Uebr. Stfl! Historical Society
VOL. NO. L
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, THUBSDAY, AUGUST 30, 1934.
NO. 59
Louisville Youth
is Killed in Auto
Accident Sunday
Percy Clay Jackman, Aged 14, Killed
When Car Crushes Him in
Wreck Near Cedar Creek.
From Monday's Dalij-
The dead body of Percy Clay Jack-
man, 14, was discovered Sunday
morning at 10:30. pinned beneath
his car on the roadw?.y southwest of
Cedar Creek. The discovery of the
fatal accident was discovered by Mr.
and Mrs. Albert Fulton of Omaha,
who were en route to the Hofacker
farm not far from the scene of the
accident.
The car was a 1930 Plymouth
coach, and from the tracks in the
road, the driver had evidently had
considerable trouble with the car be
fore it had turned over. The car had
started to run into a ditch and the
driver had been able to right the car
and get it back into the roadway and
where one of the front tires had
blown out and came off the rim, caus-j
ing the car to swing across the road
and turn over. It Is thought by of
ficers that the car had rolled over
once or twice, the unfortunate youth
being thrown out in the first revolu
tion of the car and was caught be
neath it the second time, the car
crushing his chest and causing
death.
Mr. Fulton as soon as he discovered
the tragedy drove to the nearest farm
and an alarm was sent out that
brought assistance, some twelve of
the young men of the community
responding and lifting the car from
the body of the youth.
Sheriff Homer Sylvester was noti
fied of the accident and visited the
scene but as the case was purely one
of accident as far as could be ascer-;
tained. no inquest was ordered. . j
The deceased young man Is a son
of Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Jackman,
prominent residents of Louisville and
to the family the accident came as
a terrible blow.
According to members of the fam
ily, the car had been in a previous
wreck and had been hard to drive
for some time.
The body was taken to Louisville
by Stander & Stander, morticians of
that placo and where the funeral
services will be held later.
Besides his parents, young Jack
man is survived by four brothers,
Marion and John cf Louisville, Oliver
of Lincoln and Raymond of Portland.
Ore., and two sisters, Alice of Louis
ville and Mrs. Evelyn Fronk of Ce
dar Creek.
INSTALL GUNS
Saturday a force of the members
of the American Legion completed
installing at the front of their build
ing cn Vine street, two anti-aircraft
machine guns, war trophies that
were recently received here by the
local Legion post.
The two guns are eight millimeter
anti-aircraft machine guns and were
in use on the western front by the
German army just prior to the arm
istice. The guns are a part of the
war material that was turned over
to the United States by the allied
commission as trophies to be return
ed to the United States and distri
buted over the country to veteran
and civic organizations.
The machine guns have attracted
a great deal of attention and es
pecially from the veterans who were
familiar with these weapons in the
days of the war.
The guns are placed in concrete
emplacements and will stand for a
long time as a war memorial.
TO WAR ON SPEEDERS
The city council of PacCIc Junc
tion have passed an ordinance per
taining to speed and reckless driv
ing. This question has been under
consideration for some time due to
the excessive speed of many motor
ists through the town. Many local
drivers utterly disregarding any
laws on parkingf. speed and stop
signs. Fred Mendenhall has been
hired as a speed cop to enforce the
ordinance. Each and everyone that
drives a motor vehicle should take
every precaution to drive carefully,
stop at all stop signs that the city
may continue to keep the record of
no casualties.
VISITED IN WEST
Mr. and Mrs. Roy Oterdorsky in
company with Twilla Fae Hendrix
and Miss Virginia Samek, have re
turned from an auto trip through the
west where they spent a short time
at Colorado Springs, Denver and
Estes Park. They visited at the sev
several points and enjoy a much de
eral points and enjoyed a much de
climate of the mountain country.
Local Banks
Receive New
Insurance Signs
Federal Deposit Insurance Corpor
ation Provides Designation for
Banks Carrying Insurance
From Tuesday's Dally
The Farmers State and Platts-
mouth State banks today received
from the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation at Washington the offi
cial signs wheih will hang at all re
ceiving windows as visible evidence
that the depositors of this institution
are insured.
