Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties, Part 94

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 820

USA > Nebraska > Adams County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 94
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 94
USA > Nebraska > Hall County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 94
USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 94

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The elections of November, 1888, show 1,907

votes for George H. Hastings and four other elect- ors, 1,509 for W. G. Sloan and four others, 99 for E. S. Abbott and four others, and 33 for Allen Root and four others, or a total of 3,548 votes; John M. Thayer received 1,902 votes, John A. Mc- Shane 1,514, George E. Bigelow 99, and David Butler 46 for the office of Governor; George W. E. Dorsey 1,901, E. P. Weatherby 1,506, A. M. Wall- ing 103, and I. O. Jones 36 for Congress; John L. Means 1,626, S. N. Wolbach 1,793, O. C. Hall 66, and C. H. Wood 18 for senator of Seventeenth district; William J. Olinger received 51 prefer- ence votes for United States senator, Ed Hooper 1,762, H. C. Denman 1,884, W. J. Burger 1,454, Henry Vieregg 1,645, William Drennan and C. D. Irvine 80 each; Thomas A. Oakes 60 and William C. Brown 39 for representative of Forty-seventh district; Walter R. Bacon 1,772, H. B. Wilson 1,712, and C. Winking 32, candidates for county attorney. The proposition to issue bonds, referred to in the transactions of the supervisors, received only 482 votes, and was opposed by 1,729 votes. The vote on building an addition to conrt-house and issuing new jail bonds was 299 for and 984 contra.

The elections of November, 1889, show 1,706 votes for T. L. Norval, and 1,325 for John H. Ames, candidates for justice of the supreme court; E. C. Hockenberger received 1,839 votes and was not opposed, David Ackerman received 1,871, and Eli A. Barnes, 1,163 for county clerk; H. E. Clif- ford received 1,681 and J. H. Mullin 1,356 votes for county judge; E. E. Thompson 1,574 and H. A. Edwards 1,428 for office of school superin- tendent; William F. McLanghlin 1,425, and James A, Costello 1,619, for sheriff; J. D. Jack- son 1,718 and C. H. Waldschmit 1,298 for coro- ner, and C. A. Baldwin 1,725 for surveyor.

The assessors elected were Fayette Smith, Grand Island City; William Thomssen, Alda; M. J. Costello, Wood River; L. Henry, South Platte; C. C. Wilson, South Loup; A. O. Powers, Cameron; W. O. Foote, Martinsville; J. E. Mader, Prairie Creek; F. Suehlsen, Lake; M. S. Dren- nan, Mayfield; James F. Haldeman, Harrison; E. B. Engleman, Centre; Henry Rief, Washington;

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HALL COUNTY.

Robert Gillispie, Washington, and R. P. Mc- Cutcheon, Doniphan.

The justices of the peace elected were George J. Spencer, First Ward, Henry Garn, Second, T. H. Elsner, Third, and W. A. Prince, Fourth Ward of Grand Island City; D. O'Kane, M. J. Costello, W. D. Devereaux (J. J. Brewer and P. S. Wingert, tie in South Loup), J. W. Hurley, A. Eager, J. H. Andrews, W. W. McCoy, Patrick Hoye. S. H. Ferguson (H. H. Bock, D. S. Roush, tie in Washington), George Cox and H. N. Lord.

The township clerks elected in November, 1889, are named as follows, the order of townships (from Alda to Doniphan) as given in the list of justices, being observed in this list: F. D. Hast- ings, E. Baldwin, Fred Phillips, J. T. Mehaffie, Lee W. Crofts, D. S. Johnson, Hans H. Schroeder, J. E. Hanna, J. H. Hulett, M. Diehl, J. H. Squires, George Rief, M. J. Ryan and O. B Hawk.

The list of treasurers, in the same order of townships, comprises Clans Stoltenberg, S. M. Jordan, J. F. Cole, Elmer Veedd, E. O. Palmer, A. H. Stewart, Peter Schroeder, E. C. Walker, C. L. Alford, William Mundt, David Alter, Henry Giese, John Mullin and C. W. Hengen.

