Nebraska Newspapers

    Nebr. State Historical Society
VOL. NO. II
PLATTS1XOUTH, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 1935.
210. 16
Bellevue
Fishermen
Stage Duel
Quarrel Among Former Fishing As
sociates Leads to Two Hen Be
ing Wounded as Result.
Two Missouri river fishermen Sun
day afternoon were wounded in a
shotgun duel resulting from an argu
ment over ownership of a boat.
The two men, who exchanged shots
on the river bank 2 miles south of
Ucllcvue, are Karl Sporven, a tent
dweller on the river bank, and Sebas
tiano Amenta, 1605 Elm St., Omaha,
a former partner.
The two men were questioned by
Omaha and Sarpy county authorities
at Central police headquarters at
Omaha, later being released. County
Attorney Ralph J. Nlckerson of
Spary county said the case would
cone under Jurisdiction of Glenwood
(In.) authorities.
5 Pellets in Body.
Sporven. with five shotgun pellets
in his body, one of which may have
fractured a neckbone, was given first
aid by army doctors at Fort Crook.
He was later taken to South Side po
lice headquarters where further med
ical attention was given.
Amenta's chin was grazed by one
pellet and another entered his right
leg.
After both men emptied their shot
guns. Amenta fled from the scene,
but later walked into Central police
headquarters.
Quarreled Over Boat.
Sporven and Amenta explained
they disagreed about the boat after
an attempt to reunite their partner
ship had failed.
Frank Sykora. 23d and Y. St.fi,
and his brother Cary 2226 Z St.. Om
aha, who witnessed the shooting, took
Sporven to the South Bid station.
They live in a tent near the shooting
scene.
CALLED ON SAD MISSION
From Monday's Dally
Attorney A. L. Tldd departed this
soon for Wakefield, Ohio, in reeponse
to a message announcing the death
of his elder brother, Grant Tldd, 74,
at Rochester. New York, on Friday
evening, the funeral to be held at the
old home at Wakefield.
Mr. Tidd was vice-president of the
Buffalo, Rochester c Pittsburgh rail
road in whose service he had been en
gaged over a period of forty years
and had occupied many positions un
til several years ago when he was
advanced to one of the chief execu
tive offices.
The deceased was never married
and is survived by three brothers
and one sister. John Tidd of Wake
field, Ohio; Mrs. Jennie House, of
Beaver, Ohio; A. L. Tidd of this city
and George W. Tidd of Salem,
Georgia.
Mr. Tldd expects to remain in
Ohio until April 6th for a short visit
with the relatives and old time
friends in that community.
OBSERVES ANNIVERSARY
Saturday marked the first anniver
sary of Judge D. W. Livingston, the
presiding Judge of the second judi
cial district, he having been appoint
ed to that office by Governor Charles
W. Bryan on March 23, 1934.
Judge Livingston was in the city
and spent the afternoon holding court
here, a number of men pleading
guilty to forgery being brought be
fore him for sentence for their of
fenses. In his first year In office Judge
Livingston has had a large number
of Important cases to pass upon and
his long practice has given him a
aplendid legal knowledge that is re
flected in his fine work on the bench
of his district of Cass, Otoe and Sarpy
counties.
HERE FROM LINCOLN
Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Curtis of Lin
coln, and Mrs. Earl Kirkpatrick and
son, John of Los AngeleB, California,
were here Sunday as guests at the
home of Mr. and Mrs. Milford Bates
and ramiiy. Mrs. Kirkpatrick is a
niece of Mrs. Cassie Smith, mother of
Mr. Bates and the visit was one that
was much enjoyed by all of the mem
bers of the party. The Kirkpatricks
are guests of the Curtis family, rela
tives of Mrs. Kirkpatrick.
VISIT WITH FRIENDS HERE
Sunday Mrs. W. P. Matthews, 3323
Cass street, Omaha, a former resi
dent of this city, was here to spend
a few hours with Mrs. R. A. Bates.
She was accompanied uy Mr. and
Mrs. Louis J. Pruch, friend3 and
neighbors. Mrs. Matthews is the
widow of the late William P. Mat
thews, who was for a number of
years engaged as linotype operator at
the Journal and who passed away
last summer at Omaha.
