Nebraska Newspapers

    Frivolity Marks
Murder Trial of
Auburn Woman
Lapses of Decorum and Sys-
pathy for Mrs. Neal Fea
tures Resume Hear-
ins
Today.
(Continue From Fag Oac.)
she "ran behind the telephone bar
rel before she left the house," Mrs.
Buck said she hadn't paid any atten
tion and denied the statement.
Joe Wright, brother-in-law of
Mrs. Neal by her first mariage, tes
tified to conversations held with Neal
in which the latter made threatening
remarks.
While he was, janitor of the Ne
maha county jail in January, 1920,
Neal told him of his domestic trou
bles and made the statement: "I will
have a double funeral some day."
When Wright told him to "get
that foolishness out of his head,"
Neal replied: he "would get that boy
(meaning his stepson, Leland) and
then her" (meaning Mrs. Neal. "I'm
going to end it all," was his parting
snoi, according to Wright. .
Strike Out Testimony.
The county attorney's motion here
to strike out Wright s testimony be
cause it was too remote in time to
have bearing in this issue was sus
tained bv the court.
Mrs. Buck was then recalled to
the stand to tell what she knew of
the Meals domestic troubles.
She related that when Mrs. Neal
left her husband to get a divorce,
Neal said" to her: "My wife is afraid
of me; she thinks I'm a cave-man
and some day I'll show her I am!"
The witness, who is an old-fashioned
type of woman, added naively:
"What he meant by 'cave-man' I
don't know,'-' whereupon the spec
tators burst into laughter.
Needed Good Spanking..
When Mrs. Neal returned to her
husband, Neal said to Mrs. Buck:
"What she needs is a right good
af""'"K i c Bui a notion 10
spank her," Mrs. Buck said.
Once Neal telephoned Buck that
he "had cut his wife's throat during
the night and she made a nice-looking
corpse."
Mrs. Buck said she knew Neal
was "joshing" but she told her hus
band she didn't like those kind of
jokes.
She said she never told this inci
dent to Mrs. Neal until after Neal's
death. She admitted Neal was given
to extravagant speech and no serious
attention was paid to his remarks,
and that she held each of the couple
equally to blame for their domestic
troubles.
Mention Butler's Name.
Fixing the time for Neal's remarks,
she placed it as the time the Neals
were having trouble over A. E. But
ler. This was the first mention of
Butler's name in the hearing.
After Mrs. Neal returned to her
husband she told Mrs. Buck her hus
band was "just as good to her as he
ever had been." This occasioned more
laughter in the court room.
Mrs. Buck denied Mrs. Nral told
her she had come back to Neal in
order to get a better hold on his
property.
On the night of the tragedy, Mrs.
Neal kept exclaiming: "Oh, why did
I ever comeback to him?"
When Mrs. "Buck then inquired
why she did, Mrs. Neal replied:
"Ben threatened to commit suicide if
I didn't." Mrs. Buck testified.
lan of Trial.
Thus far in the hearing, the
strategic battle of the state has. been
to reveal as little of testimony dam
aging to Mrs. Neat as possible, while
the defense is using its utmost en
deavor 10 procure as many revela
tions in its .testimony as possible.
Much sympathy is evidenced in
the courtroom for Mrs. Neal, whp is
the first woman ever put on trial for
first degree murder in Nemaha coun
ty, one of the oldest organized in
the state.
During the noon recess the court
house square took on the aspect of a
picnic grounds. Family groups
were scattered here and there, while
other groups gathered to discuss the
case and speculate on the guilt or
innocence of Jhe accused.
. Seven Ages Present.
The crowd at the afternoon ses
sion was even larger than that of the
morning. The air was hot and
stuffy. The seven ages of man were
represented in the crowd, from babes
in arms to doddering old men and
women. , ' . . '
The. afternoon session was re
sumed with Sheriff Davis on the
stand. The sheriff made an exam
ination of the gun found clasped in
Neal's hand. Two shells were ex
ploded, two unexploded and two of
the chambers were empty. Jbe
sheriff said that the condition ot the
shells indicated that they were eight
or 10 years old.
He said he had heard Mrs. Neal
testify at the coroner's inquest that
she was asleep in bed when awak
ened by the shot. Describing the
bed, the sheriff declared that it had
the appearance of having been
freshly laundered, still had creases in
it and looked as if someone had sat
on the bed but not as if anyone had
slept on it. The pillows were undis
turbed. Blood-Spotted Sheet
The sheriff produced the blood
spotted sheet found on the bed at the
request of the defendant's attorney
and arranged it in a position as it
had been draped over the bed.
