He. State Historical Society
ST II
VOL. NO. IH
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1936.
NO. 54
sies from
This City Have
Exciting Time
Members of Tribe Located Near Here
Forced to Pay Over $113 Claimed
Taken from Iowa Farmers.
Seven members of ?. gypsy tribe
that have been mating their head
quarters in this vicinity, -were the
central figures in a hunt' by officers
of the law in southwest Iowa and
Nemaha and Otoe counties. Nebraska,
Saturday.
The search and pursuit of the
gypsies started at Yorktown, Iowa,
Saturday morning and led through
Clarinda. Sidney, Nebraska City and
Peru, where the law caught up with
them and their car was captured.
The members of the tribe were
taken on to Nebraska City where
the Iowa officers and the victims of
the robberies assisted in their ques
tioning and examination.
The Nebraska City News-Press has
the following account of the exper
iences of the officers with the mem
bers of the tribe:
At Sidney gypsies, took $16 from
the pockets of George Hodges, aged
retired farmer, as he walked along
the highway. According to Fremont
County Sheriff Redenbaugh, the gyp
sies stopped beside Hodges, got out
of their car and surrounded the sur
prised man.
"Big show! Big show!" they cried
as they patted the man's pocket to
find his wallet.
They were recognized as the same
group suspected in the other thefts
by the Cass county, Nebr., license
plate on their car.
As is the rule in such matters the
gypsies violently protested their in
nocence.. . , ... ,
The jobs, said one referred to as
"Maggie," must have been done by
another group. "We're Brazilian
gypsies." she boasted. "We don't
steal. Only Hungarian gypsies steal."
Nevertheless, Sheriff Carl Ryder
placed Charles Miller, only man in
the party, in the county jail for safe
keeping while other officers wrangled
with the shill-voiced women.
"We're poor people," declared
"Maggie," spokesman for the group.
"We're copper workers. Hard work
ers. We travel around repairing bak
ery machinery and creamery ma
chinery. We're honest."
"Maggie" couldn't be shaken from
her stand that they didn't have the
money. When asked regarding the
new Ford sedan they were driving
she said, "Oil that. It belongs to the
finance company. We buy a new car.
All gypsies buy a new car. When
we can't make the payments we give
'em back."
As a compromise Sheriff Ryder and
Deputy Sheriff Bob McCurdy of Clar
inda. leaving "Maggie," a comely 20-year-old
girl and Miller as "hos
tages," took two of the women and
the bawling baby to Plattsmouth to
"raise the money in our camp."
Three thefts of money had been
charged against the group, ranging
from a few dollar to $G0 taken from
a Clarinda, la., man.
Deputy Sheriff Clarence Rapp of
Auburn said the gypsies had oper
ated in his county and in Johnson
county earlier this year. They were
first seen, he said, about March 23.
The band pulled too many "tricks"
in the same day, Saturday. As the
counts against them piled up, long
diFtance telephone wires burned as
police spread the alarm. They cross
ed the Missouri river at Nebraska
City, but evaded policemen when they
left town by the Kearney Hill road
The band didn't stop at Nebraska
City.
Their colleagues at Plattsmouth
raised the money, and the little band
was released. They returned to
I'lattsmouth where nine families
have been camped for several months
BREX TAKE GAME
From Monday's Daily:
The BREX softball team last even
ing won their second game from the
U. P. Storehouse team cf Omaha at
Athletic park. The game was well
played and the locals were the win
ners by the score of 8 to 7. Both
teams played a nice brand of ball
Gyp
that was much enjoyed by the fans,
MARRIED AT COURT HOUSE
Saturday afternoon Judge A. IL
Duxbury was called upon to join two
couples in the bonds of wedlock at his
office at the court house.
Miss Marie Rychetsky and Mr.
James A. Moore of Omaha, were the
first to be married, the ceremony be
ing witnessed by Mr. and Mrs. D. J.
Mullen.