The supervisors elected in 1889 to serve in 1890 are Thomas Robinson, G. H. Geddes, George P. Dean, I. R. Alter, M. V. Powers, George H. Andrew, Myron Dings, M. Murphy and Charles Wasmer. The latter received the lowest vote of the party, 615, while George P. Dean re ceived the highest vote of the party, 685. Robert Geddes, Sr., received 591, while James Cleary and P. Dunphy received 546 votes, each being the highest and lowest vote of the party in Grand Island City. Z. H. Denman was elected in Alda, David Barrick in Wood River, William Lammers in South Platte, Josiah Hall in South Loup, W. W. Dubbs in Cameron, O. F. Foote in Martins- ville, W. H. Culbertson in Prairie Creek, H. C. Moeller in Lake, J. C. Bishop in Mayfield, J W. Harrison in Harrison, G. L. Rouse in Centre, William Stolley in Washington, C. S. Ewing in Jackson, and Samuel Shultz in Doniphan.

Apart from the representation of this county

in the Legislature, the offices of State have claimed a few citizens of Hall, and the highest position in the gift of the State is now held by Gen. Thayer. Henry A. Koenig served as State treasurer four years; Seth P. Mobley, regent of university two years; O. A. Abbott, lieutenant- governor two years, John. Wallichs, State anditor four years, and John M. Thayer, Governor for four years.

In Masonic, Odd Fellow, Grand Army and other secret society affairs, Grand Island has taken a representative part; while in agricultural associa- tion matters, Hall County farmers participate very prominently.

The first record of the district court of Hall County is opened under date, November 30, 1868. Judge L. Crounse who called this court for the date given, on application of the commissioners, was not present, so that the clerk John Wallichs, adjourned court until December 1, when the con- tinued absence of the judge occasioned another adjournment. On December 2, the worried clerk, the impatient jurors and lawyers and angry liti- gants were made happy by the presence of his honor, who opened the morning session, with John Wallichs, clerk; E. T. Gray, district attorney, and Henry Rose, sheriff. The grand jury then em- paneled comprised Peter Boch, George Canfield. H. Giese, Edward Hooper (foreman), J. Riss, H. Bockman, Edward Kenscher, Hans Knuth, Elijah Lane, Henry Schoel, A. P. Beaman, J. Crean, P. Moore, J. T. Reese, Edward Gumar and S. Lamb (succeeded by Patrick Dunphy and Henry Tempke). John S. Martin of the Ohio bar was admitted to the Nebraska bar on motion of Lawyer Gray. Henry Schoel, Hans Knuth and Henry Tempke, all grand jurors, were admitted to citizenship. Joachim Doll, John David Schuller, Henry Joehnk, John Hann, John Seier, Nicholas O. Hansen, Peter Stuhr, Carl Boehl, George Lounzen and August Thorspecken were also admitted to citizenship. The continnance in the case of A. C. McLain vs. Joseph Smith; a judgment against Daniel Freeman for $163.72 in favor of Ritehard Smith: the over- ruling of a motion to dismiss the case of assault and battery against Wesley Folsom; a judgment

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rendered by jury (of which C. C. Ridell was fore- man) against C. A. Hartzell, in favor of Conrad Grein, and the dismissal of the suit by Koenig & Wiebe against John Seier, mark the first day's work. On December 3, the grand jury returned an indictment for forgery and one for larceny. The charge of assault and battery was submitted to a jury, of which Robert Mitchell was foreman, with the result of acquitting Wesley Folsom. The ad mission to citizenship of Michael Crean, Carl Becker, Teith Becker, Detleo Sass, Gottfried Mer- ker, James Crean and Henry Lilianthal was ordered, and the trials of John Jennings for for- gery, and Elijah A. and John E. Myers, for lar- ceny, were begun. On the 4th a verdict of guilty was returned by a jury of whom Robert Mitchell was also foreman. C. P. Hall was assigned as counsel for Jennings, but could not save him from a two-years' term in the penitentiary. The Myers were acquitted by a jury of whom S. Canfield was foreman. Patrick and Richard Moore and Henry A. Koenig were admitted to citizenship, and the latter as treasurer of Hall County receipted for $40, being the amount of commencement fee for suits brought to this term.

