davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-06
GATHERING UP the RECORDS
Physical Statistics Relative to Omaha
School Children Are to he
Secured.

Before the close of the present school
year. Omaha's public school children will
be minutely described, weighed, measured
and otherwise physically examined and the
records thus secured will be filed away in
the archives of the Nebraska Society for
the Advancement of Physical education, in
company with similar records secured in the
other public schools of the state.
This is something new in Nebraska, al
though the National Association for the Ad-
vancement of Physical education has been in
existence for a number of years, having
been born in Boston. Several months ago
the Nebraska branch Of the association was
organized and only few weeks ago the
Omaha society was sprung upon the public
The local society has held several meet
ings to get ready for the campaign.
The purpose of the organization is to get
an idea of the normal or composite school
boy and girl of America A quite extended
description is therefore to be taken of the
children. Among the records that are to be
made are the following: Nationality, birth
place, birthplace of parents, diseases to
which the children and their parents have
been subject, their favorte form of exercise,
weight, height-sittlng and standlng-span
of arms, breadth of head, chest and waist,
depth OF chest, girth of head and chest luns
capacity and strength of grip of hands.
Several instruments are required. One
measures the head, another is lung tester,
third a grip measurer, besides scales and
tape.
The local society has been awaiting the
arrival of these instruments before com
mencing active work, but they are now here.
Another meeting of the society will be held
Saturday to make final arrangements for TAX
ing the measurements. The members of the
society will volunteer their services for this
work and expect that it will take a couple
of weeks to go through all the public
schools. After they become accustomed to
the work they think that they can measure
all tho children in school room in little
more than half an hour
The purposes of the society are receiving
tho support of men and women prominent
in educational and philanthropic circles
Among those who are members of the So
ciety are Superintendent of Schools Pearse
Prot. Bernstein of the High school, Athletic
Director Barnes of the Young Mems Chris
tian association, Athletic Director Retzer OF
the German Turnverein, Miss Fish of the
Young Womans Christian association, Rev
Clark of the Childs institute, DR., Townc
! and many others.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-06
$l.O0 Imported
Flowers al e0C

Kerr. This was for the purpose of inducing
Mrs. Kerr to live with her husband again
and go with him to oregon, where he had
farm. Reid came home on the train Wednes-
day morning with his face bruised and cut.
She did not see Kerr until Friday in the
kitchen of the hotel She described the gen.
eral arrangement of the room and said that
there were present, besides Mr.. Reid and
herself, the dining room girl, Jennie john
son, and Matilda Huntsley, a girl who was
staying at the hotel. Mr. Reid and herself
were standing at opposite ends of a table at
one side of the kitchen when Kerr entered.
Reid was just telling her to hurry up the
supper, as a travelling man was waiting in
the dining room, when Kerr came in and
shot him. Not a word was spoken. The
witness said that her husband turned and
looked at her for an instant and then fell on
the floor. Kerr then threatened that IL he
moved he would shoot again and the witness
ran out to get help. When she came back
Kerr was removing the shell from the gun
She described the wound in the side OF
Reds head. which she said was big enough
to admit an ordinary sized fist. She asserted
that Kerr came into the kitchen on a run
with his gun ready and fired without a sec
ond's hesitation.
On cross examination Mr. Mahoney
to Kerr's anxiety to get his wife back and
his frequent efforts to induce his father-in-
law to use his influence with his daughter
| in his favor. The cross examination in
reference to the shooting was very brief.
Matilda HuntsIey Testifcs.
Matilda Huntsley, a cousin of Mrs. Reid,
who also in the kitchen when Reid
was shot, was also called to testify to the
1 ,i, . h., -, ,1,.
was on the porch when Kerr drove up to
| the hotel, accompanied by his brother. He
| got out of the buggy with his gun and looked
| into the window of the parlor where Reid
| spent most of his time. The witness then
| told Reid that Kerr was there and Reid
went into the kitchen. Kerr followed, run
ming part of the way, and she followed Kerr.
| AS soon as Kerr reached the kitchen he
! eyeled the gun and fired. She saw Kerr
| fire second shot, but did not know whether
| he was trying to kill himself or some one
| else. Kerr's brother. Robert, came with
| him in the buggy, and came into the office
and got an egg case that John Kerr had left
| there some days before While he was
getting the esq case John remained in the
buggy and held the team. After Robert
put the egg case in the buggy John got out,
took his shotgun from under the laprobe
and started for the hotel AS soon as John
left the buggy Robert drove away.
| substantially similar version of the af-
fair was contributed by Jennie Johnson, the
dining room girl. She was standing on the
east side of the kitchen facing the dining
room door when Kerr came in. Mr.. and
Mrs Reid We're on the north side of the
kitchen. Kerr ran in with his gun, leyeled
| and fired point blank at Reid. He did not
| say word either before or after he pulled
| the trigger, She ran out Of the kitchen
after Reid was shot and heard a second
Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-06
TELLS STORY OF THE MURDER
Mrs. Reid Details Shooting of Her Husband
by John Kerr
ACCUSED LISTENS TO THE TESTIMONY
Pays Close Attention to the Evidence
that May Result in His Pay
ing the Penalty, on
the GallOws.
ACCUSED LISTENS TO THE TESTIM0N'

