tletr. State Historic! Society j
ST B 1 I v ri
VOL. NO. IH
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, MONDAY, MARCH 23, 1936.
NO. 13
Card Racket
Reveals Older
Crime in Omaha
Sheriff Sylvester in Investigating Dis
covers Second of Weiss Brothers
Was Backet Victim.
RhPriff TTompr Svivosrpr who h
been investigating the various angles
of the "con" card racket that Arthur
Weiss was victim of in Omaha, has
uncvoered the fact that Ernest Weiss,
a brother, also was the victim of
apparently the same gang.
The robbery of Ernest Weiss oc
curred two years ago and in the time
he has maintained a deep silence un
til the card game in which his bro
ther was fleeced.
It seems that Ernest Weiss in Om
aha made the acquaintance of a man
who promisd to see that he had a
job and made an appointment to meet
Wels3 later along north 16th street.
Weiss kept the appointment but
looked in vain for the friend with
the Job. As he stood on the street
corner, two strangers came by and
inquired if he was looking for some
one. he told them he was and accord
ingly they claimed to know of the
hangout of the friend.
The trio adjourned to a nearby
apartment house and where the sug
gestion was made that they Join in a
game of poker and which Weiss re
fused. Later they suggested that
Weiss buy a few drinks and which
In the meantime
he declined to do
the friend with the job failed to ap
pear on the scene and Weiss started
to leave, saying that he would seek
the friend later. The two companions
of Weiss as he started to leave the
room, pulled a gun and commanded
him to produce what money he had
on him and any other valuables. The
men secured $70 in cash and also a
ring that Weiss was wearing. They
then informed Weiss that he was
coming to Plattsmouth and secure
more money, ordering him. to make
four checks for 525 each, which they
forced him to cash at different local
business houses and they took the
money.
The men then left Weiss here and
with the warning that he was to keep
still or that they would see that he
made no more complaints.
Sheriff Sylvester had Weiss at Om
aha to look over the pictures of con
and holdup men In the police bureau
and he at once identified the man
Davis, held in the Arthur Weiss card
game racket, as one of the men that
robbed him.
As soon as Davis completes his
present ninety day sentence it is ex
pacted that a complaint will be filed
against him in the Ernest Weiss
case.
SINGLE JUDGE SYSTEM AT
BLAIR DECLAMATOBY MEET
The opinion of one judge will de
termine winners in the district de
clamatory contest at Blair today.
R. Foster Patterson, who judged
the entire sub-district meet at Ne
braska City last week, will officiate
in like capacity for the oratorical and
extemporaneous groups. Don Buell,
member of the speech department at
the University of Nebraska will then
take up the task of judging the dra
matic and humorous offerings.
Oratorical, extemporaneous and
dramatic are taking place during the
day, beginning at 10:30 this morn
ing. Tonight's program will consist
of only humorous, of which there are
a large number entered. Plattsmouth
will be represented in this group by
James Sandin, who won first place at
the sub-district meet with his "Lad
ies Aid at the Local .Theatre," and
who is rated sufficiently good to go
on to the state meet.
The local schools have a contestant
in all four classifications, the group
of competing students leaving this
morning for Blair.
STILL CONFINED TO HOME
Mrs. Paul Vandervoort who has
been ill for the past week, is still
confined to her home and while im
proving It has been very slowly. She
is suffering from an ear infection
that has been very difficult to re
lieve. Used cars, livestock, household
goods all oan be sold through
inexpensive Journal Want Ads.
DIES AT OMAHA
(Torn Thursdays Dally
The death of Mrs. George Rice,
41, occurred early this morning at
an Omaha hosoital where she has
been ill for the past two weeks. Mrs
Rice leaves her husband in this city
as well as a number of brothers and
sisters in Minnesota, her former
home.
The body was brought to this city
to tne Horion iuneiai nome wnere u
w111 remain until funeral arrange-
menis are compieiea.
In his bereavement Mr. Rice will
have the deep sympathy of the many
friends in the community.
Presbyterian
Circles Hold
Their Elections
Select Officers to Guide Affairs
of
Various Groups in Program
for the Coming Year.