There is no record of court being held in 1869. On May 24, 1870, Judge Crounse opened the second term, with Wallichs clerk, Gray attorney, and H. Hald sheriff. The grand jury comprised John Meagher, William Hollingshead, C.C. Jerome, J. Kraft, F. A. Wiebe, C. D. Mevis, John Riss, William Spiker, C. W. Thomas, Adam Windolph, John Haup, Perry Hack, N. V. Hansen, Fritz Roby, William Eldridge and David Miller. The civil suits, McLean & Russell rs. Charles Davis, and Koenig & Wiebe vs. John Seier, were reported settled. A judgment for $464.40 in favor of Fred Hedde, and against Freeman C. Dodge is recorded. Albert Swartzland, an attorney, moved the ad- mission of William H. Platt to the bar, which motion prevailed. Fritz Stark applied for leave to build a mill-dam across Wood River, and a jury in the case was called, on whose report the petition was granted. The first divorce suit was begun and ended here at this time. Anna Margareth Elsabea Pap had her maiden name of Tiedge restored.

owing to the fact that Johann D. Pap was absent from her for over two years. Martin Schimmer and Hugo Hald became citizens. The commence- ment fees for suits brought to this term amounted to $35.

The third term of court was begun May 3, 1871, although called for the first Monday in April. This was due to the inability of the judge to be present. Among the grand jurors (names not hith- erto given) were Peter Peterson, James Tout, R. C. Jordan, E. O'Brien, William Johnson, Daniel Wainright, Daniel Baker, J. G. Nagy, Patrick Nevills, L. Melson, Henry Egge, William Powell, J. W. Jones, George Cornelius, W. Rollins, George Williamson, Harry Norton, H. N. Chapman, H. Makely, George Loan, James Baldwin and Joseph Jenneman. George H. Thummel and Sparks of the Illinois bar were admitted at this term, also J. A. Platt, who was examined and admitted on mo- tion of O. A. Abbott. A judgment for $971.20 and costs was assessed by the jury against Joseph Smith, and in favor of McLean & Russell. Pat- rick Nevills, H. Obermiller, H. Garn, P. Peterson, C. D. Mevis, Alex A. Baker, Christian Hann, Carl Hann, Claus Hansen, Theodore Noll, Martin Horn, J. Boehl, John Hays, John Foulks, Jonathan Fran- cis, John Quaine, John Davis, John Bishoff, Louis Engel, August Engel, Fritz Kruse, H. Bauman, Patrick Brett and Fritz Stark were admitted to citizenship. W. C. Buderos was admitted to the bar on motion of William H. Platt. At this time O. A. Abbott, G. H. Thummel and Charles H. Brown were appointed a committee to examine candidates for admission to the law circle. The indictment for manslaughter was returned against Thomas O'Neil, to which he answered " guilty." Judge Crounse sentenced him to ten hours hard labor per day in the State penitentiary, until April 1, 1881. The commencement fees amounted to $45 from suits entered at this term, as shown by the receipt of Treasurer F. A. Wiebe.

In January, 1872, D. E. Marler, jailer, was locked in the cell by a prisoner named G. E. Mason, who escaped. Mason escaped once before; but owing to the severity of the weather returned.

The April term of 1872 was fixed to begin on

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HALL COUNTY.

the Sth, but the judge not being present, Clerk Wallichs had to resort to the plan of adjournment. On the 9th, however, Judge Crounse appeared upon the scene with E. F. Gray, attorney for district, and William M. Spiker, sheriff. The grand jury comprised Michael McNamara, Henry Tempke, James Baldwin, W. H. Denman, L. W. Rollins, James Michelson, W. H. Mitchell, J. D. Schuller, E. B. Veeder, Samuel Huston, William Deuel, Joe Wesley, E. W. Brown, John Win- dolph, Charles Hoffman and John Calahan. On motion of Attorney John D. Hayes, J. H. Darnell of the Iowa bar was admitted to practice. New citizens were made in the persons of C. H. Mink, John Pehrs and Paul Petterson. The charge of murder against George Williamson was dismissed by the grand jury. Charles Ross was sentenced to eighteen months' hard labor for larceny, and indictments for a similar offense returned in two other cases. John Buenz, Henrich Scheel, Theo- dore Scherzberg, Thomas Nevills, Charles Scherz- berg, Christian Wasmer and George Williamson were admitted to citizenship, and the marriage relations between Elizabeth and John Bishoff were dissolved on the former's petition. The com. mencement fees paid over to Charles Reulberg at the close of term amounted to $20.

Court was called fer April 14, 1873, but the usual absence of Judge Crounse led to adjourn- ment. On the 15th the clerk adjourned to the 16th, and on that day, owing to the continued absence of the judge, adjourned sine die.