There was a blood spot on the
chiffonier which looked as if some
thing had been dragged across it, he
said. ' ' .
At this point the court room be
came so crowded that the bailiff
cleared the aisles, whereat the others
cneerea. . . .
The sheriff said that he examined
all the walls of the room, took up the
carpets and examined the casings for
a second bullet. He examined the
windows and screens and also hunted
in the adjoining room. He did this
because Mrs. Neal said there were
two shots fired. He examined the
bed and sheets for a bullet hole. He
examined Neal's gown the night of
the tragedy and brought it to Au
burn. He did not know where it
was now, but thought the under
taker had burned it. He said that
there was no blood on the night
eown at the chest, but there was
some on the fringe. Neat had no
other clothes on.
No Powder Burns.
Alva Rogers, former sheriff, who
has served Nemaha county four
years, testified that he examined the
wound in Neat's neck with a mag
nifying glass. During his term as
sheriff he had examined the wounds
of four suicides who had died by
gunshot wounds. He said that he
had turned the body to the light and
taken the sharp blade of a knife to
probe the wound for powder stains
and found none. He used a mag
nifying Rlass provided by Hans Niel
sen, Bertillion expert of the state bu
reau of criminal investigation. lie
based his contention that there were
no powder burns on the theory that
there are always grains of burnt
powder in the flesh when the gun is
fired at short range. There were
no burnt grains of powder in the
wound in Neal's flesh.
J. C. Woodie, village marshal of
Teru, was called next. He testified
that he was called by the Peru cen
tral at 11:30; that he had gotten out
of bed and looked at his watch. Cen
tral said that someone was in trouble
but she did not know who. Later
she called and told him. He went
out of Peru with Dr. Vance, Harry
Patterson and Tom Railback and
went to Buck's, where he stayed 10
minutes, then went to Neal's.
Mrs. Lucy Neal, charged with first
degree murder in connection with
the fatal shooting of her husband,
Ben Neal, the night of August 11,
appeared in court for her prelimi
nary hearing today, dressed in
mourning and accompanied by her
daughter. Ava, 16. wearing a white
middie blouse with black tie and
blsclc skirt.
Confronted as she was with a
charge of killing her husband, she
faced the densely packed court room
and glanced at friends, neignDors,
acquaintances and strangers with re
markable composure.
Friends Beside Her.
Seated dose to Mrs. Neal was her
aged mother, Mrs. Dodd, who came
from her home in Missouri to be
with her dauehter in trouble. Also
close bv were other close women
friends of the accusd but to these
she gave no heed during the . long
minutes which were taken up in pre
naration for the trial.
Charles Buck, the neighbor to
whose home Mrs. Neal and her
daughter fled on the night of the
tragedy, was the first witness.
Dr. Vance, T. C. Woodie, Arch
Railsback and Bert Patterson came
to his house together, Buck testified,
and then all six persons went to the
Neal home. The time was fixed
about 1 a. m.
Dr. Vance of Peru was the next
witness called. He testified he has
practiced medicine and surgery for
18 years, and that he formerly was
a police surgeon in umaha.
No Lights Burning.
Dr. Vance called Tom Fisher, drug
gist, to prepare dressings and also
called Tom Railsback, J. C. Woodie
and Bert Patterson to help. While
waiting, the electric lights in Peru
went out as customary at midnight,
by which he filed the time. It took
30 minutes to run to the Neal place.
No liehts were burning in the Neal
home, the doctor testified. The party
went through the dining room, and
the small kitchen to the bedroom,
which is about 10 feet square.
The witness described the loca-
tion of the bed with its head to the
northeast. He found the body of
Neal on the south side of the room
with the feet extending under the
bed, the right leg slightly outside
and cramped. The head was about
two feet inside the door and to the
south, he said.
Right Hand on Chest.
He described the location of the
wound in the left side of the neck.
The left hand was lying on the floor,
I he right hand was lying across
the dead mans chest, loosely clutch
ing a .32 caliber pistol, nickle plated,
with a black hard rubber handle.
The wound in the neck was slight
ly swollen. The doctor probed for
the bullet until he struck the under
side of the jaw bone. The face was
bloody and the place around the bul
let wound was dark, bhenff Davis
washed all the blood and staiins off
the neck, the doctor said. He also
testified there was no powder stains
except a narrow margin around the
wound. One finger of the left hand
had a small blood stain. The right
hand was bloody. '
Blood on Carpet.
Asked what, in his opinion, caused
the death of Neal, he answered.