Miss Laura Jane Johnson, of
Weeping Water and Mr. Edgar W.
Pointer, of Murray, were also mar
ried by Judge Duxbury, the wedding
being witnessed by Cassie and Effie
Pointer.
Farmers Urged
to Register if in
Need of Relief
Government Desires Complete Survey
of Situation and Those Needing
Assistance on Farms.
Because the federal government
desires to know immediately the
situation as it exists and will exist
in ach drouth county in Nebraska,
a concentrated effort is being put
forth in Cass county and other drouth
counties to secure these facts before
Saturday of this week.
All Cass county farmers in des
titute circumstances or who will find
themselves in destitute circumstances
within the next sixty days, and have
no other sources through which they
may secure assistance for their fam
ilies or for their livestock, or both,
should register at the office of N.
Pollard in the Central Application
Bureau, located in the court house at
Plattsmouth. The office hours for
these registrations will be from 8:00
a. m. to 5:00 p. m.
The registration must be based en
tirely upon need and inability to e-'
cure assistance from other sources to
meet this need. Each case will be in
vestigated by the government repre
sentatives and it is to be clearly un
derstood in advance that any and all
cases found to have other sources
through which they can secure the
necessary aid or cases in which the
situation is not found to be as indi
cated by the applicant, will be re
jected. ENJOY FISHING TRE?
A party of four from the vicinity
of Ulysses and Seward have been
here for the past few days, visiting
at the Fred Druecker home, .and in
cidentally enjoying fishing. - James
Gilmour, of Ulysses, a former resident
here, has been extolling the fishing
spots along the Missouri river and
accordingly he was accompanied by
Glen Tischue, Seward banker, Henry
Heumann, Seward and Frank Mateji,
Dorchester.
The party secured the assistance of i
the veteran fishermen, John and Wil
liam Grebe and were more than de
lighted when they landed a fine 65
pound catfish.
JUDGE GRAVES RETURNS
From Tuesday's Dally:
Judge Charles L. Graves, police
magistrate of the city, returned home
last evening from a week's out
ing that he has spent with his chil
dren at Lincoln as well as calling on
many old friends in that section of
the state. The genial judge has had
a very pleasant time on the trip but
returns with one hand bandaged and
which is the. result of the Judge's
fondness for the canines. While
training the dog belonging to his
daughter, Mrs. Harry Royal, the ani
mal took a pick at the court and re
moved a small area of cutical, but
is not serious.
RETURNING FROM COLORADO
Father George Agius, pastor of the
St. John's church of this city, is re
turning this week from Manitou,
Colorado, where he has been spend
ing several weeks of the heated spell.
Father Agius expects to be here by
Friday and to take up his parish
work. He has had a very pleasant
outing and returns much refreshed
for the regular work of the church
and parish. During the absence of
Father Agius the services at the
church have been conducted by
priests from the St. Columbians mis
sion at Bellevue.
Garden Club
Program for Last
Half of Year
Several Interesting Meetings Being
Arranged to Develop Greater
Interest in Work.
The Plattsmouth Garden club offers
the most interesting program for the
last half of the year. The best talent
in the state will appear on the pro
gram. Below is given the monthly
program:
August 19, at 7:30 p. m., Public
Library.
Music, vocal solo, Mr. Frank A.
Cloidt.
Topic, "Iris."
Speaker, Dr. Harry II. Everett.
Dr. Harry H. Everett, of Lincoln,
Nebraska, is an authority on Iris. He
is one of the directors of the Amer
ican Iris Society. Through his influ
ence the American Iris Society put
on their National Iris Show in Lin
coln, Nebraska, in 1934. Dr. Everett
has grown Iris as a hobby for many
years, and has produced some very
line specimen.
September 1C, at 7:30 p. m.. Pub
lic Library.
Music, vocal solo, Mrs. L. O. Minor.
Topic, "Roses."
Speakers, Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Berry.
