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This newspaper page contains 27 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Washington Evening Journal
Location
Washington, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Apr 17, 1939
Page
1
A 26 year old German refugee George Lurie arrived in West Branch via Iowa City bus depot after leaving Hamburg two months ago where he worked as a radio export manager. He was greeted by four other refugees who arrived Saturday, all meeting Lurie for the first time.
The Most Rev Henry P Kohlman bishop of Davenport entered his bedroom to find a stranger asleep. Police identified the intruder who claimed he had been with friends in a tavern and had entered the wrong house. He dressed and left for home.
A six man Ottumwa Checker club defeated Cedar Rapids by 79 to 65. Cedar Rapids star Robbie Kennedy scored 18 points while Ottumwa leaders F. Lamb and George Huber posted 17 and 16 respectively. State meet next year set for Cedar Rapids.
Mrs. Kenneth Gepfert of Cedar Rapids traced her brother Harley Geissler of Buffalo New York after 17 years of separation. Their parents, Charles and Mrs. Walker of Muscatine, died in a train accident. Church records in Minnesota led to the reunion in Cedar Rapids.
Four men arrive in West Branch seeking peace reflecting on mental and physical Hells caused by Hitler era. They recount cruelty as mobs shout Heil and march in boots. Saturday night the four sat in a Scattergood school parlor.
Coroner concluded the Mezzanine balcony fall was not an accident and said no inquest will be held after Lucille Brown died instantly at the Hotel Savery ballroom during the Iowa Junior Chamber of Commerce inaugural ball. An injured companion was taken to a hospital.
Raymond H H Ritchie, 23, accompanied by his girlfriend, walked into Sheriff Leo J. Eisbach’s DuBuque county office and confessed to about a dozen robberies since 1936. The sheriff said Ritchie surrendered after his girlfriend urged him to go straight.
A family of five was found shot to death in their Ogden home at midnight Saturday. The father May Platter, 38, a poultry raiser, allegedly feared he was going insane and killed his wife Lena Platter, 41, and their three children before taking his own life. Two notes on ruled notepaper indicate a pact to die by their own actions.
Earl W. Fischer a 42 year old Vinton attorney and insurer was appointed by Governor Wilson to head the new Iowa state department of public safety. The four year term carries a 4000 dollar annual salary and awaits senate confirmation. Fischer is a World War veteran and long time Benton county Republican leader with extensive highway safety experience.
Mrs Bruce Gobble of Fairfield was a guest of Della and Ticia Patton yesterday and attended the Associate Presbyterian church morning service.
Washington high school will send its girls glee club and multiple soloists to the state music festival in Iowa City the first weekend in May. District contest ratings in Mount Pleasant earned four groups and soloists the right to advance, with multiple division placements noted for string bass and other solos. Maurice Brayton will lead two small groups and the high school orchestra to a southeast Iowa festival in Burlington for critique, not ratings, with plans to form a large combined orchestra and chorus after all performances.
Funeral services for E J Ramsey who died of a heart attack will be held Tuesday at 2 pm at the home in Keota. Burial will be in Keota cemetery. Ramsey a Keota native and businessman had earlier operated grain, furniture, bakery, restaurant and drug stores. He survived by wife Lydian Teascher and three sisters Mrs Hulse Mrs Galbreath and Mrs Blythen.
Captain Jay Brown announced a repeat drill for Troop F 112th Cavalry at City Hall due to mud around stables and drill field. With the May 16 federal inspection four weeks away, he wonders when horses and men can be conditioned before the inspector arrives.
A festival will feature ensembles performing under the baton of expert directors. The event showcases collaborative artistry and invites audiences to enjoy diverse choral and instrumental pieces conducted by seasoned professionals.
Washington has received 2.30 inches of rain over the last three days, with 1.60 inches falling from Friday night through this morning. The soil is saturated, aiding preparation for the 1939 crop season if future conditions remain favorable. The past 24 hours saw temperatures from 40 to 49 degrees.
Des Moines reports forecast of snow and freezing temperatures across Iowa with lows near 4 degrees in the southeast and heavier rain turning to snow in Cherokee Estherville and Forest City. Duluth notes four inches of snow. Nebraska and Kansas see drifting. Iowa City reports 1.84 inches while Esther ville hits 56 degrees as continued cold remains likely Tuesday.
In Des Moines on April 17 the senate board of control introduced four bills to curb evils at three mental hospitals and two orphan homes. Proposals include restricting convict labor, standardizing bookkeeping, making ward removal without contract execution a misdemeanor, and requiring rules for punishment of state wards at the Toledo juvenile home, Davenport orphans home, Eldora boys training school, and Mitchellville girls training schools.
The Iowa House reversed its position and passed a bill to permit formation of soil conservation districts. The measure, 63 to 40, creates a state conservation board and allows local districts if 65 percent of landowners sign on, after removing compulsory features.
Early today around eleven a.m. a line of trucks bearing soldiers and field artillery moved east through town on primary road No 92. The caravan did not stop and the unit's identity was not confirmed, but local military men indicated it was a field artillery battery on the move.
Washington police report a Saturday burglary in which Joe Statler’s car was entered at the Y M C A on East Main street. A sack of sugar and other groceries were stolen, and Maxine Schoonover's suitcase with clothing, spectacles, and a Kodak was taken. The unlocked vehicle was noticed about ten o clock Saturday night, according to Chief Jay Brown.
George Mohr, head of the Washington County Safety Council, notes that junior high bike battalion members report many automobile drivers ignore bike signals. A bicycle court session is planned after another meeting, and a committee was named to plan a member picnic. Daylight riding hours have been extended to seven o'clock.
William Franklin Leppert 75 died at his home 131 North Marion yesterday evening after a brief illness. Funeral services set for 2 PM Tuesday at Shermans with burial in Hillcrest, Brighton. Survived by wife Emma, daughters Mrs. Beliel and Mrs. Hoskins, eight grandchildren, one great grandchild, one brother Charles. He was a longtime farmer and church member.
A prepaid sales tax measure sponsored by Senator A Claire Dewey of Washington and Senator A J Shaw of Pocahontas advances after approval in the senate committee. Sponsors say it would halt leaks in Iowa sales tax collection and add between 2 and 5 million dollars annually to the state treasury.
The battalion seeks more members and will start a drive to interest more in the organization which now has about 60 on the rolls.
Berlin reports Hitler convokes the Reichstag for April 28 to present his stance on President Roosevelt's peace proposal. The move follows expectations that Hitler may partially accept the plan or offer a counter proposal amid Mussolini's draft reply by Goering, as Berlin weighs the response with Hitler and Ribbentrop.
Father H C Corcoran of St James's parish traveled to Parnell to attend the funeral of Father Cash's mother held there this morning. Burial is in Holbrook Cemetery. She was a sister of Monsignor Hennoyg of Muscatine.
The Y W C A membership committee announces the annual membership drive set for Tuesday May 9. Committee members Etha Dawson Mrs Jewel Carris and Irene Yard outline aims to fund a year of women and girls activities and note the Y M C A and Y W C A are separate organizations with finances handled independently. Local residents are invited to join and support the Y W C A program at its rooms in the east entrance of the Y M C A.
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