"Gunshot wound."
On cross-examination by the de
fense the doctor stated there was
quite a pool of blood under the
head, staining the carpet In the
northeast corner of the room, near
the head of the bed, there were ':r.)ps
of blood on the carpet.
Neals clothing was on the chair.
The body was clothed in a night
gown. I he witness testified he
made no autopsy to find where the
bullet went Indications were that
some of the larger blood vessels had
been severed. The wound was close
to the external aortic artery.
The wound was small and circu
lar, with clean edges. The doctor
said he examined the revolver held
in the dead man's hand. The cham
bers contained two exploded shells,
two unexploded shells and two of
the chambers were empty. The left
jaw was discolored and this was
washed off by bhenrf JJavis. Ihis
coloied spot was two inches across.
The mottled place was covered with
blood and was washed off when the
wound was cleaned.
The wound had the appearance of
being powder smoked before being
washed, according to the doctor.
There were no powder burns, but
there was a small circular abcess
about the size of a dime around the
wound.
Stains on Chiffonier.
There were streaks of blood on
the chiffonier in the room and blood
stains on the door casing and wall
paper.
The stains on the chiffonier were
like blood running down, the doctor
said. The stains on the wall paper
looked like finger prints of bloody
hands.
Sheriff Davis was next called, and
testified that he was called to the
Neal home at 12:05 a. m., of August
12.
He went in the house through the
south, dining room door, he said,
through the kitchen to the bedroom
and found the body lying on its back,
legs extended under the bed, the
right hand loosely grasping a revol
ver. Print of Hand.
He said Mrs. Neal told him she
"Near Bride" Flees
Hour After License
Has Been Procured
Chicago, Aug. 25. A story of how
pretty Edith J. Lifters, an 18-year-old
bride-to-be, fled from her home
in Jersey City an hour after the mar
riage license was procured, taking
with her the wedding trousseau, was
told the Chicago police today by
Mrs. Lilia Kern, Jersey City, the
girl's mother.
Underneath the story, as a motive'
for the girl's disappearance, lies another-
tale of a former suitor, Ted
Kockocinski, whose mysterious let
ter almost on the eve of the wedding
suddenly induced the girl to aban
don her fiance, Frank A. Doeling, a
sailor, and flee to Kockocinski in
Chicago.
slept on the right side of the bed.
He found blood marks on the sheet
where it lapped over the ed on the
side where she said she slept. Spots
of blood led to where Neal lay on
the floor. He turned the body over
to find if there were any other
wounds, but did not find any. This
movement of the body caused other
blood pools to form on the floor. The
right hand and arm were soaked with
blood. Blood was on the muzzle of
the gun quarter of an inch back from
the tip, he said, and also on the
cylinder of the gun. There was a
little spot of blood on one of the
fingers of the left hand. He made
close examination of the blood marks
on the wall.
They were made by a left hand,
the shenrf testified. He used a
magnifying glass and by ridges of
the Drints and bv the oosition of the
j marks, determined they were made
by the left hand
Americans Lost
Pick of Lighter
Than Air Service
New York, Aug. 25. The pick of
the American lighter-than-air naval
flyers were among the officers and
men who perished in the ZR-2. Aero
nautical authorities here today de
clared that the six officers and 10
men of the United States navy who
died in the tragedy represented the
best American knowledge of the con
struction and operation of dirigibles.
The American dead are: .
Officers.
Com. Louis H. Maxfield, 37, St.
Paul, Minn.; wife and two children
were with him at Howden, England.
Commanded a naval air station in
France during the war. Received
cross of Legion of Honor and United
States navy cross.
Lieut Com. Valent N. Bieg, 30,
Haverford, Pa.; married. Performed
destroyer duty during war.
Lieut Com, Emery Coil, 32, West
Boro, Mass.; married. Served as
member of the allied aeronautical
commission of control executive of
ficial of airship detachment at How
den. Lieut 'Marcus H. Esterly. 30.
Youngstown, (.; married.
Lieut. Henry W. Hoyt 31. Clear
water, Fla.; single. Had charge of
lighter-than-air work with Pacific air
force until sent to Howdea as mem
ber of airship detachment there.
Lieut Charles G. Little. 27. New-
buryport, Mass. Married recently in
England. Distinguished himself in an
ineffectual attempt to save the Ameri
can blimp C-5 when it was destroyed
in New f oundland.
Non-Coms. Killed.
Non-commissioned officers and
men:
Charles I. Aller, Denver, Colo.
Maurice Lay, Greensboro, N. C.
