Nebr. State Historical Society
S0
VOL. NO. mi
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1937.
NO. 22
Golden Wedding
of Plattsmouth
People Sunday
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Novatny Honor
Guests at Observance Vows Re
newed at Church Service.
Sunday the golden wedding ob
servance of two of the old residents
of the city was held at the Holy
Rosary church and at the home of
the honor guests, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph
Novatny, Sr.
It was on April 19, 1887, that Miss
Mary Holly and Mr. Joseph Novatny
were married at the St. John's church
of this city, and following the cere
mony they established their home in
the west part of the city where they
have since resided.
Sunday the aged couple was hon
ored at the mass at the Holy Rosary
church of which rtiey have been mem
bers since the building of the church
in 1892. The high mass was cele
brated by Monsignor Adolph M. Mos
ler, vicar general of the Lincoln dio
cese, and the bride and groom of
fifty years ago renewed the vows that
they had plighted at the altar a half
century ago.
Following the church services the
bridal couple with the members of
their family circle, repaired to the
Novatny home on "West Oak street
where a delightful dinner was enjoy
ed and which served as a very happy
feature as the members of the family
joined in their remembrance to the
father and mother and grandparents.
Those of their family here were:
Mr. and Mrs. Emil Stenik and fam
ily, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Vitesnek and
family Mr. and Mrs. Joe Novatny,
Jr.. and family, of Omaha, Mr. and
Mrs. James Wooster and family of
Windsor, Missouri, Mr,- and Mrs.
August Kopp and family, Mr. and
Mrs. Joseph Kvapll of this city.
Mr. and Mrs. William Holly, the
former a brother 4of Mrs. Novatny,
with their family, Mr. and Mrs. Mark
Logsdon and family, Mr. and Mrs.
Melvin Davles and family, Misses Bes
sie and Elizabeth Holly, Stanley Ne
jedley and Miss Policky, of Omaha,
were were also in the family party.
Many of the neighbors and old
friends called in the afternoon at the
home and messages were received
from Minnesota, Wisconsin and this
city.
Mrs. Novatny has a brother, Frank
Holly of Omaha and Mr. Novatny two
sisters. Mrs. Joseph Vitersnek of
Great Falls, Montana and Mrs. Kry
tina of Pocasett, Oklahoma, who were
unable to be here.
DIES IN OKLAHOMA
Henry Engelkemeler, 86, former
resident of Cass county, died Satur
day at his home near Newkirk, Okla
homa, following-a period of 111 health.
Mr. Engelkemeler moved to Okla-
homa some thirty years ago and en
gaged in farming near Newkirk but
in recent years he has not been able
to carry on his former activities on
the farm. Previous to going to Okla
homa he was engaged in farming in
Eight Mile Grove precinct and was a
well known and familiar figure . in
this section of Cass county.
The deceased was a brother of Carl
Engelkemeier of this city.
The funeral services will be held
on Tuesday, April 20th, at 2 p. m.
at Newkirk and the interment made
beside the wife who preceded him in
death seven years ago.
FRED GAUCHET FINED
In the county court Monday after
noon the case of the State of Nebras
ka vs. Fred Gauchat, charged with
reckless driving was heard before
Judge A. H. Duxbury.
This charge was based on an ac
tion arising out of an accident which
occurred October 10, 1936, when Bud
Rains, a WPA road worker, was
struck by a car driven by the defend
ant, Gauchat.
The court after hearing the evi
dence in the matter held that the de
fendant was guilty and assessed a
fine of $15 and costs on him.
A civil action in Otoe county In
which Rains sued Gauchat for dam
ages in the sum of $65,000, was
tried a short time ago and resulted in
a hung Jury.
RETURNS FROM DENVER
Mrs. Wm. Baird returned Sunday
morning from a short visit at the
home of her daughter and husband,
Mr. and Mrs. Harley Cecil, in Denver,
Calorado. Mrs. Baird's visit was cut
short by a severe cold. She had a
sore throat when she left Platts
mouth Wednesday of last week. The
temperature iwas 82 on Thursday in
Denver and dropped to 36 by Satur
day and snowed all day. The sudden
change of temperature and dampness
probably caused the cold to become
worse. Mrs. Baird is confined to her
bed.