The Plattsmouth and Farmers
State are two of more than 14,000
licensed banks in the country which
are receiving these signs. Insured
banks are able to offer protection
to their depositors up to $5,000.
Statistical studies have shown that
this maximum fully protects more
than 97 per cent of all the deposi
tors in insured banks. ;
A statement by the Federal De
posit Insurance Corporation follows:
"The purpose of the signs is to
let depositors know which banks are
insured. Heretofore, although 90
of the licensed banks are insured,
depositors have had no easy means
of Identifying them.
"If, by any unforseen circumstance,
an insured Jiank should suspend, the
Insurance Coi-pbratldrf" would begin
paying off the depositors just as soon
as a receiver was appointed for the
closed Institution. The depositors
would receive their money in a few
days instead of waiting months or
years as was the case in the former
method of liquidation. This is not
only a benefit to the depositors, but
it saves the community from a ter
rific economic and social blow. When
the depositors receive their insured
accounts they assign their claims to
the Insurance Corporation. There
after liquidation proceeds on a business-like
basis with the maximurr
chance of the corporation and other
creditors being paid in full."
CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY
From Tuesday's Dally
Mrs. Eelle Stoner
of : Glenwood
was honored last evening by a most
pleasant birthday party held at the
home of Mrs. H. P. Polly, 2301
Castler street, Omaha. The event
was arranged by Mis3 Laura Grass
man for her mother and participated
in by the mmebers of the family. The
occasion was featured by a most de
licious six o'clock dinner featured by
the traditional birthday cake, which
had been prepared by Mrs. Hillard
Grassman of this city. Those attend
ing the happy event were Mr. and
Mrs. Hillard Grassman and children,
Jacqueline, Robert and Donald, Mrs.
R. A. Bates of this city, Mr. and
Mrs. Paul Grassman and son, Billy,
Mrs. Polly and Miss Laura Grass
man of Omaha.
VISITS WITH PARENTS HERE
William Woolcott, Jr., who is a
student of the C. M. T. C. at Fort
Crook, was In the city Sunday to visit
at the home of his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. William Woolcott and had with
hmi as a guest, James Fotliz, of
Ogallala, also a member of the C. M.
T. C. The young men enjoyed very
much their work in the camp and
William has the distinction of being
a member of the championship volley
ball team of the camp.
RETURN FROM VACATION
Mr. and Mrs. Carl J. Schneider re
turned home Sunday from a short
vacation trip to Colorado, which has
taken them through many of the
most interesting spots in that state.
They spent a great deal of the time
in Estes Park where they found nice
pleasant weather for their stay.
Mayor Lushinsky
Urges Co-Operation
in Safety
. T ,. , ,
Mayor Joins a Nation Wide Move
to Cuitail Automobile Accidents
That Claim So Many.
Throughout the United Eiates lastj
vear 30. SCO nfrsons wrrp ltillf rl and .
more than 800,000 were injured in
automobile accidents. Such a casual-'
ty record is certainly staggering, but
present indications are that the
record this year will be even worse!
30.000 ueatlis and more than one)
million persons injured. I
To this end, more than a majority : Seventli Annual Convention of Evan
of the states of the country are co-j gdieal Leagne and Sunday
operating in September in a concert- School Woikers Meet,
ed program cf street and highway i
safety. The effort should merit the'
active support of all. As the mayor
of this citv. I am ent tn hnvo the
opportunity to enlist all proper muni-
cipal agencies in the September un -
- i
dertaking.
When it is recognized that the vast
majority of all automobile accidents
result from carelessness or reckless
ness, it must be admitted that a
great many automobile accidents,
with their serious consequences,
could be prevented if motorists simp
ly drove a little more slowly, if pedes
trians Were to take more time to
safeguard their own lives, and
adults were to keep constantly in
mind the fact that children are like
ly to run out into the streets and
must, therefore, be protected to the
greatest possible extent.
