Omaha Daily
THE WEATHER
VOL. XLVII. NO. 60.
OMAHA, MONDAY MORNING, AUGUST 27, 1917.
Oa Trilni, tt Hot.li.
Nwi SOnda. Etc., i".
SINGLE COPY TWO CENTS.
TWO WOMEN FOULLY MURDERED IN OMAHA IN 24 HOURS;
ITALIANS WIN SWEEPING VICTORY ON ISONZO FRONT;
SLAVS WILL CONTROLJStlS WITH BLOOD AND IRON
Bee
RUSSIA PASSING THROUGH
PERI00 OF MORTAL DANGER,
KERENSK Y TELLS CONFERENCE
Meeting at Moscow to Plan New National Government in
, Most Critical Moment of Nation's History; Pre-,
mier Say$ Traitors Will Be Summa
v rily Dealt With.
(By Associate Prat.)
Moscow, Aug. 26. Russia is passing through a period of
, mortal danger, Premier Kerensky told the National conference,
which assembled in Moscow yesterday to consider the present
situation of the country and plans for a new national govern
ment.
He declared that any attempt to
take advantage of the conference for
an attack on the national power, as
embodied in the provisional govern
ment, would be repressed pitilessly
"by blood and iron."
The conference was opened at 3
o'clock -with the premier's speech.
Representatives of important polit
ical, economic, commercial and sci
entific organizations and persons
prominent in public life are in at
tendance. KERENSKY TELLS FACTS.
"Those who think the moment has
come to overthrow the revolutionary
power with bayonets are making a
mistake," said M. Kerensky. "Let
them take care, for. our authority is
supported byVthe boundless confi
dence of the people and by millions
of soldiers who are defending us
against the German invasion. ;
"The provisional government is
convinced that all of you -who have
come here will forget everything ex
cept your duty toward your country
and the revolution.
"The government believes it Can
tell the truth, not only to our friends,
but also to our enemies those who
re destroying our troops, and those
Hinong us who are waiting for the
moment when they may be able to
raise their heads and pounce upon the
)"rce Russian people. ,
" I, say, again that f will hide noth
iii from you., for we have come to
f for the lirsjiiaft.JpspcaliktO
"-ui f'-nkK to tell you of the un
bearable; the immense responsibility
which we are shouldering despite all
the blows we are receiving.
Peroid of Mortal Danger.
"Citizens, - the state is passim,1
through a period of mortal danger. I
do not say more, for you all under
stand. You see it, for each of you
experiences it, in a different way.
"You all know the task incumbent
upon you, for the struggle against a
powerful, implacable and organized
.memy demands great sacrifices, sell
Jenial, deep love of our country and
;he forgetting of domestic quarrels.
Unfortunately, not all who are able
'ire willing to offer all of this on the
iltar of their country, ruined by war,
ind they thus render the critical situa
tion of ur country more serious
iverv day.
"In ourpolitical life this process of
disorganization is worse, even causing
certain nationalities living in Russia
to seek their salvation, not in close
union with the mother country, but
in separatist aspirations. On top of
alt this came the shameful events at
the front, when Russian troops, for
getting Xheir duty to their country,
.-are way without resistance to pres
sure of the enemy and thus forged for
.heir people fresh chains of depotism.
Government Will Probe
U W. W. Situation in West
Washington, Aug. 26. The Indus
trial Workers of the World situation
throughtout the country, and espe
cially in the west, where activities are
interfering with war industries, is to
6e . investigated, with the approval
of President Wilson, by a commis
sion appointed by the Council of Na
tional Defense.
Central Powers Soon
To Answer Peace Note
Amsterdam, Aug. 26. According
to a dispatch to the Wezer Zeitung
of Bremen from Vienna, the reply of
the central powers to Pope Bene
dict's recent peace proposals can be
eypected within a few days.
The Weather
For Nebraska Partly cloudy
Monday;
much change In temperature.
For Iowa Fair Monday, slightly warmer.
Temperature at Omaha Yesterday.
Hour. Dea;.
t a. m.
a. m.
T a. m.
S a. m.
9 a. m.
10 a. m.
11 a. to.