Returns to
Old Homestead
to F
arm
W. H. Meisinger to Farm This Year
on Place His Father, Henry J.
Meisinger First Settled.
More than half a century ago Mr.
and Mrs. Henry J. Meisinger, splen
did citizens who had come here from
Pekin, Illinois, settled on a farm in
the vicinity of Cedar Creek and
where they lived for the years of
their lifetime and numbered among
the finest citizens of the community.
On the death of the parents the
farm has come to the son, Allie Mei
singer, who made his home there un
til moving to this city to conduct an
oil business, since that time the farm
has been operated by William H.
Wiles. This spring, however, Mr.
Wiles decided to move to a farm near
Weeping Water, owned by S. Ray
Smith and where he is now settled.
The Meisinger home place this
year is to be occupied by another son
of the family, William H. Meisinger,
who is now moving to the farm
where he was born on March 4, 18 87.
The move is one that brings back to
the old place one whose earlier days
carries tender memories of the old
home where he .was reared and the,
love and care that the parents be-p
stowed on him in the years that he
remained there until he took his
place in the world and established his
own home.
ANNOUNCE MARRIAGE
From Tuesday's Iny
The announcement was made to
day by the happy young people of
the marriage of Miss Mary Persinger
and Mr. Charles Nelson of this city.
The marriage was very quietly per
formed at the home of County Judge
A. H. Duxbury on Friday evening.
March 22nd, being kept a secret by
the bridal couple until today when
the formal announcement was made.
The marriage lines that joined the
lives and hearts of the young people
were read by Judge Duxbury and
witnessed by Miss Helen Persinger,
sister of the bride and Mrs. Duxbury.
The bride has grown to woman
hood in this city and is a daughter
of Mrs. Stella Persinger, receiving
her education in the schools of the
city. The bride has, since complet
ing her school work, been engaged as
secretary of Robert M. Walling of
the Thomas Walling Abstract Co.,
being a most efficient worker. She
has been very active in the work of
the local Methodist church and a
leader In the Queen Esther society.
A lady of pleasant personality, she
has a large circle of friends who will
Join In their best wishes to the
happy bride and groom.
The groom 13 the eldest son of Mr.
and Mrs. Herbert Nelson of this city
and has spent the greater part of his
lifetime here, receiving his educa
tion In the local schools. He is a
young man of splendid character and
held in high esteem by all who have
the pleasure of knowing him. He has
been active in the athletic circles of
the city and is at the present time
an employe of the Norfolk Packing
company at their local plant.
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson will make
their home at the Coronado apart
ments where they will be at home to
their friends in the future.
The many friends will join In their
best wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Nelson
for many years of happiness and
success In the future.
RELEASED ON BOND
District Judge D. W. Livingston
Monday afternoon issued an order re
leasing Frank Harmer, who has been
held here on charge of violating his
parole from a former conviction. The
court set the bond in the sum of
1800.
Returns from
Pleasant Trip
to Southland
Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Walling Have
Splendid Outing in the Beauties
of the Southern States.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Walling
of this city and Adrian June, of
Sheridan, Wyoming, returned home
early Sunday morning from a motor
trip through the south and which
afforded them the opportunity of see
ing a great many cf the states of the
deep south.
Mrs. Walling has been at Auburn,
Alabama, tor the past several weeks, j
the guest of Dr. and Mrs. R. L. Johns,
the latter formerly Miss Gladys
ton, a school friend of Mrs. Wallinj
and Mr. Walling joined the party at
Auburn fcr the trip through the
south.
In going south Mr. Walling and
Mr. June took the attractive route
through the Ozark mountains of Mis
souri and Arkansas, beautiful green
clad mountains, picturesque streani3
and the pleasant smiling valleys of
that section of the country. They
crossed the Mississippi at Memphis
and on the trip through Arkansas
and Tennessee, found evidences of
the high water that had swept over
that part of the south...
The party also visited at several in
teresting cities on their way to the
coast and at Auburn had the pleas
ure of witnessing workouts of the
football team in the spring training
and also drove to the University of
Alabama where the "crimson tide"
was being whipped through the pre
season practice.