A. S. Pettit, New York.
Robert M. Coons, Owen-boro, Ky.
Lloyd E. Crowell, Charleston, S. C.
J. T. Hancock: father ii. London.
England.
William Julius, Los Angeles, Cal.
Albert L. Loftin, Lake Charles, La.
. William J. Steele, Bainbridge, Ind.
George Welsh, Elgin,' 111.
Alliance Man Promoted
Alliance. Neb.. Auir. 25. (Sne-
cial.) Clay Harry, manager of the
Alliance office of the Northwestern
Bell Telephone comoanv since De
cember!, 1919, has been promoted to
the position of chief clerk in the
office of F. A. May, commercial su
perintendent of the Nebraska di
vision, at Omaha and will assume
his new duties September 1. He
has been nvthe service of the com
pany for about "five years. He will
be succeeded here bv S. C Wind
ham, formerly of Plattsmouth, but
wno has been connected with the
Omaha offices of the comoanv for
the last four months.
Alliance Mayor Joins
National Budget Move
Alliance, Neb.. Auir.25. (Soecial.V
Mayor R. M. Hampton of Alli
ance has accepted the invitation of
the national budget committee to
serve as honorary chairman of the
local committee of that organization.
which is engaged in a nation-wide
effort to gain popular support of the
efforts of General Dawes, director of
the budget, to affect a reduction of
the burden of federal taxes. The
mayor will join with the chief mag
istrates ot 1.U00 other cities through
out the country- in fostering the
spirit of popular approval of the pol
icy of federal retrenchment.
Maj. Gen. Wade, Retired, Dies
At His Home in Ashtabula, O.
Ashtabula, O., Aug. 25. Maj. Gen.
James F. Wade, 78, retired, died at
his home m Jefferson, near here, to
day after a long illness. He en
tered the army during the civil war
and was in continuous service for 46
years, retiring 14 years ago.
When William H. Taft was gov
ernor general of the Philippines Gen
eral Wade was in command in the
islands.
Plot to Slay Obregon Is
Discovered in Mexico City
Mexico City. Aug. 25. (By The
Associated Press.) The discovery of
an alleged plot to assassinate Presi
dent Obregon resulted last evening
in the arrest of Gen. Jesus Salas Lo
pez, commander of a small body of
troops in the state of Morelos; Anas
tacio Seevedra and Fernando Gon
zales Gomez, according to an an
nouncement by the chief of police of
Mexico City toda;
THE BEE: OMAHA,
Head of American
Near East Relief
Arrives at Riga
Workers Describe Huge Task
Facing Organizations in
Famine-Stricken Districts
Of Russia.
By AMBROSE LAMBERT.
Chicago Tribune Cable, Couyricht. 1921.
Riga. Aug. 25. Albert A. John
son of Farmingdale, N. Y., chairman
of the American Near East and Cau
casian Relief commission, his col
leagues Paxton Hibben of Indianap
olis, John Voorhies of New York
and rank Connex, an interpreter,
have just arrived from Moscow after
having crossed Russia from the
south. They painted an almost in
describable picture of conditions in
the famine areas which they visited
and told of the herculean tasks nec
essary to adequately relieve Russia.
Mr. Johnson and his aids left Tiflis
on August 16, reaching Moscow via
Petrovsk. Vladikavkaz, Rostof and
Kozlof. They were overwhelmed
with the extent of ythe danger attend
ing the emigration of the people
from the 10 stricken Volga prov
inces. I hey said that it was doubt
ful whether the authorities would be
able to control the situation.
They say that 300,000 persons have
left the Simbirsk and Samara dis
tricts and the province of Sartof has
been transformed into a huge con
centration camp for the refugees
from the upper Volga.
Leave AU Possessions.'
The plight of the refugees is ter
rible. They have parted with every
possession they own and have been
reduced to eating horses and other
animals. Literally millions are taking
part in the exodus, leaving their
homes under stress of indescribable
hunger and moving westward by any
and every available means of trans
portation, i
Neal's gown.
The refugees are willing to endure
any hardships and risk in order to
escape. They travel in box cars
packed to suffocation and fight like
maniacs to secure places on the
roofs or trucks of the cars. Along
the railways and in the stations,
thousands are herded in enclosures,
being refused admission to many
towns and cities owing to the in
ability of the authorities to provide
food. .