Sheriff Busy
with Messages
and Greetings
Sheriff Homer Sylvester and Deputy
Sheriff Cass Sylvester Have
Many Interviewers.
Sheriff Homer Sylvester and De
puty Sheriff Cass Sylvester, who over
night have become national figures
through the capture of the two gun
men here Friday night, have been
busy being interviewed and meeting
the friends who have called for their
congratulations.
The officers have however kept on
their Job of looking after routine mat
ters in the office and such complaints
that are a part of the daily chore of
the sheriff. Modestly the sheriff and
deputy have described over and over
the fact that led to the capture and
the actual arrest of the men who were
tagged by federal authorities as Nos.
3 and 4 public enemies.
The sheriff and deputy have had
one of their most pleasing experiences
In the personal telegram from J. Ed
gar Hoover, head of the federal de
partment of Justice congratulating
them on their fine work. Even Wal
ter Winchell of the keyhole lame add
ed his tribute to the western law en
forcing officers and their excellent
work.
Sunday the sheriff and family were
busy in receiving callers as there
were large groups from Omaha and
nearby towns driving through the
city and stopped for a glimpse of
the cool headed and alert sheriff and
deputy that had effectively laid away
two dangerous criminals. It was a
busy time for the family also as they
shared the glory of the father and
'uncie
HELD FOR OLD SLAYING;
Frank Gray, 68, who for ten years
was a "mystery man" at Louisville,
known as John "Boats" Osborn, was
held Monday at Russellville, Ken
tucky, on a 27-year-old murder
charge.
A year ago the aged man came to
Omaha to turn himself over to the po
lice of that city and stating that he
.had committed a murder in Kentucky,
but his story was such that the man
was treated for being demented and
released before confirmation of the
stormy came from Kentucky. He dis
appeared and a few weeks ago gave
himself up to the Houston, Texas, of
ficers. Gray is charged with fatally shoot
ing a neighboring farmer, Thomas
E. Harper, in 1910, in a dispute over
horses. The only witness of the shoot
ing still alive is Harper's daughter,
Mrs. George Harrison, who was then
11.
Gray's wife and five children whom
he abandoned when he fled after the
shooting, all are dead.
VERDICT FOR $12,500
From Wednesday's Dally
The Jury in the case of Mathilde
Ramsel vs. Orville C. Hudson, this
morning returned a verdict in the
district court, giving the plaintiff,
Mrs. Ramsel a verdict of $12,500.
The action was one for damages as
the result of an auto accident which
occurred near the intersection of
Locust street and Chicago aenue and
as the result fo which Mrs.r Ramsel
suffered injuries that have slncq con
fined her to her bed the greater part
of the time.
The plaintiff testified in the case
on Monday afternoon, being brought
to the court house on a stretcher and
from which she testified as to her in
juries and the accident.
Sheriff Sylvester
Broadcasts Story
of Bandit Arrest
Cass County Sheriff Receives Award
of $500 as He Tells Story Over
the Columbia Chain.
Everybody in Plattsmouth who
possessed a radio or found that of
their neighbor handy, was tuned in
Wednesday night on the "Gang Bus
ter" program over the Columbia
chain at 9 o'clock. For the benefit
of those on the street the loudspeaker
system used in Merchants nights car
ried the program.
The attraction was the guest star
of Phillips Lord, Sheriff Homer Syl
vester of Cass county, who from New
York City was to tell the nation the
story of the capture of Alfred Pow
ers and Robert Suhay, New York
gunmen, by himself and Deputy Sher
iff Cass Sylvester.
The two gunmen are now in prison
at Kansas City to await trial for the
murder of a federal agent.
Mr. Lord in his introduction stated
that the sheriff was hesitant about
telling the facts and the announcer
told the story assisted by the sheriff
as the story progressed.
The interview follows:
Lord : Were you in your office when
you heard the alarm, Sheriff Sylves
ter? Sylvester: No I was Just finish
ing supper, Mr. Lord.
Lord: Now, you got your brother,
Cass
Sylvester: He's a deputy, too.