From Thursday's Daily
The circle groups of the Woman's
Federation of the Presbyterian
church met yesterday and elected
their officers for the coming year
as follows:
Circle No. 1. Chairman, Mrs. Hilt
Martin; assistant chairman, Miss
Helen Hunter; secretary-treasurer,
Mrs. Will Schmidtmann; missionary
chairman, Mrs. Bertha Shopp.
Circle No. 2 Chairman, Mrs. Geo.
Farley; secretary. Mrs. John Palacek;
treasurer. Airs, uemmy matt; mis
sionary chairman, Mrs. John Wolff.
Circle No. 3 Chairman, Mrs. Roy
Knorr; secretary - treasurer, Mrs.
Greer; missionary chairman, Miss
Helen Farley; assistant missionary
chairman. Miss Agnes Muenster.
Circle No. 4 Chairman, Mrs. E. C.
Giles; secretary, Mrs. Ralph Wehr
bein; treasurer, Mrs. Emma Cappell;
missionary chairman, Mrs. Frank
Cloidt.
Circle No. 5 Chairman, Mrs. Phil
lip Hirz; secretary-treasurer, Mrs.
Ray Larson; missionary chairman,
Mrs. Nettle Lush in sky.
Luncheons were served by cora
millees from each qlrcle at their
meetings yesterday at the church,
and a social period followed that
made the occasion an enjoyable one.
VISITS IN OLD HOME
Myron Wheeler, of Lincoln, mem
ber of one of the pioneer families of
this city, was here Thursday to spend
a few hours visiting with the old
time friends and looking over the
city of his boyhood days. During his
stay here he was a visitor with Dr.
T. P. Livingston, who has not been
in the best of health, the members
of the Patterson family and at the
home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Herold.
Mr. Wheeler is a son of Mr. and
Mrs. D. H. Wheeler, who played a
prominent part in the early history
of Cass county and Plattsmouth and
whose old home stood where the pres
ent Cass county court house was
built in 1891. Mr. Wheeler has made
his home in Lincoln for a great many
years and served as a district court
reporter there up until a year ago
when he retired from active work.
OLD FOLKS ENJOY OUTING
Wednesday afternoon a group of
some fifty of the residents of the Ne
braska Masonic Home of this city
were guests of Tangier temple of the
Shrine at Omaha to enjoy the Shrine
circus now being held there.
The Shrine had arranged a spe
cial matinee at which they had in
vited as guests a large group from the
various homes in and near Omaha.
Included in the group In addition to
the local Masonic Home residents
were residents of Father Flannagan's
Home, Florence Old Peoples Home,
Good Shepherd Home, Boy's Masonic
Home of Omaha.
The local guests were taken to
Omaha by autos provided by the mem
bers of the local Masonic bodies.
VERY PLEASANT EVENT
Mr. and Mrs. George Kalasek are
the happy parents of a fine little
daughter that arrived at their home
on March 16th. The mother and little
one are doing nicely and the vent
has brought a great deal of pleasure
to all of the members of the family
circle.
Good Showing
Made at Blair
Declamatory
Three Local Entries Bate Fourth in
Eespective Classes Among the
Keenest of Competition
From Friday's Daily
Two contestants of the ten entered
from the second Sub-District won a
top three place rating at the district
declamatory contest at Blair yester
day. They were James L. Armstrong,
of Auburn, rated first in interpreta
tive oratory, and Arlo Wirth, of Dun
bar, third, in extemporaneous. Arm
strong will go on to the state meet.
Competition at the Blair meet is
reported as having been plenty keen,
with entries from Omaha schools,
Fremont, Blair aoid Fullerton, all of
which have been leading forensic
contenders for years and have includ
ed debating and public speaking in
their regular curriculum, beginning
as low down as in the Junior High.
Withal, three of Plattsmouth's
four contestants rated fourth place
rating in the "honorable mention."
They were James Sandin, humorous;
James Webb, original oratory, and
Stephen Davis, extemporaneous.
Omaha schools. Blair, Fremont and
Fullerton took most of the first, sec
ond and third places.
Original and interpretative oratory
and extemporaneous were judged by
R. Foster Patterson, while Don Buell,
of the speech department of the Uni
versity of Nebraska judged dramatic
and humorous entries.