11 m S3
1 p. m 35
t p. m S6
3 p. m..... 87
4 p. m 87
t p. m it
p. m. 35
7 p. m..-i.. 81
. Comparative Local Record.
1917. 111. 11. 1H.
Hirhest yesterday 87 It 70 I H
Lowest yeeterday.... 87 68 81 85
'Mean temperature... 77 88 86 t
Precipitation T T .07 .00
Temperature and precipitation departures
from the normal at Omaha yesterday:
Normal temperature 73
Excess for the day " 4
Total deficiency alnce March 1.... 191
Normal precipitation .11 Inch.
Deficiency for the day ......... . . 1 1 Inch
Total rainfall since March 1... .It. (4 Inches
Deficiency since March 1 1.84 Inches
Deficiency for cor. period, 1118.10.01 inches
Excess for cor. period, 1815 66 Ineh
V )iicatea trace of precipitation.
U JL. WELSH. ilsUereloxlsW ..
NEBRASKA FIRST
IN DEMING FORMS
INTO REGIMENTS
Belief Prevails at Camp Cody
That Men From Cornhusker
State Will Be Earliest to
Arrive in Force.
(From a Staff Correspondent.)
Deming, N. M., Aug. 26. (Special
Telegram.) Nebraslcans will be the
fir5t guardsmen to mobilize here in
regiments.
This is the belief in Camp Cody to
nighjt. Brigadier General George II.
Harries of Nebraska and his staff are
establishing headquarters as fast as
possible and with the arrival of the
Nebraska troops, said to be on the
way, they will form the first comple
ment of state troops here anywhere
near approaching a military unit.
Brigadier General H. T. Allen of
Cedar Uapids and staff are establish
ing headquarters as fast as possible.
General P. G. Maudlin, 'who will
command a brigade of National
Guard field artillery, and Lieutenant
Colonel W. H. Raymond, chief of
.tral Blocksom's staff, came on
,.ie same train with Major General
Blocksom today.
Nebraskans on Guard.
Nebraska's three companies prob
ably will alternate with those of the
other four states in provost guard
duty in town and maintaining the
lines in camp.
Troop A, First Iowa cavalry, Cap
tain Byron 1 Goldwaite, has the big
job of riding the lines in the far off
part of the reservation, assisted by
Troop K, First Sooth Dakota cav
alry, Captain Harry Demalignon.
General Captain E. L. N. Glass is
aid to General Blocksom. Major C.
B. Ronins, Iowa brigade adjutant, and
Lieutenant Fred H. Winslow, aid to
General Allen, are with him.
Minnesota's brigade headquarters,
with no general yet to occupy it, is
ready for use.
Negro Battalion Moved.
Removal of the First battalion of
the Twenty-fourth negro infantry,
Captain Homer M. Preston command
ing, from- Camp Cody to Columbus,
Pershing's gateway to Mexico, where
it is hinted by high army officers a
salutary lesson will be taught the un
ruly men who defied civil law in
Houston and Deming, has greatly
cleared the atmosphere.
Last night's threats by" negro sol
diers on provost guard duty and
others around twu.i, of vengance for
black men killed in Houston, and later
the severe beating of Walter Cooper,
jitney driver, inveigled out of Deming
by,two of the negroes, brought mat
ters to such a climax that Major Gen
eral Blocksom, division commander,
gave swift orders to ship the com
panies of the Twenty-fourth to Co
lumbus at once.
The train carrying them left this
afternoon. They will guard the de
tained Industrial Workers of the
World strikers.
Court martial an 1 severe penalties,
it is said, face the guilty men who will
arrive from Houston Monday with
the battalion from Waco, Tex.
Serbians Receive Goodly Sum
From Purse of Generous Omaha
With the grand sum of $2,036 jin
gling in their purses, the canvassers
for Serbian relief gladly rested Satur
day night from their labors in the city
wide canvass conducted on the streets
and by private solicitations Saturday.
Some of the individual collections
were remarkably large. Dr. Olga
Stastny collected $210.30. Miss Rose
Ruzicka, stationed at Fifteenth and
Farnam streets, received $79.21 from
pedestrians who passed her corner.
Tiny solicitors did a prosperous
business for the suffering Serbians.