Everyone knows that careless acts
occur daily upon our streets. Every
one knows further that drivers and
pedestrians could put a stop to many
careless act3 if they smiply made up
their minds to do so. I hope, there
fore, that as a demonstration of the
fact that most automobile accidents
are unnecessary, the people of this
community will pledge themselves to
a more careful use of the streets and
highways.
Children will be returning tc
school in September and, therefore,
extra precaution on the part of mo
torists is necessary. It woud be
helpful if the schools were to devote
some time during the month to safety
instruction. Many civic organizations
during the month may find it pos
sible to give some time to a consid
eration of the automobile accident
problem. The support of the churches
would be invaluable, and I know that
the press can be counted upon to
continue its efforts to bring about a
safer use of our public thorough
fares. Every person and every or
ganization should be more than will
ing to co-operate in the country-wide ,
September program of street
and :
highway safety.
GEORGE LUSHINSKY,
Mayor.
A FAMILY REUNION
Sunday, August 12, a family re
union was held at the beautiful
country home of Mr. and Mrs. Perry
Nickles in honor of Mrs. Rosa Cog
dill who is the daughter of the late
Rebecca and William Frans. It was
the first time Mrs. Cogdill and fier
children had all been to gether in
26 years. The main feature was the
bountiful dinner of which Mrs. Cog
dill was hostess. The afternoon was
spent in visiting and pictures were
taken in the afternoon of Mrs. Cog
dill and nine children, the fourth
generation picture and another of
Mrs. Cogdill and grandchildren. Ev
eryone had a lovely and interesting
time.
Those present were Mr. and Mrs.
John Klaurens and daughter Doris,
of Menlo, Kansas; Mr. and Mrs. Al
bert Harn of Belle Fourche, South
Dakota; Mrs. Bessie Niday of San
Francisco, California; Mr. and Mrs.
Sam Cogdill and family of Coleridge,
Nebraska; Mr. and Mrs. Ray Fluery
and family , of Magnet, Nebraska;
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Craig and family
of Magnet, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs.
W. Bartlett and family of Sioux City,
Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Pat Campbell
and family, Plattsmouth; Mrs. Opal
Cislcio and son, Dwlght. Omaha; Mrs.
Rosa Cogdill and Mr. and Mrs. Perry
Nickles and family.
Most all of the girls stayed several
days after the reunion to visit with
relatives and friends.
RETURNS TO DUTY
From Monday's Dally
C. E. Ledgway. clerk of the dis
trict court, who has been confined to
his heme fcr several weeks r.s the
result of a heat attack end a severe
I fall, w:s beck at his desk today at
the court house. Mr. Ltdgwey still
feelg cf tho , bufc u
is hopcd tbat he wI 0on be abJe
tQ rigaIa hig health aRd ba restoJccJ
to his old time vigor.
angelica
Church -Meeting
Attracts Many
.1
From Tuesday's Dar.y
j The seventh annual convention of
the Evanselieal League and Sunday
school Workers of the Nebraska dis-
. trict. opened last evening at the St.
Paul's church in this city.
The meetings are bains hehl at the
church and the .opening cession last
evening was very ! largely at
tended, there being some sixiy of the
visitors registered as well fc a Luge
number of the local : chu:va j;'uple
that turned out to .welcome tt:eir
visitors. t
Rev. G. A. PLl, pastor of the
if local church and the fine j:rc.n; ! lo
cal workers had arranged a fi.ij v.l-
come for the visitors and eviy ie-
naration has made their stav here
pleasant and protfiable from the i e-'
ligious standpoint.
The theme cf the convention will
be "When 13 Our Christianity Vital,"
this being stressed by the various
speakers on the program.
The meeting was opened .Monday
evening with the address "When Is
Our Christianity Vitai," with -the
Rev. E.'2. Krampe, riymooth; Wis
consin, as the speaker,, it being a
stirring appeal to the convention
and which started the meetings well
on their way.
The morning session today was, oc
cupied by several of the able speak
ers, Rev. Ralph C. Abele, of St. Louis,
opening the session at 9 o'clock with
his message, "What Beliefs Are
Basic to Vital Christianity."
In the morning session Rev. A. J.
Helm of Omaha, was the speaker on
'What Are the Implications of a
Vital Church Membership," giving
his address at 10 o'clock to group
one.