It is the opinion of Mr. Johnson
and his colleagues, that all of west
ern Russia is faced with a similar
menace, carrying with it the gravest
consequences to civilization, if not ;
actually making its foundation tot
ter. It is the opinion of the com
mission that immediate steps are im
perative to induce the fleeing families
to return to their homes and resume
agriculture. Those to whom mem-1
bers of the commission spoke ex-!
pressed their willingness to return
to their abodes if they were guar
anteed sufficient food to maintain
them during the winter and were
given seed grain for planting in the
spring. .
Problem Two. r -The
problem strikes the xommis
sion as being two-fold. The fir?t
problem is to supply the minimum
amount of foodstuffs to prevent the
creation of an immense refugee
problem in Russia, which is likely
to eneulf western Europe. The
second is to localize food distribution
so as to compel the refugees to re
turn to their homes. They point out
that merely feeding the children does
r.ot touch either of these difficul
ties.
They suggest Rostov as the main
base for distribution in the stricken
area, with a field base at Tzaritzin,
where supplies could be shipped via
the Volga. Subcenters are suggested
for similar -work at Kazn and Sa
mara. At Rostov there are loops of
two railways. It is suggested that
140 miles of these loops could be
used, having one for loaded cars
and the other for empties,, thus mak
it possible to handle three trains,
each carrying 500 tons daily.
In addition, it is suggested that
the Don river be used while Novor
issiik would be available as a sup
plementary base. They say speed is
necessary, as the Volga will be froz
en up by the middle of December
and food must be delivered before
that time.
Girl, 12, Confesses She and
Brother Robbed 25 Places
Chicago, Aug. 25. A 12-year-old
girl confessed to the police that she
and her brother, 14, had committed
25 burglaries. The girl, Hattie
Kaforski, was arrested last night as
she stood guard while her brother,
Joseph, was trying to rob a dry
goods store.
The mother of the two children,
Mrs. Rose Kaforski, told the police
today that her 19-year-old son, Ray
mond, had had the younger children
under his tutelage and that they had
become experts in burglary.
Hindu Worker Deported
From California Ranch
Visalia. Cal.. Aug. 25. A band of
about 20 white laborers appeared at
tne ranch ot A. francis in the Cut
ler district 15 miles north of here
Wednesday afternoon and deported
a Hindu worker from the house in
an automobile. Tuesday nieht the
white workers called on Francis and
told him they would not stand by
and permit employment of Hindu
grape pickers while white men are
out of work. Francis discharged all
Hindus working for him, it was said,
but one.
Road Conditions
(Furnlihed by Omaha Auto Club.)
Lincoln Highway. Ealt Road, c-nnrl
weather fine.
Lincoln Highway. West Dntmir mv.
horn to Valley, putting1 In gravel road
from Central City to Chapman; roada
good: weather fine.
O. U D. Highway Roada fair to Lin
coln, west of Lincoln roada fine.
3. T. A. Road Good. Detour one and
one-half mile Seward to Tamora.
Highland Cutoff. Roada In gcod con
dition. Qeorare Washington Hichwar Takn (he
High road to Blair; roada good to Sioux
City.
Black Hllla Trail Road work Omaha
to Fremont; Fremont to Norfolk, roada
good.
King of Trail, North Roada fine.
King ot Tralla. South Rnada excellent.
River to River Road Good to Dee
Molnee.
White role Road Excellent to Dea
ilolnea.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26. 1921.
Weak Girder Blamed
For Dirigible Wreck
(Continued From F One.)
today was somewhat akin to that
which followed the receipt of new
of a serious disaster during the war
days. At the air ministry, which
yesterday was a bee hive of activity
with elaborate preparations for the
transat antic flight, there was to
day a sensible depression on all
sides.
Relatives Are Stricken.
It was at Howden, Hull, Leeds
and neighboring towns, however,
where lived the wives and relatives
of many of the men whose lives
were snuffed out by the disaster,
that the loss was most keenly felt
In these places, too, were the fcng
lish brides of nine of the American
enlisted men who came to England
for the transoceanic flight. These
younfj; women had been eagerly
awaiting the time of the ZR-2's start
for America and had expected .soon
to follow on board a government
transport to their new homes.
The American dead included two
members of the American Legion
Lieutenant Little and Lloyd E
Crowell. mechanic. Several of th
British victims were members of
the British Legion of former service
men. Both these organizations will
be represented at the funeral services
As the dirigible was still British
property, not having yet been turned
over to the American authorities, all
investigations of the calamity will
be supervised by the British air
ministry.
Divers Explore Wreck.