On their journey the members of
the party visited many of the historic
spots, one of the most Interesting be
ing that of the old French quarter
at New Orleans, the state capitol at
Montgomery, Alabama, the first cap
itol of the Southern Confederacy, the
interesting old city of Mobile as well
as Pensacola, one of the chief ports
of the gulf coast.
The trip took the party through
the states of Iowa, Missouri, Arkan
sas, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia,
Florida, Louisiana, Kentucky and
Illinois.
While in Georgia they visited at
Warm Springs, the home of the foun
dation for infantile paralysis, estab
lished by President Roosevelt and
found it a wonderful place and many
additions made possible by the dona
tions of the people of the nation.
Perfect weather conditions pre
vailed, no dust storms in that local
ity and in the 3,300 miles Mr. Wall
ing states the only unpaved road was
the eight miles of gravel from this
city to Glenwood.
COURT HAS BUSY DAY
Saturday D. W. Livingston of the
district court was busy in hearing
a number of cases cf forgery which
was presented for his consideration
and the defendants in the case
brought forward to plead.
Ivan Plymal was present and made
a plea of guilty and was sentenced
to four years on the first count and
four years on the second count of
the complaint, the sentences to run
concurrently.
Murl Scott was arraigned and
pleaded not guilty to the charge and
bond was fixed at $2,500.
Clarence E. Hauck was arraign
ed and plead guilty to count one and
not guilty to count two of the infor
mation. Sentence was deferred In
the case.
I0WAN FOUND DEAD
Glenwood was the scene of much
excitement Monday afternoon when
the dead body of Charles W. Stoe, C7,
plumber, was found hung by a
neighbor, Silas Morford. The man
had evidently committed suicide and
the body was found in the basement
of the home. He has been in the
plumbing business at Glenwood for
the past thirty-seven years. He is
survived by the wfie who has been
blind over a period of years.
Mrs. Ray Perkins, or Omaha, for
merly Miss Elsie Nelson of this city,
is here to spend a short time visiting
as a guest of Miss Ruth Patton and
a number of the old time friends.
RETURNS FROM CHICAGO
Fred Lugsch, well known tailor
and dry cleaner, returned Monday
even ins from Chicago where he was
called to look after some. business af
fairs for a short time. He also stop
ped for a short visit with Mr. and
Mrs. G. R. Holcomb, former Platts
mouth residents, at, Kankakee, Ill
inois, where Mr. Holcomb is in
charge cf a large water plant. He
reports the Holcomb family as do
ing nicely and having the greatest
of success in their new home.
City Teachers
Re-Elected for
Coming Year
y
Lis-;poar(j Approves Present Members of
Faculty Veteran Fred Roth-
ert to Eead Athletics.
The board cf education at their
last meeting re-elected all of the
members of the present teaching force
cf the city schools, which will com
prise the following: )
Superinendent Lowell S. Devoe.
Principal of high school R. Fes
ter Patterson. ;
High school Wayne Alvord.
Estelie Baird Language and Eng
lish. Florence Beighley Mathematics.
Pcarle Staats Norn.al Training
and English.
Hoyt T. Griffin Music Supervisor. !
J. R. Reeder Science.
Fred A. Rothert Junior and Sen
ior High. Athletics. Physical Edu
cation, Civics, Spelling and Arith
metic. L. L. Starrett Commercial.
Felma Diehm Central building,
grade 3.
Dorothy Downey Columbian,
grade 1.
Helen Farley Central, grade 2.
Lillian Garrett Junior and Sen
ior High. Music, History, Art.
Amana Hiatt Cetera), grade C.
Marie Hornung Junior and Senior
High, Home Economics, Physics, His
tory. Margaret - Iverson Columbian,
grades 2 and 3.
Alice James Columbian, grades
2 and 3.
Yvonne King First Ward, grades
1, 2 and 3.
Evelyn Lee Central, grade 5.
Amelia Martens Central, princi
pal, and grade 1.
Evelyn May Central, grade 4.
Agnes Muenster Central, grade 6.
Marie Nolting Mercerville, grade
C and Kdgt.