The introduction of the first evil
dence in the Kerr murder trial at
tracted an interested crowd to the criminal
court room and it gave close attention while
the wife of the murdered man told how Kerr
shot her husband dead at her feet. MIS-
Reid was attired in full mourning. she
narrated the occurrence that made her a
widow, and at or two points In her
testimony broke down for few seconds, put
quickly recovered herself and made an eT-
cellent witness. Kerr heard her testimony
with interest, but apparently without emo
tion, and even when Mrs. Reid pointed him
out as the man who killed her husband he
did not give a sign The testimony that
was given in the forenoon was largely a
repetition of the story of the shooting as 1t
was told in the newspapers at the time.
1t developed just before adjournment that
the state very narrowly escaped losing
about thirty witnesses. The names of these
witnesses were endorsed the informa-
ton a few days ago on the motion of the
county attorney, who said that the required
notice had been given to the defendant.
When Mary j. Hall was called the defense
objected on the ground that no notice had
been given, and it developed that County
Attorney Shields had merely given list
of the witnesses to the attorneys for the
defendant, but without signing It. After
considerable argument Judge Baker said
that II he had known that the notice was
not signed he would have refused to allow
the additional names to be endorsed on the
information, but since this had been done he
would permit the witnesses to testify.
Mrs. Reid Upon the stand.
The first witness was Mrs. John Reid, wife
of the murdered man. She was asked q
number of questions in regard to matters OF
family history that We're ruled out by the
court as immaterial to the present issue
Mrs Reid said that she and her late husband
had kept the hotel at Valley since 1878
Reld's youngest daughter was married tc
John Kerr. the defendant, about fourteen
years ago.
Referring to the occurrences immediately
preceding the shooting, the witness sait
that during the week before Kerr and hel
husband had arranged to come to Omaha
together Kerr came to the hotel Sunday
night and the next morning the two men
started together for Omaha TO see Mrs
Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-06
WOMAN'S CLUB ART STUDY
Egyptian Architecture and Assyrinn
and Persian Art Engaged the
Clubs Attention.