Hull, England, Aug. 25. (By The
Associated Press.) Divers began at
dawn to explore the fire-twisted
wreck of the dirigible ZR-2, which
last evening exploded above this city
and feu into the Humber river, car
rying with it more than 40 of its
crew. Only one American, Norman
O. Walker, a rigger, and four Brit
ish, Flight Lieut. A. H. VVann;
Ernest Davies, airman; n. isateman
scientific assistant, and Walter trot
ter, mechanic, survived the disaster
that in a twinkling changed the trial
cruise of the airship into a ghastly
tracedv.
Dunne the hours ot darkness mat
followed the collapse and destruction
of the ZR-2. tuns stood by the wreck
age and keen eyes scanned the water
for any bodies that mignt nave Deen
dislodged by the tide that flowed
over all that remained of what was
yesterday Great Britain's mightiest
dirigible, which officials expected to
turn, over to the United States navy
todav. It was believed that the
ruins of the aerial dreadnaught held
the bodies of 15 American and 26
British officers and enlisted men
who were engaged in the final test
of the machine.
No More Survivors.
All hone that there might be other
survivors ot. tne disaster was dis
sipated durfng the night. The
Wreckage fell only 200 yards from
the shore and the six gondolas in
which most of the airship's personnel
was riding, sank immediately to the
bottom of the Humber. Ahe men
in the gondolas, it was believed
would have little chance to escape
after the dineible stiuck the water,
as the weight of the engines and ma
chinery quickly carried the ruined
structure beneath the water. Ex
perts here were at a loss to' account
for this greatest ot peace time air
disasters.
Residents of Hull who were watch
ing the ZR-2 when her cruise came
to its sudden and tragic end declared
that it seemed when the cratt at
tempted to make a sharp turn dur
ing a speed test, some oi ner giraers
buckled and broke, probably because
of a strain too heavy for the struc-
ture to bear. Some members of the
crew appear to have this same idea
of the cause of the accident.
The body of Lieut. Charles G.
Little, one of the American officers.
was today at the Hull infirmary,
where he died after being removed
from the wreckage of the ZR-2. The
body of Lieut. Marcus H. Esterly,
another American victim, was at a
mortuary and both were being held
pending an inquest which probably
will not be held until attempts to
take other bodies from the ruins
have been made.
Harbor officials today expressed
doubt that many bodies would be re
covered unless they were held fast
to the wreckage or were imprisoned
in the gondolas. : They said they
feared the . tide and the swift cur
rent of the Humber would carry
them away. ,
Immediately alter tne disaster
John H. Grout, the American con
sul; Lieutenant rennoyer, wno be
comes senior officer of the American
detatchment, and Naval Physician
Taylor assumed control of the
situation for the American govern
ment. Thev are co-ooerating in the
work of recovering and identifying
the bodies and are preparing an ot
ficial list of the missing.
Most of the American members ot
the crew of the ill-fated dirigible
ZR-2 were killed bv the explosion
which followed the buckling and
snanoincr of eirders amidships, de
clared Flight Lieut. A. H. Wann,
in command of the craft as navi
gating officer at the time of the dis
aster in a statement to The Asso
ciated Press today.
Lieutenant Wann said the ship had
run beautifully at 60 knots an hour
and that he had reduced th. speed to
50 knots, when there came a violent
cracking sound. He thought several
of the girders broke. The whole
thing happened in five seconds.
"There was no sign of anything
wrong when we pased over Hull,"
he added, "but everything happened
afterward. I was in sole control at
the time."
"Before the moment of the acci
dent," said Lieutenant Wann, whose
injuries are not serious, "the craft
had been sailing perfectly. It had
been passing through various diffi
cult tests and the speed had been
reduced, when suddenly, while cross
ing the Broad estuary of the Hum
ber, I heard the grinding and crack
ing of girders, and the airship
pitched forward, from an even keel.
"As soon as humanly possible I
emptied the water ballast to enable
the craft to resume its normal posi
tion, but at his instant a tremen
dous explosion occurred. The great
ship seemed to halt for a moment,
and then it dropped like a rock. The
concussion threw me down in the
navigator's car, where I was pinned
by the wreckage. The section of
the craft in which I was riding re
mained above the water when it
plunged into the Humber, and I was
rescued after being imprisoned for
15 minutes. That is all I ain able
to say."
Lieutenant Wann denied local re
ports that he had heroically
plunged the ZR-2 into the river
rather than on the shore, which was
crowded bv thousands of spectators.
The disaster occurred so quickly, he
said, that any such action was im
possible. Denver Man Victim.