Little Queenie and Iy Colver to
gether received $42.90. Miss Blasta
Sterba made $36.90 for the cause and
several others, including Mrs. O. J.
Ruzicka and Miss Kamilla Dlask, col
lected around $35.
" Miss Anna Tomisek brought in
$35 and started out with a new box to
work among tne Saturday night shop
pers. The average for solicitors was
from $15 to $20.
-Jpne hundred and eighty , women
HOOVER ASKS
POBLIC ALL
LEND HAND
1 1 " t
Food Administrator in Chicago
Says Farmers Will Get Square
Deal; Denies to Fix
Cattle Prices.
(By Associated IreM.)
Washington,vAug. 26. The food
administration Saturday denied re
ports that Herbert Hooverfis at
tempting to influence the price fix
ing committee, headed by Dr. H. A.
Garfield, to put a price of $1.65 on
the 1917 crop of wheat, and gave
out copies of a telegram sent by
Mr. Hoover to a North Dakota
newspaper which declared the food
administrator gave no suggestions
as to prices.
Hoover in Chicago.
Chicago, Aug. 26. Herbert C.
Hoover, federal food administrator,
explained to editors of agricultural
papers and representatives of news
paper from agricultural districts
the necessity for administering
Mhe supply of foodstuffs. He told of
the problems that confronted those
who were dealing with the subject,
and asked their co-operation in the
work to be done. Mr. Hoover objected
to the word "control" in connection
with food conservation, he said, be
cause the administration in the main
wished to rely on voluntary effort and
patriotic co-operation.
All sections of the country were
represented. Mr. Hoover reached the
city at mid-afternoon and after the
conference adjourned at the dinner
hour, announced he would return east
within several hours.
Mr. Hoover made it clear, in a
statement, which he authorized later,
that the purpose was to deal as fairly
with all interests as was possible and
that in order that this intention
might become a fact is was essential
that all should act in a similar spirit.
Packers Meet Hoover.
Shortly after the arrival of Mr.
Hoover a meeting was h.eld at the
stock yards attended by representa
tives of the packers, the railroads and
the live stock commission men of the
middle west, the purpose being to
work out a plan for co-operatioii of
these interests with. Mr. Hoover and
the federal trade commission, s
The conference is said to have ar
ranged for the appointment of joint
committees of all interests involved to
arrange for the even distribution of
shipments of live stock into the Chi
cago market so that there will be no
"light" and "heavy" days. It is be
lieved this arrangement will lead to
the establishment of a permanent
"five-day market."
In a statement issued tonight Mr.
Hoover denied there- is any founda
tion for a statement that the food ad
ministration expects to fix prices of
beef or pork products.
To Encourage Production.
"The administration hopes to de
velop by discussion with representa
tive committees of the hog producers,
the cattle producers, the commission
men and the packers," the statement
says, "greater stabilization of the in
dustry during the war and in such a
way as to encourage production, to
eliminate speculative profits and risks
so far as may be and by so doing to
protect the consumer."
Before Mr. Hoover left Chicago he
was handed a formal request from the
packers that he appoint a federal dic-
(Contlnued on Page Two. Column Three.)
MacMillan Expedition
Arrives at Sidney, N. S.
Sydney, N. S., Aug. 26, Donald B.
MacMillan's arctic exploration ex
pedition arrived here tonight on the
relief steamer Neptune after four
years spent in the Polar regions.
MacMillan, who was one of Rear
Admiral Peary's lieutenants on his
successful flash for h K'nrtti Pl
confirmed previous dispatches from
mm mat mere was no Crocker land,
such as had been reported by Peary.
Peary's mistake he said was due to
a mirage so real that the MacMillan
party had been deceived by it for four
days, he said.
were employed in the movement, ex
clusive of those who spent the day at
the "headquarters, overseeing the
work.
One 12-year-old boy, Carroll Cor
liss, by name, anxious to help the
Serbians, volunteered his services as
messenger to the canvassers. He be
came so enthused over the splendid
success with which members' efforts
were rewarded, that he, too, applied
for a box and returned with a total
of $5.00.
The canvass was conducted under
the auspices of the Franco-Serbian
Relief Hospital of America, working
through the local agency of Mr. and
Mrs. Paul Yestich, Dr. Olga Stastny,
and the Bohemian National Alliance.