The art department of the Womans club
held its closing meeting Thursday afternoon
The attendance was large, as each member
OF the class, numbering 100, was privileged
to bring two guests. The study of the de-
partment has been in the direction of Egyp-
tan architecture, with some explorations
into the realms of Assyrian and Persian art,
this study serving as a preparation for the
discussion of gothic architecture, which will
occupy the class next year.
The exercises included a short business
session, when reports We're read by the Sec
retary, Mrs. Philip Potter, and the treasurer,
Mrs. Harry Mott, and the following officers
were elected: Leader Mrs. W. w. Keysori
assistant leaders, Mrs. II. w. Pennock ana
Mrs. A. S. Stger; secretary, Mrs. Philip Pot
ter treasurer, Mrs. Harry Mott.
The program consisted of three papers
"Petrie, the Modern Explorer of Egypt" by
Mrs. Lowre; 1.-The Lotus as Developed in
Architecture" by Miss Wilson; Marietta
the Explorer" by Miss Kennedy. TIE music
by Miss Bishop included "'Twas in a Land"
Chamnade, and "sleep, Little Baby of
Mine" Dennee.
At the conclusion of the program souvenir
year books, containing an outline of the
years work, were distributed They were
embelished in unique fashion by Miss Emily
Dorm with a map of the Nile and its delta
colored to represent a lotus flower.
Upon adjournment reception was held
and refreshments, consisting of parched corn
stuffed dates, olives and coffee, were served
in the east parlor, which had been converted
into an Egyptian room by Mesdames Wat
ties, Offut Stiger and Jocelyn. Here weT,
| lamps, vases, bangngs and pictures o
| Egyptian association and the floral decora
| tions were lilies and heurs-de-ls.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-06
Robbed the Grave.

A startling incident, of which Mr.. John
Oliver of PHILADELPHIA was the subject. is
narrated by him as follows: Il was in a
most dreadful condition. NV skin was al
most yellow eyes sunken, tongue coated,
pain continually in back and sides, no ap-
gradually growing weaker day by
day. Three physicians had given me up.
Fortunately friend advised trying Electric
Bitters and to my great Joy and surprise
the first bottle made a decided Improvement.
| continued their use for three weeks and
am now a well man. know they saved
my life and robbed the grave Of another
victim" No one should fail TO try them.
Only 80 cents guaranteed at Kuhn & Co. )
drug store
Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-06
Antitrust Mills Combine.

CHICAGO, May 5.--The Chronicle says:
Makers Of steel fence wire who are outside
the trust are meeting in Chicago for the
purpose of forming combination and erect
Ing a plant at some point within the In
diana gas belt. The companies number
fourteen and have been compelled to get
together in order to compete successfully
with the Steel and Wire trust. The latter
has advanced the price of raw material TO
such an extent that extreme economy OF
management and manufacture Is essential
to the securing of any profit from produce
ton.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-06

The following births and deaths were re-
ported to the health commissioner during
the last twenty-four hours:
Births-Anton f. porkorny 1923 William,
boy; George Burris, 1926 South Nineteenth,
girl; John Lund, 1437 South Eighteenth,
boy; William Bruner, 2217 North Twenty
eighth avenue, boy; Frank Winship, 1908
North Seventeenth, boy; Joe Bashe, iii
South Fourteenth. girl; Angelo De Hello,
1895 South Nineteenth, boy; Onie Shannon,
1117 North Twenty-fourth, girl j. b.
Cunco, 2O20 Pierce, girl; p. A. Pyles, 2501
South Twenty fifth, girl.
Deaths-Dorsey b. Houck. 2011 Spruce
73 years; e. A. Walter, 23l3 Douglas, SO
years.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-06

The semi-annual conference of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for the
State of Nebraska will convene in the
Knights of Pythias half Twenty fourth and
Charles streets, Saturday evening at 7:3O.
The meetings will be continued Sunday
morning at 1890 and evening at 1880.
Among the delegates will be: Louis A.
Kelsch, president of the northern mission;
Michael Mauss, president of the Nebraska
state conference; G. C. SeffensOn, president
of the Missouri conference, and Elders r. j.
Howell, Elias Nielsen, j. N. Larson, a. An
derson, M p Sorenson, NJ. Christensen. w.
H. Valentine, John Hatch, w. II. Dickson,
C. w. Lillywhite, j. NJ. Wright, Daniel
Mackay and Albert Boyce.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-06
Boycott Injunction Cnse,

Judge Dickinson spent yesterday after
noon listening to the arguments the ap
plication of Louis Beatty for temporary
injunction to prevent E. NJ. Nelson and other
members of the Walters union, No. 23, from
interfering with his restaurant business.
Beatty asserts that because he refused to
agree to some of the demands of the union
its members naugurated a boycott and fol-
lowed it up by posting men in front of
his restaurant to warn people not to pat
ronize him. restraining order is now
in force and a decision will be handed down
next week
Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-06
Onens N Recruiting Omce.