Lord: And you got out your rifles
and a couple of six-shooters, got into
your car and drove out of town to a
filling station on the main road.
What time was that?
Waited Over an Hour
Sylvester: Just dark. We kepfbur
headlights on the road so we could
see cars pass. .
Lord: How lone did .you .wait?
Sylvester: About an hour and a
quarter.
Lord: And then, a car came up
the road going between 60 and 70
miles an hour. As it passed your
headlights, you saw the license
plates?
Sylvester: Yes, sir.
Lord: You knew it was the gun
men's car. You started racing up the
road after it and overtook it in about
a mile?
Sylvester: Then it started swerving
all over the road.
Lord: The gunmen were trying
to make you think they were Just
drunks so you'd pull up alongside
and they could shoot you?
Sylvester: Yes but Cass and I
didn't do it. Then the bandits start
ed driving slow 20 miles an hour
trying to get us alongside.
Lord: Now. you followed them
right into town? They tried to lose
you and they raced around corners
on two wheels. Finally they turned
into a dead-end street.
Gunmen Stop
Sylvester: So they thought they
had turned Into a dead-end street
but they really hadn't.
Lord: They stopped, though, and
you were right behind them.
Sylvester: Yes I Jumped out on
one side of our car and Cass Jumped
out the other. I had the rifle and
hollered, and told them to get their
hands In the air or we'd blast them.
They did, too.
Lod: Then, as I understand It,
the car started to roll down the hill
and they wanted to put their hands
down to put on the emergency brake
to stop it, but you wouldn't let them.
Sylvester: It's a good thing I
didn't, too. In the front seat was a
loaded revolver. They'd have come
up shooting.
Lord: How'd they get out of the
car open the door with their hands
up.
Sylvester: I made them open the
doors with their elbows.
Loaded with Guns
Lord: When you were out you
marched them to a street light and
searched them. You found guns In
their overcoat pockets.
Sylvester: They were loaded right
down with guns. '
Lord: Now you took them back
to Jail and 20 minutes later, the
G-men were there. The G-men search
ed them and found three thousand
dollars in their clothes.
Sylvester: Four thousand, Mr.
Lord.
Lord: Sheriff Sylvester, we all con
gratulate you on that capture and
performing It so smoothly and effec
tively. Were you nervous? '
Sylvester: Not half so nervous as
am this minute.
Lord: Sheriff Sylvester I've got a
surprise here. We didn't let you
know it before you went on the air
because we all wanted to be In on
your happiness. In appreciation of
your capture of the two men wanted
for the Katonah bank robbery, the
American Surety company of New
York, who Insured the bank, has
asked me to present, you with this
gift of five hundred dollars.
Sylvester: Thank you, Mr. Lord.
Lord: And thank you again, sher
iff it's been a lot of fun having you
on our program tonight. Is there
anything more you would like to
say?
Sylvester: Yes, I would like to
say hello to my mother out at Rapid
City, S. D., to Cass if he's listenin
and to all the folks at home.
THE BIG DANCE OF SEASON
At Murray Hall, Sat., April 24.
Music by Avalon radio and dance or
chestra of Omaha. Adm. 40 and 10c.
Added attraction: Special tap dance
number. a221tw-2td
Former Resident
Dies at Home in
Bancroft, Nebr.
Mrs. F. D. Caldwell Passes Away
After an Illness of Some Dur
ation; Funeral in Iowa.
Mrs. Lillian Caldwell, 61, wife of
Dr. F. D. Caldwell, died Sunday at
the family home in Bancroft, Ne
braska, after an illness of some dur
ation and In which she has gradually
been failing.
, The funeral services were held
Wednesday at 10 o'clock at Bancroft
and the body taken to Menlow, Iowa,
where it was laid to rest in the
family lot in the cemetery there.
Lillian Kauble, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Frank Kauble, Sr., was born
in the vicinity of Rock Bluffs where
the parents were early residents, but
the greater part of her lifetime was
spent in Plattsmouth where she grew
to womanhood. ,
In her early life she demonstrated
her love for music and was one of the
leading musicians of the city. She
studied for some time in Chicago and
made the violin one of her life's work,
teaching in Plattsmouth and Glen
wood for a great many years. While
teaching music at the Iowa State in
stitution, she was married to Dr.