Group No. 2 was addressed by Miss
Irmingard Sattler, Wichita, Kansas,
who spoke on "What Should Be the
Church School's Relation to Organ
ized Christianity."
The members of the visiting party
were entertained at luncheon at the
church by the local ladies organiz
ations. RETURN FROM CANADIAN TRIE
Mr. and Mrs. Claude Richardson
and daughter, Ruth and Mrs. T. A.
Kennedy and sons, Claude and Jim
mie, returned Sunday from a trip tc
Swift Current, Canada, where they
were for several days guests at the
home of Mr. and Mr?. R. E. Linquist
and family, Mrs. Linquist being ?
sister of the ladies.
The parties left thi3 crty early on
a Thursday morning for Canada aud
were at Swift Current shortly bfr-re
midnight on Friday. The party maats
the trip of 1,13S miles in thirty-one
hours and their Chevrolet set a fast
pace tor this long mileage.
The party had one misfortune on
the trip and this was when their
luggage caught fire, and was destroy
ed near Minot, South Dakota, Thj
fire was caused by the exhaust.
They found conditions some bet
ter in Canada and in parts of Min
nesota and northern Iowa than here
but many more places where the
drouth effects wore far greater.
VISIT HERE SUNDAY
Mr. and Mrs. Harry A. Williams
and daughters, Mrs. Karl Schneider
and Miss Anna Williams, with Mrs.
L. F. Langhorst and daughter. Miss
Ethel, were visitors in the city Sun
day. They were guests at the home
of Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Reeder, the
latter being a daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Williams. The party were din
ner guests here and returned in the
evening to Elmwood.
Ernest Milbern
Ends Life After
a Gun Battle
Earricadsd in Residence at Farm
West ot Murray, Milbern Defies
Arrest Until Gassed.
Ernest Milbern, 30, former war
veteran and until a few months ago
mail carrier at Murray, ended his
life Tuesday afternoon after a most
dramatic battle against arrest at his
farm heme.
Tho death of Milbern ended a
siege cf hi3 heme that had lasted
from shortly . before noon until after
2 o'clock when the drink crazed man
ended his own life by firing a bullet
into the right temple from his .32
revolver.
On Monday Mrs. Milbern had been
granted a decree of divorce from her
husband in the district court in this
city, the grounds being cruelty and
the case Judge Livingston had en-
j tcred an order that the wife was to
have the right to move the furniture
fieri the home to Lincoln and the
other property was to be sold at auc
tion and the proceeds divided.
To carry out the order of the court
tT p.Ilov the goods to be moved. Sher
iff Homer Sylvester and Deputy Sher
iff Thom Walling had driven to Mur
: ! Tuesday morning and were there
v-:.en Milbern arrived on the scene,
where Frank and Earl Mrasek of
Murray had arrived to load up the
household effects to truck them to
Lincoln. Milbern was informed by
the sheriff of the court order and not
to attempt to interfere with the load
ing of the goods or the removal of
the family. Milbern had requested
to see his wife who was in the house
assisting in the moving. Sheriff Syl
, vester going into the house to ascer
tain whether or not she would see
the-.tusbaad, and she declined to see
him. Milbern had then gone to his
car and left the scene. In the mean
time a rifle and a .45 revolver had
been taken from the car by the sher
iff and deputy.
Shortly before noon the officers
were at the barn preparing to re
lease some horses and other stock
out into a pasture to feed when they
heard a cry from the house, "There's
Earnie."
Milbern apparently had driven up
through a small grove and parked
his car, reaching the house unob
served until he came into the lower
hall where the two Mraseks and their
helpers were boxing up goods and
furniture for loading.
"Where is she?" was the demand
of Milbern as he entered, a .32
caliber revolver in his hands, "I'll
make her talk or else ..."
Mrs. Milbern and the daughter.',
Harriett, who were near the stair
way, dashed up the stairs, Ed Austin,
a mover's helper, ran out of the hall
door, while Joe Richter and Hollman
McKinney, two other helpers, who
were on the top floor, ran to a small
two story porch at the front of the
house, where they Jumped off. Mrs.