Mr. S. E. Berry of Omaha, Nebras
ka, is president of the Council of Gar
den Clubs of Omaha, and was general
chairman of the Flower Committee
of the spring flower show held at the
City Auditorium last spring. Mrs.
Berry has frequently acted as one of
the judges of flower shows in the
city of Omaha, and suburban cities.
Mr. and Mrs. Berry have specialized
in the growing of hybrid tea roses,
and will speak from practical ex
perience in the growing of beautiful
roses the queen of garden flowers.
October 21, at 7:30 p. m.. Public
Library.
Music, piano solo, Mrs. Lillian
Freeman.
Topic, "Bulbs." Mrs. A. C. Nelson,
spaker.
Mrs. A. C. Nelson has served nine
years as president of the Lincoln
Garden Club. She has frequently
served as one of the judges at the
Omaha flower shows, and elsewhere.
She was general chairman of the Na
tional Iris Show held in Lincoln in
1934. Mrs. Nelson is particularly
well qualified to give very valuable
instruction on the planting and grow
ing of the spring flowering bulbs.
November 18, at 7:30 p. m., Pub
lic Library.
Music, piano solo, Mrs. L. S. Devoe.
Topic "House Plants," Mrs. E. H.
Wescott, speaker.
Mrs. E. H. Wescott has served this
city as president of the park board
and as general chairman of the Bet
ter Yard and Garden contest in 1931,
in which there were 300 entries. She
was the moving spirit in the organ
ization of the Plattsmouth Garden
club, and served as president the first
two years of its existence. She was
chairman of the Flower Show com
mittee of the last Spring Flower
Show. Mrs. Wescott has a fine col
lection of house plants, and will give
us very valuable information on
house plants.
December 16, at 7:30 p. m., Pub
lic Library.
Music, Christmas carol, vocal solo,
Mrs. Cora Reeder.
Topic, "Civic Improvement."
1st ward. Miss Barbara Gering;
2nd ward, Frank A. Cloidt; 3rd ward,
Mrs. Clara Wescott; 4th ward, Miss
Clara Weyrich; 5th ward, Miss Anna
Harris.
Each ward representative will give
some concrete suggestions of some
things that may be done in each ward
to beautify it. These suggestions will
serve as something for the Garden
Club to carry out In its next year's
program.
UNDERGOING TREATMENT
Mrs. George Troop, of . near Ne-
hawka, is at the state tubercular hos
pital at Kearney, where she will un
dergo treatment. Mrs. Troop has not
been in the best of health for the
past few years and it is hoped that
the present course of treatment may
be beneficial.
Readers notice
Elmwood and Avoca News to
Appear in Monday Paper
Due to space limitations in om
Thursday Semi-Weekly issue, a
change is being made effective
this week, that will bring you
Elmwood and Avoca news in
the Monday instead of Thurs
day issue each week, Editor.
S. H. Atwood,
Old Resident of
City, is Dead
Many Years Prominent in Sand and
Gravel Business in Cass County;
Dies at Liberty, Missouri.
From Tuesday's Daily
Samuel H. Atwood, oS, for many
years a prominent resident of Platts
mouth and Cass county, died on Mon
day at Liberty, Missouri, where he
has been visiting at the home of a
son, Calvin P. Atwood and family.
Mr. Atwood spent his younger
years in this city where he occupied
a large place in the community life
and was interested for many years in
the sand and gravel business with
the late Judge W. H. Newell under
the firm name of Newell & Atwood,
they having quarries and pits at
Louisville and Cedar Creek. He still
retains interest in the business and
owns several quarries and pits in
northeastern Missouri and which
have been under the management of
his son.
Mr. Atwood and Miss Myrtle Par
mele, daughter of the late Mr. and
Mrs. Calvin H. Parmele, were mar
ried in this city and made their home
here up to some thirty years ago. Mr.
Atwood built and occupied the resi
dence property on high school hill
now owned by Dr. R. P. Westover,
for many years.
Mr. and Mrs. Atwood in recent
years have made their home at Wash
ington, D. C.