Medals were awarded first and sec
ond place winners in each group, who
will go on to the state contest.
Trophies were also awarded to the
five schools winning the respective
sub-district contests, the schools to
receive this recognition being Ben
son; Fullerton, Plattsmouth, Blair
and North Bend.
The four local contestants and
their coach, Lumir A. Gerner, were
taken to Blair early yesterday morn
ing by Mrs. J. R. Reeder and spent a
most enjoyable day there, gaining
some valuable information on the
manner in which district oratorical
contests are conducted.
The fact that two of the Platts
mouth students ranking fourth are
Freshmen is most pleasing to school
officials, who look forward to great
er triumphs in the field of 'oratory
in future years.
DIES AT DENVER.
C. F. Harris, former county com
missioner, was in the city today and
stated that he had suffered the be
reavement of a grandson, Hayes Har
ris, 19, who passed away on March
17th at Denver.
The deceased was born at Union, a
son of Mr. and Mrs. Vance H. Har
ris, spending his boyhood there and
where he was educated in the schools
of that place. He was a very apt
student and was selected for a schol
arship at the University of Nebraska,
attaining one of the highest ranks of
any student up to this time.
He had been at Denver for the past
five weeks attending night school and
also being employed on a day Job.
He was stricken a few days ago with
pneumonia fever and died on March
17.
The body will be taken to Fort
Dodge, Iowa, for interment and
many of the members of the family
from this county are to drive over
to attend the service which will be
held on Friday.
TRACK DAYS APPROACHING
Coach Fred A. Rothert of the high
school, is planning to start the track
season for the year In the very near
future as soon as the athletic park
is In proper shape and the weather
favorable for the outdoor activities.
There are several back this year that
showed well last season, Bob Val
lery, Earl Taylor and Bill Carey, all
having had experience in the field
sports. Joe Hendrix who was one of
the track men of last year, will prob
ably not be out this year, owing to
his physical condition.
The coach Is also having spring
football practice to warm up the
gridsters of last fall and place them
In shape for action this coming sea
son when school reconvenes In the
fall.
SAYS ADVERTISING PAYS
Thursday one of our farmer friends
from the southern part of Cass coun
ty was in the city and called at the
Journal to express his appreciation
of the good results that a small for
sale ad had brought him in the Jour
nal. He had advertised the sale of
several pigs and the ad brought him
in some $300 in results.
Another of the local ads run caused
the advertiser to be aroused at his
home last night and asked to come to
his place of business to see some
articles advertised, the result being
that a bill cf goods amounting to
$77 was sold and delivered.
Regional Meet
ing of Officials
Here April 22
Plattsmouth. to be Host to 'City Dads'
from Ninety Nebraska Towns,
Including Lincoln, Omaha
You may have heard what the gov
ernor of North Carolina said to the
governor of South Carolina, but no
one will know what the mayor of
Lincoln may say to the mayor of
Omaha until after the regional meet
ing of city officials scheduled to be
held in this city on Wednesday, April
22nd.
Ninety towns in eastern Nebraska
are included in this region and will
be urged to send representatives here
for this important meeting being ar
ranged by the Nebraska League of
Municipalities to talk over important
city problems. Since both Lincoln
and Oinaha are included in this reg
ion, Brother Charlie and Mayor Roy
will be among those present, accom
panied by goodly delegations of oth
er officials from their respective cit
ies. And there will be'lot, of other
mayors, councilmea, city clerks, city
treasurers and city attorneys here
from other towns over the region, as
well.
As host city, Plattsmouth will pro
vide the assemblage with a meeting
place, or rather meeting places, as
the different groups meet separately
to discuss their respective problems.
The main session will be held at
the public library auditorium, with
group meetings in the city hall, the
County Court room and the Legion
building.
Registration will begin at 11 a. m.,
with the visiting delegations gather
ing together in luncheon groups at
the different Plattsmouth restaurants,
prior to the call to order at. 1:30.
The entire afternoon will be taken
up with discussions or the serious
problems of municipal government.