Milbern and her daughter also sought
refuge on the porch, but were afraid
to jump to the ground.
Milbern, still flourishing the gun,
ran up the stairs wher he found Earl
Mrasek in one of the rooms and press
ed the gun into his side and made
him do his bidding. He cursed the
truckman and announced that he
would not move anything from the
house. Milbern forced Mrasek into
one of the rooms and commanded
him to ile down and keep quiet.
The . officers had come from the
barn and Deputy Sheriff Walling en
tered the house and started up the
stairs when Milbern came Into the
hall, pointing the pistol at the
deputy and ordered him down stairs.
Walling, caught at a disadvantage
and unable to draw his gun, was
forced to retreat.
Milbern then returned to the room
where Mrasek tried to reason him
out of his warlike mood but with
out success. Sheriff Sylvester at this
time started to ascend the stairs and
Milbern ran into the hall and to
the landing where he pointed the
gun at the sheriff and commanded,
"If you come another step, I'll plug
you." Sheriff Sylvester replied, "No
you won't Earnie," continuing on up
the stairs. Milbern fired, the bullet
just grazing the hat of the sheriff
on H laavfnfr faint nnu; A mflrlro fnrP.
threat of death at the hands of the
enraged man.
The mover helpers had secured a
ladder and rescued Mrs. Milbern and
daughter from the porch during the
shooting in the house and they were
taken from the danger zone. A son.
Stuart, 12, was found by his father
hiding behind a mattress in one of
the upper rooms and he was sent
down stairs with a curse, Mrasek
also making his escape down the
stairs and to safety.
Sheriff Sylvester, recognizing the
'fclHy lf attempting to storm the
Btairs in face of the deadly fire of
Milbern, drove to Murray, taking
Mrs. Milbern and the children with
him, they stopping at a store until
the outcome of the battle at the home
was decided. The sheriff called the
office of State Sheriff Fred Benton
and a state deputy was sent at once
to the scene with gas bombs to dis
lodge the man from the house.
Deputy State Sheriff Lee Byrnes
arrived on the scene at 2 o'clock and
issued bullet proof vests to the offi
cers who npproached the house and
the bombardment of the gas bombs
was started as they were fired
through the windows of the house.
A crowd of 100 had gathered
around the front of the house and
in the roadway by the time the gas
bombardment was started, they pay
ing little regard to the danger from
the bullets that might fly.
The officers approaching the house
comnand-id Milbern to come out, but
no reply was given.
Deputy Byrnes finally broke In the
front door and found the hall filled
with the dense gas fumes that drove
him back. He then secured entrance
through a side door and fired a shot
into the house and again command
ed Milbern to come out. The reply
was two shots, fired apparently down
the stairway.
The officers had fired several times
in the windows of the upper part of
the house and finally one shot was
heard from the interior of the house.
" The state deputy. Sheriff Sylvester
and Deputy Walling decided after
the silence had continued in the
house that it would be necessary to
storm the house regardless of the
cost. They entered the house where
the gas was still quite strong, and
made their way up the stairs to find
on the floor of one of the bare rooms.
the dead body of Milbern.
Milbern had shot himself in the
right temple with the .32 caliber re
volver and had died almost instantly.
The news of the finding 'of the
body drew a large number to the
house to view the scene of the great
est tragedy that had visited that sec
tion for many years.
The body was later removed to the
Hobson funeral home at Weeping
Water at the request of the wife.
Ernest Milbern grew to manhood
In this city and in his youth and
younger years was a young man of
high standing in the community. He
entered the service of his country
in the world war and served in Co.
E, 134th infantry until discharged
in the early part of 1919. He was
married to Miss Marie Davis of Mur
ray, who with three children, Har
riett, 15, Stuart, 12 and Richard,
10, survive his passing. The mother,
Mrs. W. T. Milbern and one brother.
Ray, reside at Lincoln and a mar
ried sister at Norfolk.