There is surviving the aged wife,
two daughters, Mrs. Juliet Cobb,
Sioux City, Iowa; Mrs. Catherine
Gardner, Washington, D. C, Ralph
K. Atwood, Washington, and Calvin
P. Atwood, Liberty.
The funeral will be held Wed
nesday morning at Liberty, Missouri,
with the interment at that place.
VISITS WITH OLD FRIENDS
From Wednesdays Dally
Mr. and Mrs. Irving Wiltse and
child, of San Juan, Porto Rico, were
in the city for a short time today to
visit with the old time friends in the
communit'. Mr. Wiltse was for a
number of years a member of the
faculty of the Plattsmouth high
school and while here was interested
in scouting and was selected as the
scoutmaster of the local troop, in
which he proved very successful. He
was very much interested in the scout
work and took this up in preference
to his teaching tasks and received a
special training in the scout execu
tive work, going later to the west
where he served some time in scout
ing and in the past two years has
been in scout work in Porto Rico.
The Wiltse family were en route
to Iowa City, Iowa, where they will
visit with a brother of Mr. Wiltse
who is located in that city.
PASSES 100 MARK
From Wednesday's Dally
The sun beating down with inten
sity today brought back the high
temperatures that characterized July
and the mercury at 2:30 p. m. today
stood at 104 and was steadily mount
ing upward. After a few pleasant
d8ys the heat was doubly hard on
the residents of the community.
SHOWING IMPROVEMENT
The many friends of John L. Tid
ball will be pleased to learn that he
is now Bhowing a very nice improve
ment from his very serious operation
of Saturday and is doing just as well
as possible. Mr. Tidball is at the
Immanuel hospital and in a few days
it is hoped that "he can show a defin
ite advancement on the road to re
covery.
Officers are
Named by the
Local W.C.T.U.
Mrs. Elmer Sundstrom Named New
President as the Ladies Take Up
New Year of Activity.
The W. C. T. U. met with Mrs.
Clara Wescott Monday afternoon with
a fine attendance.
Devotionals were led by Mrs. Pearl
Mann. This was followed by roll call,
secretary's report, and treasurer's re
port. A bill of 70c was allowed for the
cosmos used in the membership dis
play for Plattsmouth's twenty new
W. C. T. U. members, at the national
convention".
The Methodist Sunday school is
carrying practically the full course
of temperance instruction. It is hoped
to get reports from the Sunday
schools of the other churches of the
city later.
Mrs. Wescott, who has returned
from an auto trip through the east,
reports that many signs, bearing
catchy slogans are posted along the
highways by the W. C. T. U. of var
ious states.
The annual election resulted in
the following members being named:
President Mrs. Elmer Sundstrom.
Vice-President Mrs. Clara Wes
cott. Secretary Mrs. Flora Arn.
Treasurer Mrs. Elizabeth Spang
ler. The resolutions passed by the na
tional W. C. T. U. convention were
carefully studied by the members
present. The study was under the
direction of Mrs. Wescott.
The report of the Nebraska liquor
commission was reviewed by Mrs. .
R. TV Haves. Of th total sum of!
$1,546, 284. 88 paid to the state treas
urer it requires $1G2,73S,.58 to ad
minister the commission; $92,396.98
of which is paid in salaries, $17,
471. S8 going to Just five employees.
The full report was published in the
Plattsmouth Evening Journal July
21, 1936.
After the benediction the hostess,
assisted by her sister, Mrs. Mae Mor
gan, served delicious refreshments.
FISHERMEN IN BAD LUCK
The court of Judge A. H. Duxbury
Monday afternoon was a scene of a
field day for fishermen, minus the
fish, a trio of wardens of the state
game commission being the prose
cutors of the complaints.
A trio of colored folks from South
Omaha were in court, two charged
with the possession of undersized
fish and they each received a fine of
$25 and costs while a sixteen year
old colored lad, caught fishing with
out a license, drew down $5 for the
offense. As the parties were without
the necessary amount to pay the
fines and costs, the settlement of the
costs was accepted and the fishermen
and women sped on their way.