Following adjournment, shortly be
fore six o'clock, Plattsmouth will be
host to the visitors at a dinner at the
Legion community building. Fully
200 yisiting city officials are expected
to attend this complimentary dinner
at which the serious side of municipal
affairs will be forgotten and a pro
gram of fun and entertainment pro
vided. Superintendent L. S. Devoe has
consented to act as toastmaster or
master of ceremonies. R. Foster Pat
terson, of Tarkio college faculty and
a former Plattsmouth school man, in
the role of a "braintruster," will be
the principal after dinner speaker,
addressing the assemblage in humor
ous vein on "How to Run a Munici
pal Government." Following this,
a series of snappy comedy situations
will be unfolded and all will get to
hear what the mayor of Lincoln may
have to say to the mayor of Omaha.
The climaxing number on the even
ing's program of fun, will be a bur
lesque session of the, city council of
Hopetown, Prosperity county, Nebras
ka, enacted by a trained cast from
script now being written. This farce
on city management 'promises to be
about the funniest thing arranged
here in recent years and should wind
up the day's activities in fine shape,
leaving the visiting officials with
happy memories of the pleasant time
provided them in Plattsmouth.
NOTICE
After April 1st, the following den
tal offices in the city 'will be closed
Thursday afternoons the year around.
Dr. P. TV Helneman, Dr. F. R. Molak,
Dr. W. V. Ryan. ml6-2tw-10td
Phone news Items to No. 6.
River Naviga
tion Proves Boon
to Peoria, 111.
Committee of Plattsmouth Men Re
turn Enthused from Illinois City
Where They Inspected Dock.
T . t a m TT IT ..t. TT! T
i r riaay uigni i. ii. x-uuucn., iu. o.
Richey and Attorney A. L. Tidd re
turned home from several days spent
at Peoria, Illinois, where they in
spected the docks along the Illinois
river at that place, as well as the gen
eral effect of river navigation and
water rates on the commercial life
o fthat section of Illinois.
While they have been deeply in
terested in the matter of river navi
gation, they return highly enthus
iastic over what this may mean to
the central west and to the cities
that line the Missouri river and will
serve as the ports of entry to the
sections farther w'est.
The Plattsmouth visitors were
given every courtesy by the city gov
ernment of Peoria, two of the mem
bers of the board of aldermen, Sam
uel L. Mathis of the fifth ward and
Henry W. Stein of the fourth ward,
being a committee that arranged that
they might have every opportunity
of seeing the workings of the water
rates in the developing of industry.
The city has a $400,000 municipal
dock along the Illinois river and
while there they saw two practical
examples of the advantages that the
low water rates have bine Peoria.
There was being loaded a barge
that is capable of hauling fifty-five
car loads of merchandise, manufac
tured in Peoria, to other points for
shipmentt to all parts of the world
where the low water rates give them
the opportunity of competing with
the goods from other sections.' -
While they were at ' Peoria they
also witnessed the arrival of one of
the large barges from down the river
that was bringing in a load of wood
pulp from Denmark, which was to
be used in the manufacture of paper
boxes and other articles that will be
manufactured and then shipped out
at the low water rates.
Two of the concrete examples that
Peoria has to show for the advan
tages of the water rates is the mam
mouth manufacturing plant of the
Caterpillar Tractor Co., which .has
been movel there from California as
well as the plant in Minnesota, mak
ing an Institution that occupies 155
acres of land, 53 acres being covered
with buildings. There are 9,000 per
sons employed by the Caterpillar com
pany and the force is working twenty-four
hours a day.
The other industry that has come
to Peoria since the advent of water
transportation! Js the distillery of
the Hiram Walker Co., which has
their main plant there now. This
plant covers many acres and employes
1,760 persons. They have large stor
age houses, one of 70,000 barrels and
another of 80,000 barrel capacity, as
w ell as the distilling plant. Mr.
Stevens, the manager of the plant
took the local men over the buildings
and was enthusiastic over the ad
vantages of the river rates to their
company In shipping their products
to all parts of the world.
In speaking of the visit the Peoria
Star has the following account:
Three leading citizens of Platts
mouth, Nebr., spent today in Peoria
inspecting the river terminal and
gathering data useful for promoting
a similar improvement in their town
of 4,000 on the banks of the Mis
souri river.