The resolution of the commissioners of April 23, 1873, calling for a term of the district court, was answered by Judge Samuel Maxwell May 12, who appointed June 30 as the first day of term. Judge Maxwell presided, with M. B. Hoxie dis- trict attorney, and clerk and sheriff as in 1872. Adolph P. D. Egge, Henry Pieper, Henry Gulzov, J. M. Oltmann, H. Kruse, Hans Ruge, Sievert Rief, Clans Stoltenberg, Peter Bergfeeth, A. C. F. Wendt, F. Wilde, C. Engelke, Peter Jehrs, Jacob Suhr, H. Boersen, F. Hues, William Engel, Peter Meesch and James Buenz were admitted to citizen . ship.

On July 1, 1873, John D. Hayes, G. H. Thum-

mel, E. F. Gray and W. H. Platt were appointed a committee to examine applicants for admission to the bar. Thomas Harrison was admitted on their report. Henry Nunn of the Illinois bar was admitted on motion of John D. Hayes. Paul Frauen, Clans Frauen, Peter Wiese, Charles Rief, Lawrence Kilkenny, Patrick Kilkenny, Martin Nolan and John Graham became citizens, and later Henry Wiese, George Thavenet, Hans Behrens, George Lorenzen and Lonis Lorenzen followed their example. The amount of com- mencement fees turned over to Treasurer Hagge was $70.

The October term of 1873 opened on the 27th with the same judge and officials as in June of this year. Joe Jeneman, Rasmus Nielson, Chris Dierks, Edward Hooper, Heinrich Dederichsen, Henry Rief, Adolph Baasch and J. C. Ohlsen were admitted to citizenship. The celebrated case of Hall County vs. Charles Ruelberg et al. was pre- sented October 28, O. A. Abbott representing the county. David W. Beach was tried by a jury of which C. W. Felt was foreman, found guilty and sentenced to one year in penitentiary. The charges against Anna Cross and W. H. Anderson, ques- tionable house-keepers, and "Sandy " and Spence, common gamblers, were presented, while the suit against Ex-Treasurer Ruelberg was dismissed without prejudice to future action at the request of the commissioners, tendered by County Attor- ney O. A. Abbott.

The April term of 1874 opened with Judge Maxwell presiding; M. B. Hoxie, district attor. ney; John Wallichs, clerk, and William A. Deuel, sheriff .* A heavy contingent of foreigners ap- plied for admission to citizenship, and William Johnson, Nicholas Bonsen, Ehrick Prahm, Peter Mohr, John Liedemann, Henry C. Ahrens, Peter Meinert, Charles M. Horn, Daniel Baker. Hans P. Erickson, John Hauss, Robert Froberg and George Boehm were admitted. At this time the first pro- bate petition was heard-George W. Hulst, ad- ministrator of Jesse Turner estate, for leave to sell

* On March 16, 1874, William Nicholson, the jailor, while placing a prisoner in the cell, was seized by Joe Clark and James Duff and jailed. The two desperadoes escaped; but John Ellis, charged with murder, refused to accompany them.

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real estate. A few civil and criminal cases were presented.

The October term opened on the 26th with the same judge and officers as in April. John G. Schaupp's petition for leave to build a mill-dam across Wood River was presented, and a jury ordered in the case. Henry Schimmer, Henry Kasbari, D. M. Reuter, Claus Panstian, George Grantham, Jurgen Heesch, George Leger, Her- man Oehlrich, Charles Christiansen and George Greve were admitted citizens; Amelia Wire was granted her petition of divorce from Edward; Warren Thummel was admitted to the bar on motion of William H. Platt, and the acceptance of a receipt from Treasurer Hagge for $60 com- mencement fees closed the record of the term.

The April term of 1875 was opened on the 12th, but, owing to the absence of Judge Maxwell, ad- journed to the 13th, when George J. Spencer was admitted to the bar; the petition of Emilie K. Ball- ing for divorce was granted; Frederick Muntzert, Niels Hansen, John Bolders, William McCracken, Niels Anderson, L. Rasmussen Astrup, Claus Eggers and Ferdinand Loehle were admitted to citizenship, and Emma Grabach indicted for mur- der in the second degree. The commencement fees amounted to $45. The May adjourned term opened and concluded May 8, 1875. Charles R. Smith was admitted to the bar on motion of John D. Hayes; M. R. Abbott, James Holden and John Holden were admitted to citizenship, and Emma Grabach was sentenced to one year in the State penitentiary without solitary confinement.