Another case was that of a fisher
man who was found fishing in the
Louisville lakes after the hours set
by the state commission and accord
ingly drew down $1 and costs for the
offense. The fisherman had failed to
catch any fish and the fine and costs
was the only trophy of the fishing
expedition.
ORGANIZE CLUB
Last evening a very enthusiastic
group of the young republicans of
Plattsmouth and Rock Bluff pre
cincts, met at the home of Miss Min
nie Guthmann on North 4th street
for the purpose of the organization
of a Young Republican club for these
two precincts.
The meeting was presided over by
Mrs. E. H. Wescott, chairman of the
organization and who assisted in get
ting the new club launched on its
way.
The club adopted a constitution
and , prepared to take up the work of
the presentation of the republican
principles to the people of the com
munity in the coming campaign.
It was decided to wait until the
nPTt mppttn? -when the officers of
the group will be named and the ac
tive work of tire campaign started.
The greatest of enthusiasm was
6hown and all members showed the
prpntest Interest tn the nlans as they
i
Jwere discussed.
CUTS THUMB BADLY
James Benedict, who is engaged in
cuttine: willows in the vicinity of
Bellevue, was injured severely Mon
day. He was cutting willows with a
large corn knife, using his left hand
and as he slashed at a large willow,
the knife slipped and the end of the
right thumb was practically severed
from the hand. The injury was tem
porarily dressed and the. young man
after the flow of blood was stopped,
refused to return home and continued
on to the close of the work day. The
hand today, however, is very painful.
Walt Wunder
lich Found to be
in Severe Shape
Taken to Hospital, Nehawka Banker
Found to Be More Seriously Hurt
Than First Thought.
Walter Wunderlich, Nehawka
banker, who was injured last week
in an auto crash north of Nehawka,
is now at the Bryan Memorial hos
pital at Lincoln, his condition much
more serious than was at first
thought.
Mr. Wunderlich suffered only
minor injuries it was thought at the
time of the accident, and was able to
assist in getting the other injured
persons loaded in cars to go to the
St. Mary's hospital at Nebraska City.
Later he was taken on home and
given treatment and was apparently
merely badly bruised.
Sunday, Mr. Wunderlich was much
worse, his condition alarmed the fam
ily and he was taken to the Bryan
Memorial hospital at Lincoln, where
an examination disclosed fractures
of the cheek bone as well as of the
nose and it was thought a slight
fracture of the front of the skull. A
further examination is to be made by
the specialists called into the case
and it is hoped that the full extent
of the injuries may be determined.
Mr. Wunderlich will be kept at
the hospital until his condition shows
some more decided improvement.
HEAR OF VACATIONS
The members of the TtOtary club
who have remained home and suffer
ed in, the heat and uncomfortable
condition of July, were entertained
on Tuesday at the weekly luncheon
with the experience of a number of
their vacation members.
Dr. P. T. Heineman, who with his
family are enjoying their vacation
in the Yellowstone national park,
told of the many interesting points
in that section of the west, while L.
er Minor, who with his family spent,
their vacation in Colorado, told of the
many interesting places that they
had visited in this wonderland of the
nation and where nature has afforded
a great natural playground for the
tourists in the heat of the summer
season. Frank A. uiomt, wno wun
his family had gone east for their
vacation, related the impressions that
he had received of the cities that they
had visited and particularly of the
trip into Canada which included
visits at Ottawa, the national capitol
as well as Montreal and uebec.
TO FOLLOW USUAL PAYMENTS
The local old age assistance com
mission and director have received
no Instructions as yet regarding the
suggested adoption of the last of the
month payment of the checks to the
aged. The local director has had
the checks prepared as usual for Aug
ust and which will reach the parties
to whom they are made, in the usual
time. The change, if it is made later,
will not make a great deal of differ
ence as it will merely delay the
checks a week later than at present.
