotary.
The club also received a fine por
trait of Dr. J. S. Livingston, past
president, whose passing has caused
such a deep regret from the members
of the club. The portrait was pre
sented by Mrs. Livingston and is
hung near the place that Dr. Living
ston so long occupied in the Rotary
circle.
The meeting was under the lead
ership of R. A. Bates, publisher of
the Journal.
MANY ENJOY MINSTREL
From Wednesday's Dally
The American Legion minstrel
show which scored a success here
some two weeks ago, was repeated
last evening at the Legion building.
The performance last evening was
given for the residents of the Ne
braska Masonic Home and those who
were invited by the members of the
Legion.
The cast gave an even more enter
taining presentation than at the
first two showings, the musical num
bers being artistically presented
while the colored end men kept the
audience in a roar of merriment.
Cook & Bennett, the two dark clouds
of joy were at their best and served
to entertain the large audience with
their offering. The colored mammy
chorus proved as big a hit as at the
first showing and the members of
fered even more difficult dancing
steps to feature the act.
It is suggested that the show be
presented at Nebraska City under
the auspices of the American Legion
of that city, but no definite arrange
ments have as yet been made.
FISHERMEN SUFFER LOSSES
Local Missouri river fishermen
have been suffering from the oper
ation of thieves in the last few days,
losing a great deal of fish as well
as nets and other fishing equipment.
George Barr was one of the first
to suffer losses, he having seventy-
five pounds of fish taken from a "live
box" and a trammel net also taken
from along the bank of the river.
Sunday while William Grebe was
at his home for the noonday dinner
some person made away with a tram
mel net and so far no trace has been
found of the missing net.
Telephone
Worker Recalls
Earthquake
0. P. Knee of Lincoln. Recounts Story
of Shock that Cracked School
Building Here.
O. P. Knee, a resident of Platts
mouth in his youth, now living at
Lincoln relates to the News-Press of
Nebraska City the story of the earth
quake that occurred in the early
seventies.
Mr. Knee gave a vivid description
Monday of the Plattsmouth, Nebr.,
earthquake in 1ST4 (as nearly as he
can recall) when the old school
building shook so hard it cracked
from top to bottom in four places.
With the first shake Knee started
running.
He was eight years old and in the
Third Reader, as they called the
lower grades in those days. The en
tire class was lined up with backs to
the wall reading a lesson out loud.
The building b gan to shake, then
it rocked and a tin Cue stopper blew
out, followed by a cloud of soot.
That settled it. And O. P. began
to run. Ke was about the first one
out of the door and he didn't stop
until he got home.
But it is an ill wind that blows
no one good. School was dismissed
for the rest of the year, approxi
mately seven months, and the child
ren had a grand and glorious va
cation.
The earthquake, not a very large
one, is scarcely remembered today.
The tremor was centered under the
school building which stood on the
same hill the present building is on
When the school children went run
ning into town and spread the news
the older folks recalled that-Tlisb.es
rattled and a few pictures swung
but the shaking was not great enough
for them to be concerned.
The school building was rocked
so hard, that it made it difficult to
walk on the floor. The four cracks
in the walls n.ade it unsafe and
school was dismissed for the rest of
the school year. The earthquake hap
pened in the fall.
There was a panic in the building
when the school children jammed the
front doorway and several were
slightly cut and bruised but no one
was seriously injured.
O. P. Knee is with the Lincoln
Telephone & Telegraph company. He
is here temporarily working on the
installation of the new section of
the switchboard. His home office is
in Lincoln. Mr. Knee formerly lived
in Nebraska City.
SHELTERS THE BIRDS
Julius A. Pitz, residing in the
south part of the city, has proven a
real friend to the little feathered
residents of this section, his home
providing many an attractive bird
house where the wrens, martins and
other birds make their homes each
year. Mr. Pitz, who is a clever wood
worker, has seveial large and attrac
tive houses already placed around
the home and is now completing an
extra large hous that he will soon
have placed and ready for the use of
the birds. The houses are all of
different design and types and sev
eral are most elaborate in their con
struction and which has required a
great deal of work to prepare. The
bird houses located through the or
chard and flower gardens of the Pitz
home makes a very attractive fea
ture to the settings of the home.