A notable law case grew out of the title of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, known as the Union Pacific Railroad Company vs. W. H. Platt. It appears that some point in the con- tract of the company with the United States bound it to dispose of all the land grant prior to 1875. Secretary Schurz held that the company had forfeited their rights to lands then unsold, and under this ruling Platt pre-empted a one-fourth section within what is now Grand Island. The railroad company entered an action for trespass, but Platt enjoined the proceedings. Before Judge Dundy of the United States District Court the case

was decided in favor of the company; but the defendant Platt carried it to the United States Supreme Court, which confirmed the decision and settled the question of the land grants.

The October term of 1875 was remarkable for the lengthy civil docket presented. C. D. Culver, of the Illinois bar, was admitted to this bar; Dan- iel Ertel, John Genz, John Hendricks and John Johnson were admitted to citizenship. The term was opened by Judge Maxwell and closed by Judge George W. Post. The latter, on January 12, 1876, fixed the time of holding regular terms of court in the counties forming the Fourth judicial district- Hall, Merrick, Platte, Colfax, Dodge, Saunders, Howard, Seward, York, Butler, Polk and Hamil- ton. Judge Post opened the February term here on the 23d. Martin Ott, Hans Rief, Friedrich Schleichardt, John Mahony, Thomas Mahony, Hans Wiese, Henry Wiese, C. Clausen, Kasper Hein, Johann Hinrich Rief, Werner Foellmer, Fritz Tamsen, Claus Grotzke, Carl F. Petersen, Peter Laubach, Ludwig Schultz and Fritz Wiese were admitted to citizenship. Christopher T. Hall was admitted to the bar on certificate of the United States district clerk of Wyoming Terri- tory. Loring Gaffey and A. M. Stevenson, who were examined by Messrs. W. H. Platt, J. D. Hayes and Henry Nunn, and Arthur E. Pinkney by Messrs. Abbott and Thummel, were admitted to the Nebraska bar in "September. Henry Streeve, Nicolaus Mildenstein, Peter D. Thomsen, Peter Schuhmann, J. E. Meth, F. A. Schieck and Oth- man A. Abbott were admitted to citizenship dur- ing this term, and a number of civil cases dis- posed of.

The February term of 1877 commenced on the 20th, Judge Post presiding, with M. B. Reese, district attorney, John Wallichs, clerk, and W. A. Deuel, sheriff. The names of grand jurors show very few of the veteran jurors of past years. Martin Brett, Gustave Schaurup, Hans A. Klin- genberg, John C. Stark, M. Hokinson, H. Buen- sen, Bryan Harcy, W. Guenther, Patrick Higgins, John Lammert, Heinrich Graack, Christian E. Lykke, C. Schaurup, Nicholas Rauert, Claus Klindt, Christian Nieberger, Hugo Oehlrich, Hans

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HALL COUNTY.

J. Moehler. A. Blunk and Arnold Oehlrich were admitted to citizenship. The adjourned term was held in April. Mrs. Esther Johnson's maiden name-Esther E. Frye-was restored on her own petition. Ernst Marquardt, Carl Daberkow, Peter Thomsen, Michael Kroeger, Joachim F. Dibbern, Bertha Wiese, Charles Stolle, Peter Mohr, Jolin Mohr, Juergen Giese, John Lemburg and Carsten Lemberg were admitted to citizenship; while in September, 1877, a similar service was performed in the case of John Allan, the present district court clerk, Michael Kroeger, August Dobberstein, John L. Johnson, John Anderson, Detrick M. Sweeden, Caroline Pettersen, Pereke E. Petter- sen, Jacob Giese, Christian Ipsen and Henry Reese. The admission of George H. Caldwell, a West Virginia lawyer, to the Nebraska bar, is of record at this time.

The February term of 1878 shows only one change in the official list, Joseph Killian, sheriff, vice Deuel. Alex. Campbell was admitted to the Nebraska bar on testimonials from Michigan and Iowa. A long list of new citizens marks the first day of this term: Thomas Francis, Ellen Kearney, Fred Spangenberg, Gottfried Keinge, Michael Mullen, Thomas Mullen, Bridget F. Mullen, Cath- erine Francis, Dirk T. Witt, Claus Dammann, Herman Schipman, Max T. Voss, Carl Gatzke, Adolph Schipman, C. H. Kruse, Johann Neubert, Jasper Eggers, Ed Schaurup, Michael Curtin, Carsten Dammann, John Kruse, Loren Nelson, Marx Opp, Ehrhard Opp, Christ. Opp, Johann Opp, Henry Drews, Nicholaus Adams, Erlan G. Carlson, Frank Geerssen, W. Freund, George Loan, Henry Irvine and Mado Anderson renounced allegiance to their old oppressors. George Thompson was indicted for burglary, was found guilty by a jury, of whom Nathan Britton was foreman, and sen- tenced to one year in penitentiary. In September, 1878, the following-named were admitted to citi- zenship: John Hyland, Fred Campbell, Heinrich Wulf, Gustav Schieine, Franz Guenther, Miles Lyons, Charles Beinecke, Peter Claussen, Johann J. Gissell, Carl W. Wallgreen, Mark Lyons, Adam Simon, Simon Uhrig, Patrick Kane, Heinrich C. Stienbeck, the Widow Messa Dammann, W. P.