Helene Perry -Junior and Senior
High, English and Reading.
Rose Prohaska Central, grade 5.
Ruth Tidball Central and Colum
bian Bldgs. Kdgt.
Miriam Tritsch Wintersteen,
principal and grades 3 and 4.
Clara Weyrich Junior and Senior
High. Mathematics and Commercial.
Jesse Whelan Junior and Senior
High. History and Geography.
Berneice Wieland Wintersteen,
grades Kdgt., 1 and 2.
CIRCLE I ENTERTAINS
From "Wednesday's rranr
Circle I of the. Presbyterian Fed
eration held a very nice social meet
ing at the home cf Mrs. Roy Knorr,
yesterday afternoon. It was the last
gathering of this circle, in this
church year. The personnel of all
the circles will change in April.
Various games and contests fur
nished entertainment for the guests.
Much Interest centered around the
opening of the "saving banks." The
amount of money they brought in
was both surprising and gratifying
to all. The circle comes to the end
of the year, with the satisfaction of
having surpassed their apportion
ment. The hostesses for the afternoon
were those members whose birthdays
fall either In the months of February
or March, they being Mrs. Roy
Knorr, Mrs. J. W. Holmes, Mrs. H. G.
McClusky, Mrs. Geo. Hetrlck, Mrs.
Oscar Gapen and Mrs. L. G. Larson.
Delicious refreshments brought the
final pleasure of the afternoon.
VISITS IN CITY
From Monday- DaJly
W. A. Schutz, one of the residents
of near Fort Crook, was in the city
today for a few hours to visit friends
and look after some business matters.
Mr. Schutz is a well known farmer
of that section of Sarpy county and
was for a number of years engaged
in farming in the west part of Cass
county. While here Mr. Schutz call
ed at the Journal office and renewed
his subscription to the semi-weekly
edition of the paper.
Past Masters
Banquet Held
by the Masons
Plattsinouth Lodee No. C, Honors
Leonard A. Rom. 38th Past
Master Last Evening.
Prom Tuesday's Dally
In the local Masonic circles Past
Masters night is an annual occasion
that is looked forward to with in
terest and pleasure, which was fully
realized last night at the banquet
held at the Masonic building.
The committee In charge of the
banquet had arranged a very clever
program for the occasion, the ban
quet being titled "A Code Party,"
from which the menu and various
features were enlarged upon.
The banquet was honoring Leonard
A. Corn, thirty-eighth past master of
Plattsmcuth lodge, who is now re
tiring from service after a year of
splendid success with the lodge and
several years of service in the var
ious offices that he has filled.
The menu was one that baffled the
members of the party until a delic
ious repast served by the committee
Lad beta offered and which placed
a'.l in the most pleasant of spirits for
th fine tlmo arranged. The menu
vk-rts as follows:
G H - - E P
P-dt - - Am S
M G - - B S
G II - Sr
HDB--A1P
PIE - ' C W or D F
XXXX - El Ropo
The banquet was presided over by;
Harrison L. Gayer, one of the active
leaders of the various branches of
Masonry, who very cleverly present
ed the- various talks and stunts that
were a part of the entertainment.
Canon; W. J. H. Petter, rector of
the St. . Luke's Episcopal church,
gave the invocation of the evening.
II F L R, proved to be two very
delightful numbers by the Masonic
quartet of Frank A. Cloldt, R. W.
Knorr, H. G. McClusky and Raymond
C. Cook, whose sweet melodies were
assisted by the accompaniment of
E. H. Wescott.
N R A on the program disclosed
Superintendent L. S. Devoe in his
clever act that has so often enter
tained the members.
""Mr. "Devoe as wellasGeorge Het
rick were presented with a suitable
award for their services, being a very
fitting decoration as were A. H. Dux
bury and Henry Nolting.
P W A was responded to most fit
tingly by H. F. Nolting, past master
and one of the active leaders in the
Masonry of Plattsmouth.
W. F. Evers, past master and
superintendent of the Nebraska Ma
sonic Home, was called upon to re-!
spond to the toast, HCOL
Don C. York, one of the well known
vocalists of the city was heard in a
very delightful bass solo to add to
the charm of the evening program,
Mr. Wescott being the accompanist.