HERE FROM CANADA
From Tuesday's Pally
Harold Tucker, of Calgary, Can
ada, arrived here today and spent
the time visiting with his uncle and
aunt. Mrs. Olive Johnson and Glenn
Whiteman. Mr. Tucker was born in
Cass county near Nehawka, living
here until nine years of age when
his parents removed to Canada. This
is his first visit here since leaving
and one that he is enjoying very
much. Mr. Tucker is engaged in the
printing trade in Canada and while
in this city was a caller at the Jour
nal for a fraternal visit. Mr. Tuck
er is to go on to Nehawka where he
will visit with the relatives and
friends of his boyhood days who are
still residents of that locality.
i
HAVE HEAVY FROST
This section, e.-pecially in the
lowlands, was visited by a very
heavy frost Tuesday night and in ,
some localities it was reported so
cold that ice was frozen.
Just what the damage to fruit
crops will be has not been ascertain -
ed, but all early vegetation has suf-
ifitu u Ritui uetti. r run growers
near this city are of the opinion that j
the early fruit has suffered a great ;
deal but it is hoped that the later
varieties will not suffer.
W. R. C. Holds
Very Delightful
Social Meeting
Held at the Home of Mrs. J. H.
McMaken with Pleasing; Num
ber in Attendance.
The social meeting of the Wom
an's Relief Corps held on Tuesday
afternoon at the charming home of
Mrs. J. K. McMaken on North 11th
street w,as attended by a pleasing
number of the members and friends.
In the entertaining of the day
Mrs. McMaken was associated with
Mrs. Julius Hall. Mrs. John Elliott
and Mrs. Martha Baunieister.
The program was opened with the
salute to the flag in which all of the
members of the party joined in the
tribute to old glory.
All of the audience enjoyed a song
period. Miss Cora Williams leading
the singing and Mrs. Etta Gorder at
the piano. The "sing" opened with
America" and included all of the
civil war songs and the melodies of
the long ago that delighted all.
A very pleasing musical and dra
matic reading program had been pre
pared for the afternoon, inciuding
a reading and piano selection by Miss
Janet Westover, a charming; vocal
solo by Mrs. Gilbert Hirz and to
which she responded with a very ar
tistic encore. Mrs. Lois Troop and
Mis Gertrude Valiery also were
heard in dramatic readings that were
very much enjoyed by all of the
party.
At the conclusion of the afternoon
a dainty and much appreciated
luncheon was served that brought
the pleasant occasion to a close.
TO HAVE INTERESTING SPEAKER
The Plattsmouth Woman's club
will have as the speaker at their
banquet on Monday evening, one of
the ablest members of the Omaha
bar, Harry O. Palmer, who was se
lected as one of the candidates for
chief Justice at the recent primary.
Mr. Palmer is a Cass county man.
hi.- lamily having been residents of
this city and Louisville for a great
U'.-iny years and where Mr. Palmer
was born and reared.
His subject will cover many ex
periences in his service in China and
Siberia during the world war days.
He served as ?egal advisor of Gen
eral William Graves of the Si
berian forces of the U. S. as well as
adviser to the American command
in China.
A c!ewr and entertaining speak
er ar. well as a gentleman vitn a
most pleasing personality, Mr. Pal
mer will make a speaker who will
be thoroughly enjoyed by all who
attend the banquet.
TAKEN TO HOSPITAL
Dr. J. H. Hall, veteran physician
of this city, was taken to Omaha
Tuesday morning where he was ex
amined by specialists at that place
and will remain at the University
hospital for observation and treat
ment for some time. Dr. Hall has
not been so well in the last few
weeks and his condition had become
such that It was decided examination J
by a specialist would be necessary.