HERE FROM OKLAHOMA
Charles Chassott, of Oklahoma
City, is here to enjoy a visit at the
home of his cousins, the Hansen fam
ily In the north portion of the city,
and Saturday in company with P. C.
Hansen, was meetine a number of
the old friends and neighbors of the
family. It was thirty years ago when
the family moved from this county
to the south and have since made
their home in that section of the
country.
Rehearsals are
Progressing on
'Jade Necklace;
Members of Cast Preparing to Offer
a Real Thriller and with Fine
Cast of Young People.
Activity resembling the "old days"
when dances used to be held on the
third floor of the Bekins building
is again noticeable these evenings,
as members of the cast of the "Jade
Necklace," climb the stairway to the
clubrooms of the Plattsmouth Dra
matic club, located on the building's
top floor, for nightly rehearsals.
Many well-known local names ap
pear in the cast of the play which
will be presented by the club at the
Cass theater on August 2oth. Clem
Woster, stage manager of the last
production, comes from backstage to
play a role "out front," as well as
Edith Solomon, property manager of
the former play. Others w ho will ap
pear are: Gertrude Vallery, Kathryn
Armstrong, Eleanor Swatek, Chris
Bulin, Ed Wehrbein and Mildred
Cacy, all seasoned amateur actors.
Roy Olson, club president, is in di
rect charge of the production, acting
as director of the cast in addition
to other duties. His assistants are
Robert Wurl, business manager, and
Paul Vandervoort, advertising and
stage manager.
The club itself, is sponsoring this
production, in order to secure funds
for improving the clubrooms, for pur
chase of stage literature and other
equipment necessary to the club.
The reporter had the privilege of
witnessing a rehearsal the other
night and was surprised to learn
that the cast was working without
books, after only half-dozen re
hearsals. At the club's regular meeting, last
night, tickets were handed out to
each member to sell and the general
public may purchase tickets from
any club member between now and
the night of the play. Tickets may be
secured from Robert Wurl, at Wurl'a
store by anyone not approached by
club members.
GREENE-RUETER WEDDING
The marriage of Donna Beth
Greene to Alvin Rueter took place at
the home of the bride's parents, Mr.
and Mrs. T. H. Greene, In Elmwood
Tuesday evening, August 11, at 8
o'clock, in the presence of fifty rela
tives. The bride wore light blue floor
length organza with a shoulder cor
sage of Talisman roses. The brides
maid wore a gown of yellow embroid
ered organdie with a corsage of Talis
man roses and Delphiniums. They
were met at an improvised altar of
garden flowers and ferns by the
groom and his brother, Clarence
Rueter. The grandfather of the
bride, Rev. F. L. Weigert, performed
the ceremony. The prelude and Loh-
engren's wedding march were played
by Mrs. Chas. Staley of Milford. an
aunt of the bride.
Light refreshments were served by
the Misses Shirley Greene, Pearl
Rueter and Hilda Schlaphof.
Out-of-town guests were Miss Lu
bertha Kline of Franklin; Mr. and
Mrs. Frank Shroeder and daughters
of Wahoo and Mr. and Mrs. Harry
Tolhurst of Raymond.
After a short trip Mr. and Mrs.
Rueter will be at home on a farm
after September 1st..
WILLIAM BARKER FUNERAL
A large number of the old friends
from this section of Cass county were
present Monday afternoon at the Sat
tler funeral home to pay their last
tributes to the memory of the de
parted. The Rev. V. C. Wright, of the First
Methodist church, conducted the
very impressive service that brought
consolation to those who were left
behind of the family circle.
During the services a male quartet
composed of Lawrence Leonard,
Charles, Edward and Grant Howard
gave two numbers, "Beautiful Isle of
Somewhere" and "In the Garden,"
very beautifully rendered.
The burial was at Oak Hill ceme
tery in the west part of the city.
Phone news Items to no. 6.