Denver, Aug. 25. One Denver
man was among the crew of the ill
fated ZR-2 that fell into the Hum
ber river following an explosion. He
is Charles 1. Aller. designated as a
rigger. Aller, 34, had been in
naval service since 1907. During
the late war, he served aboard a tor
pedo boat destroyer.
Commander St. Paul Man.
St. Paul, Aug. 25. Commander
Lewis H. Maxfield of the ZR-2. who
was killed when the giant dirigible
fell at Hull, England, was a St. Paul
lesic'.ent, who had won many honors
durincr a varied career in t!ie navy.
Born here 38 years ago, Com
mander Maxfield received his early
education in local schools. After
graduating from the Boston Institute
of Technology he was appointed to
Annapolis in 1903. He graduated
three years later and as a midship
man was sent around the world with
the navy on the trip ordered by
President Roosevelt.
After the war he was awarded the
distinguished service medal from the
American government for 1m ef
ficiency. U.S. Officials
War Over Bond
Of Fugitives
A telegraphic war between J. C.
Kinsler, United States district at
torney, and the United States com
missioner at Los Angeles, with
charges of an effort to frustrate local
officials in their attempt to bring
Charles Wahlbere and Jacob Massey
to Omaha for trial, was disclosed by
Kinsler yesterday.
Who wins is yet to be determined.
The Los Angeles commissioner is
ui.der fire for failure to send on to
the clerk of the Omaha federal court
$25,000 bonds that Wahlberg and
Massey were required to put up for
appearance in Omaha this fall, when
arrested early in the summer for us
ing the mails to defraud in the Wil
liam Berg Potash company case.
.Instead of doing this, when the
two men were later rearrested, cited
for contempt of court in the Missouri
Valley Cattle Loan company case,
the commissioner apparently sus
pended the original $25,000 bond, and
agreed to hold the two in $12,500
bond each for a hearing before him
September 20. This hearing to de
termine whether the men should be
returned to Omaha for trial, accord
ing to Kinsler.
The commissioner has no author
ity under the law to alter or sup
plant bonds in any such way and I
so notified him, declared Kinsler.
"He promised to forward the original
$25,000 bond, but it has not arrived."
The action of the California official
will make it necessary for govern
ment witnesses to journey to Cali
fornia for the hearing there.
Hay Dealers Condemn
Co-Operative Markets
Chicago, Aug. 25. Co-operative
farm marketing and the participa
tion of county farm agents in such
projects were condemned by the
National Hay association in the
closing session of the Zoth national
convention.
Recommending the elimination of
hav inspection bv the federal bureau
of markets of the Department of
Agriculture, George S. Bridges of
Chicago, reported that the bureau of
standards, while empowered to in
spect hay, had informed him that it
had no funds to maintain an inspec-
tion corps and consequently no in
spections would be made.
Auto Stealing Rivals
Bootlegging in New York
New York. Aug. 25. Automobile
stealing is increasing with alarming
rapidity and has grown to proper
tions comparable only with the boot
legeing traffic in the get-rich-quick
operations in and around New York.
Automobile owners are deeply wor
ried over the situation and it is ex
pected a lobby will be placed, both
in Albany and Washington to de
mand legislative action.
For the first six months ot this
year, with August figures incom
plete, a total of 2,304 machines have
been stolen m Manhattan aione.
Son-in-Law of Slayer of
Priest Put Under Arrest
Birmineham. Ala., Aug. 25. Act-
inir at the reauest of Peoria, 111., po
lice, local authorities today arrested
as a suspicious person Piedro Guss
man, whose marriage to Miss Ruth
Stephenson early this month is said
to have resulted in the killing of
Father Tames E. Coyle, Catholic
priest, by the bride's father, the Rev.
Edwin R. btephenson.
Heat Wave at Grand Island
Accompanied by Hot "Wind
dran d Island. Neb., 'Aug. 25.
fSnprial Telee-ram.") Thursday was
the third day of another intense heat
wave. The thermometer hit 105 late
in the afternoon. A decidedly hot
wind, the first of the real kind m
cpvpra! vears. accompanied the wave
tor several hours, but receded later
in the afternoon.
nternational Nickel Co.
To Close Mines and Smelter
SiiHhurv. Ont. Ausr. 25. Six hun
dred employes of the International
Nickel company's mines and smelter
at Copper Cliff were notified yes-
terday that tne plant win ciose uown
Saturday for an indefinite period.
Heavy reserve stocks and general
depression make turtner operation
unprofitable. "
Reduced Fare
Excursion to Kansas City
August 27 to September 3.