Besides personal work, several
motor cars, which were donated, were
found very valuable in rounding up
contributors, and a goodly sum was
taken in through this means.
Dr. Harold Gifford made the lar
gest individual donation of the day,
which amounted to $200,
NELlTALIAN OFFENSIVE Heavy black line from
Plava to the sea follows the course of the new Italian offen
sive, including the Julian front, the Gorizia area and the Car
so front, where the battle is now centering. The dotted line
is the Italian front to Tolmino, where activities are beginning.
WmKmll,lmmilmWmmmm ssaaasjajai sssbh sajBssOBWURKIiaraSM
ITALIAJT
AUSTRIANS PUT
BY TERRIFIC ONSLAUGHTS
OF GEN. CAOORNA'S TROOPS
Mountain Top Seven Miles From Gorizia Wrested From
Teutons and Victorious Tri-color of Italy Now
Waves From Flagpole; French Tighten
Hold On Hill 304.
Rome, Aug. 26. Italian troops on the Isonzo front are
marching to complete victory.
At Undine, Salvatoro Barzilai, civil governor of the Aus
trian territory occupied by the Italian army, when informed of
the complete victory of the Italians, exclaimed:
HOUSTON RILED:
WANTS NEGROES
TRIED B Y COURTS
Local Officials Determined
Court-Martial Shall Not Ab
rogate Right of Civil
Authorities to Act.
(Bf Associated Press.)
Houston, Tex., Aug. 26. Though
Houston generally breathed distinct
relief that martial law will end
tomorrow and that the rioting negroes
of the Twenty-fourth infantry arc
no longer in a position to cause fur
ther trouble, county officials expressed
resentment that the men should have
been taken from their authority.
"The fact that they were remoyed
to Columbus, N. M does not mean
that we will not ultimately take a
hand in their punishment," said Dis
trict Attorney John H. Crooker.
"In my opinion, the court martial
which will be held by the military
authorities does not abrogate the right
to trail by the civil authorities. Those
who escape punishment in the military
court will be prosecuted in the courts
of Harris county."
Murder Indictments Returned.
Evidence of the intention of the
local officials not to let the matter
drop with the departure of the colored
infantrymen for Columbus, was con
tained this afternoon in the action of
the Harris county grand jury. This
body as soon as it learned that thirty
four negroes held in jail had been
turned oyer to the army before day
break, began consideration of the
blanket charges preferred by Mr.
Crooker. In a few hours it returned
murder indictments against the thirty
four and six others, who had not
been arrested.
Thousands today paid special trib
ute to Captain J. W. Mattes when
his casket, placed on a truck and
mantled by the colors, was taken to
the station to be sent to Chicago.
Captain 'attes was shot down as he
approached the scene of the disturb
ance in a police officers automobile.
Indication., are that there will be
no more deaths as a result of the
(Continued on Tate Two, Column Two.)
BATTIB LIKE
TO FLIGHT
ODROVE OUT ANCIENT ENEMY.
. "At last our soldiers have achieved
this magnificent thing; they have
freed our soil from the ancient en
emy" The final success of the Italians in
winning their greatest battle in this
war is thrilling the country as never
before. Both the army and the civil
ians now see the rest.: of two years
suffering and economic hardship.
The victory came unexpectedly,
notwithstanding the encouraging bul
letins of the last fortnight. It is Gen
eral Cadorna's rule never to announce
an event until certain that his troops
are able to hold new positions.
The battle along the Isonzo bas de
veloped further brilliant successes'for
the Italians who, it is now plain, are
making one of their greatest efforts
of the war.
General Cadorna's men, who at the
beginning of the offensive, made a
new crossing of the river north of
Gorizia, at a point where the Aus
trian s believed such a feat was im
possible, have won another spectacu
lar victory by scaling Monte Santo,
2,245 feet high, and placing their flag
there.
SCALE MONTE SANTO.
This mountain top, seven miles
north of Gorizia, dominates the plain
to the east of the city. The Austrian
line of defense was broken at several
points and the Italians are pursuing
the retiring Austrians.
Further south, on the Carso, fight
ing continues violently and inces
santly. Austrian efforts to win back
lost positions were defeated.