Caldwell. They made their home
here for some years as Dr. Caldwell
was engaged In the practice of den
tistry. Later they resided at Geneva
where she taught in the music de
partment of the city schools, they
moving from there to Bancroft where
she continued her musical work in
the schools and later in her private
classes.
She has been very active in the
community life at Bancroft, serving
as a president of the Woman's club
and also as worthy matron of the
Eastern Star.
Mrs. Caldwell is survived by her
husband, two children, George and
Jean, who are making their home in
Iowa, as well as one brother, Henry
Kauble, of Norfolk.
TO ATTEND CONVENTION
County Judge A. H. Duxbury will
represent Cass County chapter of the
American Red Cross at the national
conference to be held at Washington,
D. C, May 10-13th.
This is one of the greatest meet
ings of the organization and it Is
hoped to have representatives from
most of the county chapters of the
nation.
Judge Duxbury will drive through
with Mrs. Duxbury and the children
and expects to have a very fine time
at the conference and taking In the
many points of Interest in the capitol
city. The Duxbury family will also
visit with A. W. Farmer, now with
the resettlement administration and
former clerk for Judge Duxbury in
the county Judge's office.
SEES SHERIFF OFF
From Tuesday's Daily
On the departure of Sheriff and
Mrs. Homer Sylvester for New York
this morning a flock of the news re
porters and camera men were at the
Omaha airport to see them take off
and snap a few pictures. The sheriff
will broadcast on Wednesday eve
ning at 9 o'clock over the Columbia
broadcasting system, being carried
locally by station KFAB of Lincoln.
Others at the airport to see them
leave were Mr. and i.Mrs. Edward
Cllnchard and Henry Guy McMaken
as well as members of the Sylvester
family.
Carlson-Cole
Wedding Sunday
in Louisville
Young People to Make Home on Farm
Near Plattsmouth ; Vows Taken
in Methodist Church.
On Sunday, April 18, at 3 o'clock
an impressive wedding ceremony of
Esther Carlson and Willis R. Cole
was solemnized at the M. E. church
at Louisville with Rev. N. B. Calla
way officiating. The church was de
corated with pink and white roses
and ferns and the aisle was formed
with pink and white crepe paper
streamers.
Miss Dorothy Gustavson of Cook,
Nebr., cousin of the bride sang "Ah,
Sweet Mystery of Lire" and "I Love
You Truly" with Mrs. Roy O. Cole,
aunt of the groom, accompanying.
As the strains of Lohengren's Wed
ding March were sounded, the groom
with his best man, Thomas Gross
hans, of Plattsmouth entered and
marched slowly to the altar to await
the coming of the bride.
Miss Alice Borgeson, cousin of the
bride, entered, dressed in pink silk
taffeta and carried Talisman roses.
The bride, gowned in white silk taf
feta, with long flowing veil, and
carrying a shower bouquet of pink
Briarcliff roses and sweet peas, en
tered on the arm of her father, C. E.
Carlson, wending their way slowly
to the altar, where the impressive
ring ceremony was solemnized in the
presence of seventy-five relatives and
friends. The ushers were the Misses
Lenora Gaebel, Wilma Schoman, Mar
guerite Hartman, Eldora Pankonin
and Dorice Group.
Following the ceremony a recep
tion was held at the home of the
bride's parents and was in charge of
Mrs. Chris Murray, iwho was assist
ed In serving by the young J ladles
who were ushers' at the church. A
large white wedding cake, beauti
fully decorated, was an attractive
centerpiece of the long table in the
dining room, and was presented to
the bride by her aunt,N Mrs. A. F.
Gustavsen. The bride's guest book
was in charge of Mrs. Gustavsen.
The bride is the only daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Carlson and is a
graduate of Louisville high school.
She has been active in church and
other social activities, and has a
host of friends who wish her happi
ness iu her new home.
The groom is the eldest son of
Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Cole of Mynard,
where he has grown to manhood. He
attended Plattsmouth high school and
has been active in music, playing vio
lin in the Mynard orchestra for a
number of years.