Second Lieutenant Warren Dean. Sixth
cavalry, has come to Omaha to open a re-
cruiting office, room SIP, in the McCague
building, and will remain here as long as
the field warrants an office being main
tanned He will accept recruits for all
branches of the service. Recruits for the
Philippines will be dispatched direct from
Omaha to San Francisco, where transports
win be in waiting Lieutenant Dean viii
enlist the better class OF colored men for
the Tenth cavalry. Men are wanted for the
Fifth cavalry in Porto Rico and for the ar
tillery, cavalry and infantry in the Philip
pines.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-06

from this county to the Childs' Institution
at that place. The Oldest of these children
is only IL years. They belong to a family
named Hansen, that has rived on farm
some distance south from Waterloo. Last
winter the mother died and since then the
father was taken sick and is now in one of
the Omaha hospitals. This left the children
alone and they have been cared for by some
of the neighbors. The nelghbors say that
they cannot keep the children and have ap-
pealed to the county authorities to make
some provision for them
Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-06

Balls story Of the shooting and Kerrs ar
rest was substantially similar TO that given
by previous witnesses. On cross-eXamina-
tion the defense brought out the fact thae
during the conversation in the saloon Kerr
had lodged rapidly from one question to an
other. He talked about having Reid ar
rested for beating him, then he had accused
Reid of beating him out of $4,000 and the
next minute he declared that Reid had
robbed the Union Pacific railroad and he
was going to prosecute him for that.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-06

to supper after the show was over. She
kept her part of the agreement and the
two were seen to leave the hall together
when the curtain dropped on the last act
Edwards claims that after they had supper
the woman went through his pockets and
robbed him of $45 He says he would not
have kicked had she left him enough to
pay for his breakfast, but not a cent was
found in his pockets after she had gotten
through with them,
Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-06
Y. M. C. A. ANNUAL ELECTION
Other Matters of Interest to the As
sociation-Results of intermediate
Gymnasium Test.

The annual election for members of the
Board of Directors will be held Monday next
from noon to p m. The Board of Directors
is composed of twenty-one men, who are
elected for three years and so arranged that
the term of one-third of the number expires
each year The following are those whose
term expired May /: H. J. Penfold, DR.. ID.
A. Foote, j. w. Battin, f. II. Gaines, c. Il.
Morgan, H. H. Harder and George f. Bid
we'll.
The mems meeting last Sunday was one
of the most hopeful gatherings held in the
association building for many months, and
another meeting of the same kind is being
planned for next Sunday at p. m. This
service will be in charge of Secretary Over
ton of the South Omaha Young Mems
Christian association, and will be largely
devoted to testimony and song.
Although the improvements to the athletic
park are now being made and the formal
opening will not be held until June g. the
park lis open for members of the association.
Thursday something like fifty members
availed themselves of the privileges The
boys have the privileges of the park Tues
day and Thursday afternoons and Saturday
morning at present, The grounds are open
every evening until 1880. This after
noon there will be a game of base ball be-
tween the bank clerks and the lawyers.
The intermediate gymnasium test, which
was held this week, proved quite an inter
esting feature. The test included a ten
minute military drill, a ten minute dumb
bell drill, three exercises on the horse, three
| exercises on the parallel bars three exercises
on the horizontal BAR, running high jump
three standing broad jumps and one-quartel
mile potato race. The highest possible score
is 100 points. The following records were
made: Chester Stemm, 70 $40; Earl Painter
| II 3-1O Albert Goldsmith, 73 $40; l.. d
| Erion, 73 l-10; j. IL. Mccarthy, 70 $40
] Inhn Hall G7 LIN, IL L Ellis Ga Ii
Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-06
Miner Matters In court.