French Round Out Victory.
New gains have been made by the
French on the Verdun front, round
ing out the victory in the offensive
begun on Monday. The French ad
vanced last night north of Hill 304,
Continoid on Pago Two, Column Two.)
Chicago Wheat Pit
At Herbert
Chicago, 111., Aug. 26. The wheat
pit of the Chicago .Board of Trade
closed Saturday. The action of the di
rectors in closing the pit was due to
a request of Herbert C. Hoover, food
administrator, that trading in wheat
futures cease at least for the period
of the war. .
The closing of the pit was without
incident. A few of the traders stood
about the big saucer-like place where
fortunes have been made and IuaI in
MRS. ANDERSON AND
MRS.NETHA WAYARE
SLAYER'S VICTIMS
Murder of Wife of Florence Real Estate Dealer Follows
Closely in Wake of Death of Mrs. Anderson; Body
Is Found With Throat Slashed ; Negro Cap
tured at Blair Held for Crime.
Two women have been brutally murdered in Omaha with
in twenty-four hour.
The first shock came when the body of Christine Anderson
was found in her home Saturday night with the head partially
severed and the skull crushed by a heavy blow with a blunt in
strument. '?
AGED WOMAN
SLAIN IN HOME
AS SHE SLEEPS
Mrs. Christine Anderson's Head
Partially Severed and Skull
Crushed by Heavy Blow
With Blunt Instrument.
Mrs. Christine Anderson, 75, 4236
Corby ( street, was . found brutally
murdered in her home at 8:30 last
evening.
Her daughter, Mrs. Lens Levsn,
who had been living with her found
the body stretched across the bed
with the throat slashed several times
and a bruise, evidently from some
heavy instrument, below the left tem
ple. 1
Swan Anderson, Btepson of the
murdered -woman, was arrested by
Detectives Rich snd Pisancwski at
his home, 804 North Twenty-third
street, shortly after the murder, and
is held at the police station for in
vestigation, i
The crime is mysterious and the
police suspect that it may have been
committed by a religious fanatic.
Mrs. Anderson had of late com
plained to her daughter of feeling ill.
She took to her bed yesterday
afternoon. At 6 o'clock Mrs.
Levan left the house to do some shop
ping, and bade her mother goodby.
She returned at 8:30 o'clock, and, see
ing the house dark, said:
Are you asleep, mother?"
Daughter Finds Body.
Receiving no answer, she lighted a
lamp and went into her mother's
room. There she saw her mother's
body stretched across the bed in a
pool of blood. Mrs. Levan screamed
and ran to a neighbor's, Mrs. John
Steimle, and told her she thought her
mother had suffered a hemorrhage
and died. Mrs. Steimle went over to
the house, and, at once comprehend
ing the tragedy, telephoned Dr. I, J.
Wearne. When he nved and exam
ined the body he said the aged woman
had been murdered.
Besides being wounded in the throat,
Mrs. Anderson had been struck by
some blunt instrument below the left
temple. Her throat was flashed scv
eral times.
v The bed showed signs of a des
perate struggle.
Police found a letter in German in
a 'small pasteboard box under the
mattress, wherein was also a pair of
scissors. I he letter, bearing no date
in substance indicated intense - re
ligious feeling of the writer, who
signed no name. Police say this may
prove a clue showing that the murder
was committed-by a religious fanatic.
No knife was found. The murderer
evidently committed the deed quickly
and covered his escape carefully. The
back door had been left open and po
lice think he entered the house there
and left by the same way.
The murdered woman's body
showed no signs of assault.
Mystery Deepens.
Close examination of the house
showed no signs of robbery. Neigh
bors say they saw no one enter the
house last evening.
Mrs, Anderson has three married
daughters, two of whom are living in
the city, and one, Mrs. B. S. Roland,
in Norfolk, Va. When told of the
murder they were shocked and could
give no clue.
A married son of the murdered
woman, Frahk Festner, 3526 North
Twenty-eighth avenue, "was called to
(Conlinnrd on Pate Throe, Column Four.)
Closes
Hoover's Request
the exciting days of "corners." Most
of the traders expressed little regret
at the passing of the pit and a num
ber were of the opinion that it would
be well if trading in futures should
never be resumed. The big men of
the wheat market were not present.