Mr. and Mrs. Cole will reside on
a farm near Mynard, and will take
with them to their new home the lov
ing wishes of a host of friends and
relatives.
After the reception they departed
for Lincoln where they will spend a
few days before taking up their ac
tive duties on the farm.
PENMANSHIP AWARDS
The following pupils in Miss Pro
haska's fifth grade at Central build
ing received merit buttons in pen
manship from the A. N. Palmer com
pany: John Sheard, Helen East
ridge, Raymond Simons, Billy Goch
enour, Raymond Rhoden, Austin Me
Bride, Dean Earl, Eldon Vroman,
Minnie Grauf, Jean Galland, Elma
Atteberry, Frances Davis, Norman
Rhoades, Ruth Rhoades, Alfred
Rouse, Irene Shropshire, Mary Miller,
Donald Bowman, Irene LaHoda,
Philip W'ebber, Gladys Fae Rhoades,
Frances Smith.
The fcjllcWing Normal Training
students received Palmer Method
Teacher's certificates: Neil Lancaster,
Dorothy Lepert, Helen Ulrich.
RAISES TROPICAL' FRUIT
Arthur Troop of south of this city
has at his home a fine large bearing
lemon tree and which has produced
a very large fruit, one that weighs
one pound and two ounces. Mr. Troop
had the lemon here Tuesday when he
attended the Rotary meeting and it
attracted a great deal of attention
from his associates. The lemon is
now on exhibit at the Bestor &
Swatek store.
ATTEND METHODIST MEETING
Monday evening a number of the
members of the local Methodist
church were at Union where they at
tended a meeting, one in a series be
ing conducted by Rev. Boeher, pastor
of the Union churches.
The local pepoel attending were
Rev. V. C. Wright, E. H. Wescott,
Elmer Sundstrom, Roy Schwenneker,
who were called upon for short re
marks on the church work and all
of which was very much enjoyed.
Rev. Boeher is having members of
the churches from nearby commun
ities in for talks along the lines of
the revival in religious interest.
Death Comes to
Old Resident, W.
E. Rosencrans
Former County Clerk and Prominent
Resident of Cass County Over a
Period of Fifty Years.
William Ellosworth Rosencrans, 72,
passed away Tuesday night near the
midnight after an illness cover
ing a period of several years. He
has been under medical treatment
for the past three years and his con
dition was such that his passing was
not unexpected.
The death of Mr. Rosencrans re
moves one of the well known figures
in the county for the past half cen
tury and one who for many years was
very active in the political affairs of
Cass county.
Mr. Rosencrans was a native of
Salladsburg, Pa., where he was born
April 24, 1865, spending his boyhood
days in his native state and where he
was married to Miss Hettie Raker De
cember 14, 1884.
Mr. Rosencrans in March 1887
came to Cass county and located at
Elmwood where he was engaged in
the conduct of a barber "shop"" for
some eighteen years.
In ;the year 1905 Mr. Rosencrans
was elected as county clerk of Cass
county and with his family moved to
Plattsmouth where they have since
made their home. After serving two
terms in the office of county clerk,
Mr. Rosencrans has since been en
gaged largely in the real estate busi
ness in this city, looking after this
line of work up to the time of hi3
death.
Mr. Rosencrans was active in dem
ocratic party circles for years and
was recognized as one of the leaders
in the state, possessing a wide ac
quaintance in all sections of the
county. "Rosy, as he was well
known, was of a very genial person
ality and made many friends who
will share with his family the sor
row of his passing.
He is survived by the widow and
five children, C. A. Rosencrans, Mrs.
Waldemar Soennichsen, Miss Mary
Rosencrans of this city, B. A. Rosen
crans of Medford, Oregon, and Blythe
U. Rosencrans of Chicago.
RETURNS FROM HOSPITAL
Tuesday evening Wesley Kalasek,
who for the past two months has been
at the U. S. Veterans' hospital at
Lincoln, returned home. He has been
at the hospital recovering from a
broken leg sustained at his home in
the west part of the city. He is now
getting around very well and it is
hoped will soon be over the effects
of the injury.