Nicholson, John Pohlmann, Jacob Erickson, Jnlins Buss, Henrietta Beinicke, Curl Schaub, Carl Guenther and Edward Bussell. Edward Wilson, who pleaded guilty to the indictment for burglary, was sentenced to two years in the penitentiary.

John R. Thompson, of the Iowa bar, was ad mitted to the Nebraska bar in February, 1879, on motion of T. O. C. Harrison. George H. Thummel and M. J. Gahan were appointed commissioners of insanity; Miles Christensen, Frederick Wiegert, Jens Larsen and Henrietta Scherzberg were ad. mitted to citizenship; Charles Davis was sen- tenced to one year in the penitentiary for bur- glary; Thomas J. Morgan, Wilhelm Glause, Lorenz Gulzor, Christian L. Frey and Carl Schultz were admitted citizens in May, and in September fol- lowing, there were admitted Owen Curry, Robert Beckman, Carsten Bosselman, Johann D. H. Koch, Christian Otto, Theo. Brustim, Lawrence Michael and Johann G. Schieck.

The March term of 1880 was opened by Judge Post on the 2d. M. B. Reese was district attorney, B. C. Wakeley (succeeded by E. M. Battis), court reporter, Charles Rief, clerk, and Joseph Killian, sheriff. At this time the work of naturalizing for- eigners commenced in earnest, and large lists of those admitted to American citizenship find their way into the court journal. M. B. Hoxie, P. S. Batte and M. B. Reese, a committee appointed to examine candidates for admission to the bar, re- ported favorably on the petitions of George B. Darr, D. H. Burroughs and George W. Trefren, who were admitted. The trial of Frank Lawrence for murder in the first degree occupied much of the attention of this term. Messrs. Reese, Tham- mel and Platt represented the State and Messrs. Abbott, Caldwell and W. H. Bell the defendant. The jury, of which James Ewing was foreman, brought in a verdict of "not guilty." In October, 1880, Austin H. Moulton was admitted, and in September, 1881, Herschel A. Edwards was ad- mitted on motion of J. K. Thompson.

In the fall of 1885 an attempt was made to burn the court-house and jail by some desperate pris- oners. In August four prisoners, William H. Thur- man, a forger, August Pitreet, a horse thief, Clar-

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HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

ence McClain, a seller of mortgaged property, and John Moody escaped. With the aid of a small fire- shovel they bored through the concrete floor, and burrowed thence to liberty.

The murder of Valentine Gulcher occurred near Grand Island, February 19, 1888. The coroner's jury found August Moeller guilty of the crime.

The trial of George Hart* for the murder of Michael Kress commenced in September, 1881, but was continued to the next term. March 1, 1882, a jury, of whom N. Child was foreman, found the prisoner guilty, and Judge Post sentenced him to be hanged June 15, 1882. Messrs. M. B. Reese, Thummel and Platt represented the State, and Messrs. Abbott, Michael and Caldwell the defend- ant. In February, 1882, H. C. Denman was sheriff and Frank Sears, clerk, vice Killian and Rief. Very little business was transacted during the fall term proper, but at the adjourned term, held in January, 1883, a very extensive civil docket was disposed of. Henry E. Clifford was admitted to practice on January 9. In the fall of this year Thomas Darnall presented the "whisky indict- ments " to the grand jury, and that body knowingly did return them for trial on specific evidence point- ing out the defendants to have sold and delivered "a certain spirituous liquor, commonly called whisky."

*The case was carried to the supreme court, but without sue- ress, when executive clemency was asked. Although the scaffold was ready for the execution it was not given a victim, as the death sentence was commuted, and instead imprisonment for life imposed.

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Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co. Number of Pages: 820

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 820