Round trip fare, including tax,
$11.62, from Omaha via Burlington
route on above dates; tinai limit
Sept. 5. Trains at 9:05 a. m., 4:30 p.
m. and 11:10 p. in. Tickets and in
formation, City . Ticket Office, 1416
Dodge street, and Burlington depot.
High U.S. Officers
Tell Amazement at
Cresson Charges
Maior General Bullard and
Other Officers at Bcrgdoll
Prosecutions Write Major
They're Absurd.
Letters from high army officials
and from officers who were present
at his prosecution of Grover C
Bergdoll and Colonel Hunt, express
ing amazement at the report of the
congressional investigating commit
tee accusing him of laxity, have been
received by Maj. C. C. Cresson at
tort Crook.
Mai. Gen. R. L. Bullard. com
manding general at Governor's Island
at the time ot the prosecution
writes:
"I noticed especially Major Cres
son' zeal and interest for the con
viction in these cases It seemed to
me too great. It was so strong I
felt it necessary to caution hjm to
feel less personal concern in the
prosecution of the Cases and that
lie should limit himself to doing his
official duty without too much per
sonal concern as laid down in the
army regulations and military law.
"Laxity in the prosecution of the
cases which took place at my head
quarters nowhere appeared either in
the actual fact or in the report of
the cases.
(Signed) "R. L. BULLARD.
"Major General, U. S. A."
The foregoing letter is dated Au
gust 22, at Governors Island, head
quarters of the Second army corps.
Another letter, written by Col. Al
len W. Gullion, judge advocate in
charge at Governors Island at the
time of the Bergdoll and Hunt trials,
pnd who inspected the record. The
letter reads:
"Personally, I think the report of
the Bergdoll investigating committee
as far as it involves you is the most
absurd thing of my experience. It
may be some consolation to you to
know that this opinion is general
around these headquarers.
While everyone knows that the
thine is annoying to you. they all
think that the absurdity of the thing
Interesting New Tailleurs
Interpret the Fall Mode
The new silhouette, with its
long, graceful lines, finds
expression in soft materials.
Flowing sleeves and uneven
hems are noticeable depar
tures. Furs, embroideries and
beads lend attractiveness.
Distinctive shades of spinx,
tortoise shell, Sorrento blue
and Vofney red are favored.
Plain Tailored Models
$59.50 to $125.00
More Elaborate Ones
$125.00 Upwards
This Week -
Get the Truth
About the Chalmers
Telephone and
make an ap
pointment for a
demonstration.
Mid-City Motor and
Supply Co.
2216-18 Farnam Street - - Omaha
Telephone ATIantic 2462
is such as to be almost joke. An
errors you may have ebnunitted in
the prosecution of Bergdoll and Hunt
were due to overzeakuisness rathef
than to lack of zeal.
"In fact, I often compared you
with Javert, the detective in Lcs
Miserables, who hounded Jean Val
jean. "You, of course, know that you
can rely on me for a statement any
time I am officially called on."
From Capt. Thomas L. lleffer
man, captain judgt advocate,' at
torney for Colonel Hunt ,tt the trial,
Major Cresson received the follow
ing letter:
"I cannot resist writing you to tell
you of my amazement at-the report
of the congressional committee in
vestigating the case ofXirover Cleve
land Bergdoll. , To how you repson
sible for having anything at all to dp,
with the escape of Bergdoll or the
acquittal of Colonel Hunt is so
ridiculous to those who know the
facts that I ant sure you need npt
worry, because the truth will out.
"Everyone at these headquarters
knows that you knew nothing of
Bergdoll's intended departure from
Governors Island until after he had
escaped. I recall your query the next
morning when I talked with you at
the barge office in New York City,
"In regard to the prosecution, of
Colonel Hunt hfnr tli court-mar
tial at Governors Island, I never saw
a prosecuting officer more anxious to
convict. As Colonel Hunt's counsel
before the court, I feel that I was in
a position to judge your attitude In
the trial.' I thought you were quite
vindictive, and I believe Colonel
Hunt felt the same way. . I know
that at this stage of the game you
have not been treated fairly and I am
just as certain it will all come out
all right You can rely on me to do
anything that I can to have the truth
known."
Major Cresson stated this morning
that, although he had written to of
ficers present at the court-martial,
these letters were written before his
letters were delivered, and without
his solicitation.
lueuicinat oeer luues io ,
oc w uuneiu x cmpuraruy
Washington, Aug. 25. Decision to
withhold issuance of . medical beer
regulations pending congressional ac
tion on proposed anti-beer legislation
was reached today by Secretary
Mellon in conference with Infernal
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