Roy Stewart, who has been at the
hospital for several weeks, also re
turned home and is feeling much
better and well over the effects of his
recent operations.
PRESENTS FINE PROGRAM
Tuesday evening C. C. Wescott and
E. J. Weyrich of the local Business
Men's Ad club paid a visit to La
Platte where Mr. Weyrich presented
the motion pictures of the King Korn
Karnival as well as a series of travel
pictures of the Yellowstone and other
scenic spots.
The meeting was held at the school
house at La Platte where a large num
ber of the residents of the community
had gathered.
Plattsmouth Is the Ideal Targe
town shopping center for all Cass
county people. Values here are
the equal of those found anywhsre
read the ads for bargain news. .
E. H. Schulhof
New President
of Rotary Club
Father B. A. Connelly, C. S. s. R.
of Omaha Discusses Commun
ism at Luncheon.
E. II. Schulhof was named the
new president of the Plattsmouth Ro
tary club at the annual election Tues
day noon. Arthur Troop was named
vice president; L. O. Minor, secre
tary; E. A. Wurl, treasurer; James
Mauzy and E. H. Spangler, directors;
and Carl Ofe, sergeant at arms.
Father B. C. Connelly, C. S. s. R., of
the Holy Name church of Omaha gave
the address. He was introduced by
Monsignor Adolph Mosler. He quoted
a letter from Rome, written by Lea
XIII in 1891 in which he described
"Socialism" saying we have organ
ized our political and economic life in
such a fashion as to give privilege
and power to those who have worldly
goods, and practically deny the oth
ers the right to get them. That con
spiracy has reduced the mass of men
to slavery.
In later years the philosophy of
Adam Smith was stated in England.
Father Connelly stated this as "ma
terial goods will automatically adjust
itself to human needs if we allow all
men the fullest possible freedom in
competition for the production and
distribution."
This philosophy was wonderful for
a while. It was never a good thing
in England for the country was too
crowded but It was marvelous in Am
erica for as soon as one section be
came crowded the worker could move
on into the frontier. The time came
when there was no place to go. A
few gained great power and have
extended that power on its own scope.
The home has changed from a produc
tive "agency Into a purely consump
tive agency in present day life. The
tightening of this pressure, Father
Connolly explained, is the prepar
ation for a terrible catastorophe.
"When put under pressure, man re
bels. That is the seat of commun
ism." Rev. Connelly told that Karl Marx
was raised in this eapitalisMc civil
ization. He learned that life is ma
terial and nothing else. He saw own
ership as an evil therefore put forth
the philosophy that denied any moral
claim to the exclusive use and posses
sion of property. He has taught the
doctrine that all things are common.
Father Connelly warned that cap
italism had "better find a virtue tind
use it quickly."
As a program the speaker stated
that "We must in legislative enact
ment take account of the social re
sponsibility that goes with the posses
sion of this world's goods."
He also said, "The supreme ccurt
has been interpreting the constitution
for years in the light of Adam Smith's
philosophy a philosophy which has
been proved false."
"We have to put taxation pres.'-ure
on bigness. Bigness is not an evil
but is dangerous."
As a method of preventing the
spread of communism he stated that
pressure must be placed upon the
strong and subsidation made to the
weak. "The only cure for commun
ism is to distribute productive prop
erty far and wife," he said.
Walter Kirtley and Mac McClean of
Nebraska City were visitors at the
meeting.
ATTENDS NORTH HIGH AURORA
Mrs. Glen Vallery went to Omaha
Saturday evening to attend the an
nual Aurora presented by the stu
dents of North High. The miscel
laneous program consisted of num
bers by the R.O.T.C. band, the high
school orchestra, the R.O.T.C. of
1937, also acrobatic, dance, musical,
and banjo numbers. A number of
short skits were given as well as a
medley of songs.
Betty Wetenkamp, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Elmer Wetenkamp, was fea
tured on the program in dancing. The
Wetenkamp family is formerly cf My
nard. Harold Peterson, son-in-law of Mrs.
Vallery, .is dean of boys and instruc
tor of biology in North high. Mr.
and Mrs. Peterson returned with Mrs.
Vallery to spend the week-end here.