The visitors were T. H. Pollock,
E. J. Richey, lumber and coal dealer,
and A. L. Tidd, attorney-at-law. Mr.
Pollock and Mr. Richey are members
of the Chamber of Commerce river
improvement committee.
Alderman Sam Mathis and Henry
Stein of the Peoria river terminal
council , committee had the visitors
in tow, conducted them through the
terminal, took them to Mayor E. N.
Woodruff, and then escorted them on
a visit to Hiram Walker & Sons dis
tillery and the Caterpillar Tractor
company. '
Government Improves River
"We are gathering Information
here on what our needs are in Platts
mouth In the way of dock facilities,"
Mr. Richey said. "Our town is 20
miles south of Omaha on the Mis
souri, which the federal government
proposes to make navigable as far an
Sioux City. It is expected that the
river will be opened for traffic to
Omaha sometime next year, and we
want to be prepared to take advan
tage of the water traffic."
The visitors asserted that plans
are already drawn for a terminal at
Plattsmouth but they needed facts
to bolster their arguments in favor
of a terminal. Thus the Peoria trip.
Mr. Pollock declared that Platts
mouth is a railroad town, and it is
hoped that river freight lines might
be opened to make Plattsmouth more
attractive to small industries.
Want Cheaper Rates
"We are earnestly trying to find
methods of bringing new industries
to Plattsmouth," Mr. Pollock said.
"Our community is a rich agricul
tural center, and we are interested
in water traffic from the standpoint
of cheaper rates."
He said that inasmuch as the gov
ernment plans to spend millions in
making the Missouri navigable, some
citizens of his town felt that it
should provide facilities to unload
and originate freight.
The men declared that they had
heard of Peoria's terminal through
Mr. Miller, secretary of the Missouri
Valley Navigation association of Kan
sas City. Mr. Tidd made the con
tact. They drove here in nine hours
yesterday, and plan to return tomor
row. Birthday Party
of the Legion is
Well Attended
Auxiliary Joins With Members of
Organization in Very Pleas
ant Social Evening.
From Friday's Daily
The Hugh J. Kerns post No. 5C, of
the American Legion, last evening
at their building, enjoyed the eight
eenth anniversary of the establish
ment of the American Legion nation
ally as well as the eighteenth year
of the organization in Plattsmouth.
The members of the American Le
gion Auxiliary also joined in the oc
casion and provided the fine lunch
eon that was a part of the evening
entertainment. '
The large group . enjoyed very
much the showing of the films of
"The Legion Marches On," a story of
the St. Louis convention of the Le
gion Jast summer and to add to this
was shown the pictures of the King
Korn Karnival, these being made pos
sible through the courtesy of the Anheuser-Busch
Co., of St. Louis, who
donated the Legion films and E. J.
Weyrich who provided the Karnival
pictures and ran the films.
Judge A. H. Duxbury, past com
mander and long time service officer,
spoke of the early history of the Le
gion, the caucuses that were held in
March, 1919, in Paris as well as at
St. Louis, to join the members of the
AEF and those in this country. He
also covered the first Legion con
vention held at St. Louis.
E. A. Webb, post adjutant since
August, 1920, gave some historic
facts connected with the local post,
revealing Judge Duxbury as the
"father" of the local American Le
gion Auxiliary, organized under his'
term aa commander. Mr. Webb also
gave the names of the past com
mander of the local post as follows:
Prank Smith, 1919; A. H. Duxbury,
W. H. Shopp, 1920; Emil J. Hild,
1921; Eugene Lister, A. W. Holl-
meyer, R. J. Larson, 1922; R. J. Lar
son, 1923; W. R. Holly, 1924-1925;
Thomas Walling, 1926; Henry Soen-
nichsen. 1927; Leslie W. NIel, 1928;
Fred Lugsch, 1929; Otto Lutz, 1930;
Garold Holcomb, Albert Olson, 1931;
W. T. Distell. Clyde Jackson, 1932;
Albert Olson, 1933; Dr. R. P. West
over, 1934; C. A. Marshall. 1935;
Fred Herbster, 1936.