He was accompanied to Omaha by'
ur. i . Livingston, long time iriena
and medical associate. The many
friends over Cass county are trust
ing that his illness may not be such
as to require a long stay at the hos
pital.
Place TOUT orders HOW for special
Mother's day boxes of candies. The
Woodward, Johnston and Bnnte
ines. The Bates Book and Gift,
Shop.
Louisville Home
Damaged by Fire
Saturday Night
' Swep;. Home of y, H. Breeden
Pamilv Saturday Niriit Fire
of Incendiary Origin.
Saturday night at 10: CO the rcpi
dence of V. H. Breeden and family
in the southwest portion of Louis-
iville. one of the finest residences in
that city wt.s discovered to be on lire
and while the fire was checked the
loss to the residence and household
furnishings will be heavy.
Mr. and Mrs. Breeden with their
( daughter, Miss Gena. Mi.ss Eleanor
Worthman and Miss Agnes Heaton,
a teacher in the Louisville schools,
had motored to PlattF.mouth shortly
after C o'clock. Miss Breeden and
Miss Worthman had Mopped here for
a visit with Misn Helen Sihulz, while
Mr. and Mrs. Breeden and Miss Heat-
on had driven on to Omaha to attend
the theatre.
Shortly after 10 o'clock Mr. and
Mrs. Arnold Schlitfert and Mr. and
Mrs. Louis Kupke. residents of near
Louisville had started home and
when passing the Breeden home they
noticed light flickering in the house
and stopping to investigate further
discovered flames in the interior of
the house. The alarm was at once
given by Mr. Kupke and Mr. Schlie
fert, the fire department responding
to the call and with water and chem
icals were tble to put out the fire,
but the houise was in very bad shape
from the gas and smoke.
The firemen found the garage
doors in the basement had been
blown open by gas and at the foot
of the stairway leading to the house
bundles of towels soaked in kero
Betfe were found, the blaze in these
having been smothered by the dense
smoke. Bundles of rags soaked in
oil were found In several places over
the house and the rugs also were
found to be soaked in kerosene.
The house had been left securely
locked and was in that shape when
the fire department reached the
scene, except the basement where
the double doors of the garage were
found blown open.
Mr. and Mrs. Breeden and their
guest. Miss Heaton, reached home
shortly after 1 o'clock and were
shocked to f.nd their beautiful home
almost ruined by the effects of the
smoke and water aB well as a part
of the furniture burned.
State Fire Warden Butcher of
Lincoln, was called to the scene Sun
day and looked over the situation.
finding that without doubt the fire
was caused by an Incendiary.
The family had no enemies as far
as could be ascertained, and reason
for setting the fire is a mystery. The
case is being investigated by the
state fire warden and It is hoped
that the culprit may be revealed
later.
HOLD MIDNIGHT WEDDING
Rev. C. O. Troy, the genial rastor
of the First Methodist church was
aroused from his slumbers Satur
day night at the midnight hour and
requested to officiate at a wedding
ceremony. The pastor, who is very
accommodating, arose and proceeded
to join the lives and hearts cf Wal
ter Szelick and Miss lone Currin.
both of Omaha. Following the wed
ding the bridal party returned to
their home at Omahi
WINS FROM OMAHA
From Wednesday's I"ally
The volley ball team of the Busi
ness Men's Gym class of this city
entertained one of the Y. M. C. A.
teams of Omaha here last evening
on the high school court. The locals
.proved to be the more skillful of the
two teams and scored four of the
seven games played. Some fast work
t tho npt
n he E.mes
JOBS FOR 609,256
New York. Officials of the unit
ed action campaign to obtain a mil
lion jobs for unemployed persons re-
ported the total reached at 609,256.
Thirty state contributed 15,154 dur-
ing the day.
Journal WanUAds get results!