W. A. Robertson, grand junior
warden of the grand lodge of the
A. F. & A. M. made the presentation
to R. Foster Patterson of material
for future speeches, being composed
of two attractively arranged copies
of bills now pending in the legisla
ture. Luke L. Wiles, past master of the
lodge, presented to the retiring mas
ter, Leonard A. Born, a past master's
jewel as an appreciation of his faith
ful and splendid service to the lodge
In the past.
Judge A. H. Duxbury was called
upon for the toast P S L and cleverly
responded to the toast.
There were a number of members
of the Sojourners club of Omaha pres
ent, these being army and navy of
ficers who were temporarily in that
city. Lieutenant Commander Hunt,
U. S. N., president of the Sojourners
and Col. Hall, U. S. A., gave a very
pleasing sketch as their contribu
tion to the program of the evening.
Major Sweeney, commander of thei
R. O. T. C. of Crelghton university.
was among the visiting guests and
made a short talk on the work of
the order.
C. A. Rawls, one of the loved fig
ures in local Masonry, gave the toast!
T C M in his impressive manner that
held the closest attention of the
members.
Frank A. Cloldt, treasurer of the:
lodge and one of the best known vo-j
calists of the city gave one of his al-j
ways enjoyed vocal numbers.
Past Grand Prelate Luther M.
Kuhns of the Knlght3 Templar, John
T. Dysart, Omaha grand commander,
C. O. Dawson, Blair, grand general
issimo of the order and Lute M. Sav
age, were present and gave short re
sponses. The benediction was offered by Dr.
II. G. McClusky, pastor of the First
Presbyterian church of this city.
There were guests present from
Omaha, Nebraska City, Nehawka,
Dunbar, Union, Weeping Water and
Shenandoah, Iowa, to enjoy the banquet.
Mynard Play
Scores Success
Opening Night
"Mirage," Written and Directed by
Ray Cook, Presented by a
Talented Cast.
From Wednesday's Dally
Last evening the Mynard commun
ity building was filled with an en
thusiastic audience to witness the
first performance of the home talent
western musical comedy, "Mirage."
This play was written and directed
by Reymond C. Cook, well known
and popular musician, who from his
initial work should have many other
attractive offerings to present to the
amusement lovers of the community.
Th play was cast in the Texas
range country and very appropriately
staged and arranged and in the
hand of the capable cast proved a
never failing source of fun and
charming musical numbers.
The main characters of the play
were carried by Katherine Wiles,
Richard Spangler, Lucille Wiles,
Mary Beverage, Lawrence Leonard,
Jean Spangler, Margaret Hlrz, Ray
Bourne, Homer Spangler,' Towner
Livingston, Edward -Wehrleln, Ches
ter Wiles, Richard Livingston and
Arthur Hild, all of whom gave fine
renditions of the various characters.
The "Happy Go Lucky Rangers,"
Charles Howard, Noble Kiser, Ed
ward Howard, Robert S. Dreamer and
Jack Vallery contributed much to the
pleasure and delight of the audience.
The musical numbers were selected
from the best of the present day se
lections and the fine voices of the
talented young people found full ex
pression in their rendition.
The Mynard orchestra, under the
direction of Mrs. R. O. Cole, pianist,
was one of the chief factors in the
success of the musical comedy with
their splendid accompaniment. The
personnel of the orchestra was In ad
dition to Mrs. Cole, S. W. Cole, trom
bone; Willis Cole, violin; Ogla Wiles,
flute; Robert Wolfe, clarinet; Jen
nie Cole, cello; R. O. Cole, cornet;
Richard Cole, trumpet; R. S. Dream
er, banjo.
The Morris Brothers, Olin and
Bernard, were heard in several banjo
specialties that aided in the enjoy
ment of the audience.
SECURE CONTRACT
The firm of C. A. Eager and Sons
of Louisville, were awarded the con
tract Monday for the regravellng of
highway No. 50 from the Louisville
bridge south to the town of Otoe.