Mrs. James Farnham on behalf of
the American Legion Auxiliary con
gratulated the Legion on its birth
day and aided by Mrs. Otto A. Keck,
Auxiliary president, presented the
Legion with a large and handsomely
decorated birthday cake as well as a
check for a substantial sum in appre
ciation of the use of the building
which has been turned over to the
Auxiliary when needed.
Commander Fred Herbster made
the response for the Legion and
praised the excellent work of the
ladie3 in carrying on the work for
the service men and women.
Cards followed the evening pro
gram and the evening ended with
the serving of the luncheon.
SPENDS VACATION HEBE
Miss Geraldine Griffin, who is at
tending Stephens college, at Colum
bia, Missouri, is home to enjoy the
spring vacation. She has as her
guest for the vacation, her school
mate, Miss Wyline Baird of Newport,
Tennessee.
Merchants Join
in Spring Sales
for Four Days
Offer Large and Complete Stock3 at
Prices as Low or Below Those
to be Found Elsewhere
In this issue. of the Journal thorn
appear a 'goodly number of timely
thritt message's lrom IMaltsmmiili
business houses that should be care
fully road by our readers.
The spring trade season is at hand
and Plattsmouth stores are ready for
it. Throughout the winter months,
careful buyers hive been busy scour
ing the merchandise marts of the
nation in search of outstanding value
to pass on to their customers with
the opening of the spring trade sea
son, now at hand.
Clothing for milady and the nun
folks as well has been selected with
an eye to 'style and color in keeping
with the new season. Staple goods
groceries, meats, hardware, etc. all
are included in the special trade days
offerings being advertised.
Plattsmouth's popularity as a trad
ing center has been built up through
pleasing the buying public giving
customers what they want, and with
al, adhering strictly to quality re
quirements and buyers thi3 year for
the various stores have striven espt -ially
hard to uphold that well earn
ed reputation.
The opportunity to purchase goods
in Plattsmouth at a saving was never
greater than during the present week,
when, beginning Wednesday and run
ning to Saturday night, special Spring
Trade Days sales are in the air. .o
drastic price slashing, but good, hon
est prices fcr reliable merchandise
the equal of those you will find any
where in the country. That is the
background of this feature .sale, and
we cannot refrain from urging our
readers again to scan the ada care
fully and come to Plattsmouth this
week to do your Spring and pre-Eas-ter
trading. We are confident you
will not be disappointed.
Stores will be open Wednesday
evening and it is announced that
the first "Gift Night" program of the
summer season will be held that
night. The broadcast system will be
in operation and some special en
tertainment is promised.
GIVE FRIEND SURPRISE
From Saturday's Paily:
Last evening the neighbors, a few
of the friends of Mr. and Mrs. Wil
liam C. Tippens gave them a n.ost
delightful surprise on the birthday
of Mrs. Tippens.
Mr. and Mrs. Tippens had gone to
the main portion of the .city to at
tend the theatre and when they ar
rived home the jolly party of friends
came to their home and showered the
guest of honor with congratulations
and well wishes.
The members had brought with
them dainty refreshments ar.d includ
ing the birthday cake which male a
part of the fine feast.
Those from outside the city t: at
tend were Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hild
and Mr. and Mrs. Ed Tutt, cf .Mur
ray. CANDIDATE VISITS CITY
Thursday afternoon Mr. and Mrs.
Ernest Haning, of Weeping Water
were in the city, where Mr. Haning.
one of the candidates for the uni
cameral legislature, was meeting the
voters in the business section of the
city. Mr. Haning has resided and
farmed in southeastern Nebraska for
the past thirty years and stales in
his announcements that he 1 a lib
eral republican and favors more leg
islation favorable to the farmer. This
is his first effort to secure public
office.
JUDGES AT SPRINGFIELD
Mrs. E. II. Wescott was at Spring
field Friday evening where she served
as one of the judges of the music
contest of the Springfield high school.
She had charge of the Judging of the
vocal numbers of the contest.
The contest was very cleverly ar
ranged in the manner of Major
Bowes auditions and a large group
of the young people participated,
there being glee club and individual
vocal and instrumental numbers.