Liquidation had been going forward
on a large scale since the decision of
the government to control wheat, so
wnen tne ciose came toaay it wa
said all deals had been settled, and
the trader turned to other grains, j
'O This was followed yesterday after
noon by the finding of the body of
Mrs. C. L. Nethaway, wife of a Flor- -ence
real estate dealer, with the throat'
cut and the clothing torn from the
body.
A negro was arrested at Blair last'
night on suspicion of complicity in the
murder of Mrs. Nethaway.
The body of Mrs. Nethaway
was found yesterday afternoon
near her farm, one mile north
of Briggs station, badly mutilated and
with her clothes torn from her body.
A negro who stopped at a nearby
farm house and asked for a drink Was'
suspected of the crime and all the
residents of that section were "soon
on a hunt through the corn fields for
the culprit. ; .
A short time later a report came,
from Blair that a negro answering
the description of the man who asked
for a drink was taken from the North;
western train as it pulled into Blair.
He was placed in the jail at Blair. In
his pockets were some women's rings,
but he steadfastly denied any knowl
edge of the crime.
Wife Managed Farm. '
Mr. Nethaway operates a real es
tate office in Florence and his wife
was managing their farm, which is
near what is known as South Cut, a
mile north of Briggs station and
where the railroad maintains, a small
station and operator. The body was
found by the operator, named Herd-,
man, beside the track as he was go
ing to work for the night.
Mrs. Nethaway was to meet her
t...,L-..J u-: j . ...i. . l.
UU9U.UU 111 U1C Ul(f in luge WIIILll la
on the High Line drive to Calhoun.
-To get from the Nctbsway farm to
the bridge is a long drive around
and Mrs. Nethaway had arranged to
walk down the shorter route of the
railroad track to meet Mr. Nethaway
in his auto.
When she did not come to the
meeting place Mr. Nethaway started
to search for her and met Herdman,
who had just found the body.
The sheriff of Washington county
started for Omaha in an auto with
the negro.
Farmer Fined for Failing
To Give Up Half of Highway;
Sioux Falls, S. D., Aiig. 26. (Spe
cial.) George Fenstermacherf a
farmer living near Wblsey, was the
first victim of a new law enacted by
the last legislature requiring drivers
of automobiles, wagons and other ve
hicles to give drivers of other ve
hicles whom they meet one-half the
highway. '
Fenstermacher was driving a hay
rack, hay rake and mower attached,
and refused to give half the road to .
C. N. Hall, who had him arrested.
When taken into court Fenstermacher
wag fined $16.50.
Find Youth Convicted
Of Parricide Not Guilty
B rookville, , Pa., WAu g..i26. Ernes t '
Haines, a boy of 46-years; eonvicted ,
and sentenced to the electric chair for'
the murder of his father, William
Haines, but who was granted a new,
trial at the request of Governor
Brumbaugh a few days before the
sentence was to be executed, was free
today. After deliberating ninety and
one-half hours, a jury in the retrial of
the case, found Haines not guilty.
Butter Smashes Altitude
Record at Portland, Oregon
Portland, Ore., Aug. 26. Butter sold
in Portland Saturday at the highest
i-j ee i.
price ever recurucu, ccnis at
pound or $1.05 for a two-pound briclc
at retail. At wholesale the price ad
vanced 3 cents a pound to 47 cents
in parchment wrapped or 48 cents in
cartons. Butter fat advanced to 46
and 47 cents. Dealers predicted fur
ther early advances.
Dakota Farmer Turns
Parlor Into Grainary
Corsica, S. D., Aug. 26. (Special.)
The drafting of a parlor as a stor
age place tor surplils wheat is re
ported from the farm of Perriu
brothers, some miles from here. They
filled all other storage places and
then were compelled to turn the par
lor of their home into a granary.
South Dakota Asks For '
Revised Freight Rates
Washington, Aug. 26. Railroad
commissioners of South Dakota today
petitioned the Interstate Commerce
commission to put into effect revised
freight rates on grain and grain
I products from South Dakota points
to Iowa destinations, removing an
alleged discrimination iu favor of