This will amount to some 1,450 yards
of gravel and will put the highway
in fine shape for travel for the en
suing summer. Mr. Eager has as
associates in his business his sons,
Glen and Herbert, well known to the
residents of this city. It is very
pleasing to know that this Cass
county firm will have this piece of
the state highway work to look after.
VISITORS IN CITY
From Wednesday's Dally
Joe Rudolph, village clerk of
Eagle, waa in the city today and
while here was looking after the mat
ter of the enlistment of some of the
young men from his community in
the CCC forces that will shortly be
recruited.
F. J. Knecht, the merchant of (.
South Bend, waa in the city today j
to visit with friends and looking,
after some business matters of im-(
portance.
Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Schneider spent
Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs.
Eugene Burdic at David City, and en
Joyed a visit with their granddaugh
ter, Mary Catherine Burdic.
Ernest Verheul
is f Jentifed as a
Bank Robber
Former Plattsinouth Han Named as
One of Trio in Hutchison, South
Dakota Bank Robbery.
Ernest Verheul, 31, alias Ernest
Van Camp, former Plattsmouth resi
dent, is now being held at Council
Bluffs, Iowa, where he was identified
Tuesday as one of the trio that held
up the First National bank at Hutch
ison, South Dakota.
Believing Verheul to be an asso
ciate of Tom Limerick and Morris
Denning in the Kinney, Neb., ghost
gang, officers under direction of
State Azent Paul G rubor of Iowa
have kept him under surveillance for
the past eight weeks. Despairing of
locating other members of the gang
through him. Council Eluft's Detec
tives Walter Brown and James Durlck
arrested him Saturday night as he
was walking along the North West
ern tracks near Twelfth street and
Fifth avenue.
Complaint Prepared.
He has been held in jail secretly
fince.
Identification of Verheul ts one
of the South Dakota bandits was
made by Jess E. Boyd, assistant cash
ier of the robbed bank, who ex
changed shots with the desperados.
A federal complaint is being pre
pared against Verheul in Sioux
Falls, S. D.. today.
Representatives of a Smith Cen
ter, Kans., bank which was robbed
recently are expected to arrive in
Council Eluff3 this afternoon to
view the prisoner.
Verheul has been living at 1C14
Seventh avenue In the Blufis. He
told police his wife was Helen Lim
erick, sister of Tom Limerick. Po
lice first became suspicious of tbe
pair when they" were 'found pricing""
card in a Broadway garage.
Verheul was arrested here some
four years ago charged with break
ing and entering the Earl Lancaster
store at Murray, his companion be
ing captured in the store while Ver
heul made his escape and was for
several days under cover at the fam
ily home in this city until state
ments by his companion gave a clue
to his Identity and he was later ar
rested by Sheriff Bert Reed. He
pleaded guilty here and was sen
tenced to seven years In the state
penitentiary and was released last
October from the prison. At the time
of his conviction here It was claimed
that he had served two previous sen
tences in other prisons.
He had applied for FERA aid a
week ago, Council Bluffs officers
state.
BARN IS DESTROYED
The large barn on the C. H. Boe
deker farm, five miles west of Mur
ray, was destroyed by fire ou Mon
day night, the structure being burn
ed to the ground and cntuillng a
heavy loss to Victor Wehrbein, who
has been operating the farm for the
past several years. Mr. Wehrbein
fortunately had decided to let the
horses and one mule that had been
sheltered in the barn in the cold
weather, run out In the Larnyard
and this fact was all that saved the
animals from being caught in the
fire that destroyed the hay and equip
ment in the barn.
When the fire was first discovered
it had gained such headway that it
was impossible to check Its spread
and soon the structure waa in ruins.
TO LOCATE IN CITY
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lapidus, who
have been making their home in
Omaha over a long period of years,
are to become residents of Platts
mouth in the very near future. Mr.
Lapidus some months ago purchased
the Hotel Plattsmouth and has been
in active control of the plant since
that time. Mr. and Mrs. Lapidus
have secured the Charles C. Parmele
residence on North Cth Btreet, one
of the most attractive in the city and
where they expect to resido as noon
as possible to move from their Omaha
home.
Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Knorr and
children, were at Ashland Sunday
where they enjoyed the day at th-3
home of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Tanzer
and family.