MUSICAL TREAT PROMISED
The music lovers of this commun
ity are promised a real treat for next
Sunday afternoon in the visit here
of the state institute band of Glen
wood. This band has some of the best
musicians of southwestern Iowa in
Its ranks, several of wheih have as
sisted the Plattsmouth band at dif
ferent times in their concert work.
The Glenwood band will be heard
in concert at the grounds of the Ne
braska Masonic ome, coming here as
a special tribute to the aged resi
dents of the home. The concert will
probably be held at 3 o'clock and all
music lovers are invited to be pres
ent and enjoy the event. ,
DUCK SEASON SATISFACTORY
Gordon, Neb. Duck hunters in
this region are well pleased with the
setting of the season for Oct. IS to
Nov. 14. Native ducks are fewer
than usual in the sandhills and many
smaller lakes have dried up, but
sportsmen say there will be fair
6hooting.
Nice Reduction
in Taxes Here for
Coming Year
State Cut 29 Cents, County Raised 9c,
City Cut 60 Cents, Schools Cut
$3.20 and Bonds 20 Cents
$4.20 REDUCTION ON THOUSAND
Comparative Table of Assessments Re
veals 1934 to Have Lowest Real
Estate Tax Since 192C.
Residents of Plattsmouth will pay
$4.20 less taxes per $1,000 assessed
valuation than last year, according to
the completed levy that covers state
and county, county road, city, public
schools and high school bonds.
This cut is made in the face of a
reduction of $63,745 in total valua
tion in the city or $61,250 reduction
in the school district, that includes
territory beyond the city limits.
This reduction in total assed val
uation is accountable to the follow
ing items: Railway assessment cut
approximately $10,000 by state tax
board; personal property valuation
$20,000 under last year; individual
real estate cuts, on run down houses
and properties owned by county and
city taken off the tax list, $30,000.
The total city valuation for 1933
was $1,94G,563; for 1934, $1,882, S18.
The school district valuation for 1933
was $2,107,986, and for 1934, $2,
046,736. Where the Cuts are Made
The state levy is cut from $2.39 to
$2.10 on the $1,000 assessed valua
tion, while the county levy (exclu
sive of county road) is increased from
$2.81 to $2.90 per $1,000 assessed
valuation. The county road tax on
this valuation Is continued at $1.00,
the same figure it has been held at
for the last decade, with the excep
tion of one year, when it dropped to
90 cents.
The city tax on $1,000 valuation
has been cut from $24.40 to $23.80.
Two years ego, the city levy was an
even $25.00 on the $1,000 valuation.
The school levy has been cut from
$19.00 per thousand valuation last
year, to $15.80. Two years ago the
school levy was $17.00 per thousand.
High school bonds which required
a levy of $2.20 per $1,000 valuation
last year, are back down to $2.00 for
this year, about the level they have
been maintained at for the past few
years, since gross valuation dropped.
The school bond fund will run out In
a few more years, when money will
have been collected sufficient to pay
off the bonds issued for erection of
the high school building.
The total of this year's levy per
thousand valuation will be $47.60, or
$4.20 under last year's $51.80. Two
years ago the total was $49.50.
Comparative Figim
In all of the last three yean real
estate has been assessed 15 per cent
under the former level of values that
had been adhered to for a good num
ber of years. The comparative assess
ment figures, computed on the old
valuation, from 1921 to date, are as
follows:
1921 $41. CO
1922 41.20
1923 39.30
1924 -JO. SO
1925 4100
1926 3S.30
1927 42.63
1928 44.30
1929 44.90
1930 43.00
1931 42.40
1932 42.07
1933 44.03
1934 40. 4G
Thus it will be seen that this year's
levy on real estate,, with its drop in
valuation effective in 1932. is com
paratively the lowest levy in the past
eight years and with the exception of
1923 and 1926, the lowest in the four
teen years listed.
ENJOYING; VACATION
Miss Anna Zitka, stenographer in
the office of County Attorney W. G.
Kieck, is now enjoying a short vaca
tion from the duties of the office and
will spend the time resting at home
and visiting with friends at Omaha.
During her absence the stenographic
work is being looked after by Miss
Lillian Sedlak, cousin of Miss Zitka.
Phone tho news to No. 6.