Emma Kelly says that her husband, Fred
S. Kelly, deserted her while she was con-
fined TO her bed by sickness and for that
reason asks the courts to absolye her from
her matrimonial obligations.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-06

People who have once taken DeWitt's
Little Early Rsers will never have anything
else. They are the famous little pills" for
torpid liver and all irregularities of the sys-
TEN, Try them and you will always use
them
Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-06
Cable Service IntcrrunteJ

NEW YORK, May 5-The Commercial
Cable company issued the following notice
today: I'VE are advised that the cable be-
tween lloilo and Bacaloa philippine islands,
is interrupted"
Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-06
Marshal MiiIer's story.

Peter Miller, who was village marshal of
Valley az the time Reid was killed. said
that he arrived at the hotel while Kerr and
Smedley were tangled up" on the porcn
He did not know at that time that murder
had been committed, but he arrested both
men for fighting. He took them to the vii
lage Jail and then went to find the justice
OF the peace When he came back he found
that Kerr had tried TO cut his throat with
lis penknife. He heard Kerr and his brother
talking at the Jail but could not remember
anything that Kerr said. The county attor-
ney spent some time and a good deal OF
diplomacy in trying to make the witness
remember that Kerr had asked him, "Is the
old brute dead?" but his memory was a
hopeless blank
William Ball testified that Kerr was in
his saloon just before the shooting with
Robert Kerr and John wager. At that time
Kerr was talking about the fight he had
with Reid in Omaha day or two before
and said that he was going TO have Reid
arrested. Afterward Kerr declared tha,
Reid had pounded him up and he was going
to kill him. About FIVE minutes after Kerr
left and started up town, In about Ave
minutes tue shooting at the hotel occurred
Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-06
A Costly ROse.

While watching the performance at
Harney street dance hall Thursday night
j, l., Edwards made an engagement with
Rose Mclaughlin, alias Myers, to take her
Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-06
Sorry Condition of Children.

County Commissioners Ostrom and Ho-
feldt have gone to Hastings to try to secure
the admission Of family Of seven children
Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-06
New Features.

New Features.
Joseph Olster a farmer boy, contributed
one or two new features to the story as it
had been related by previous witnesses. He
said that he had gone to the hotel to sell
a load of cobs and was there when Kerr
drove up. He was standing on a side porch
of the hotel when he heard the shot fired
that killed Reid. Then he looked through
the pantry window and saw Reid lying on
the kitchen floor, just outside the pantry
door, while Kerr beat him on the head with
his gun. He then ran down to the depot
from which he turned and looked back. At
that time Kerr was just coming out on the
porch, where he stopped to put fresh shells
in his gun.
The witness declared that after Kerr
loaded his gun he put the muzzle in his
mouth and attempted to press the trigger
with his foot He failed in this and then
tried to shoot himself by holding the gun
towards his head and pulling the trigger
with his finger. AS soon as the gun went
off, Kerr exclaimed Il am dead" and ran
off the porch He struck at man named
smedley, whom he met just off the porch,
and then smedley and William Ball got
hold of him and held him.
James Mitchell, a retired farmer who
lives at Valley, saw Kerr on the street be-
fore the shooting and later when he was
scuflling with Smedley near the porch. The
witness told Marshal Miller to arrest both
men. Kerr refused to submit to arrest, but
finally consented to go with the marshal
John d. Traylor testified to the events sub
sequent to the shooting, when Kerr tried to
shoot himself on the porch. This was merley
corroborative of previous testimony.
Alexander Gardner, a carpenter, was at
work on house near the hotel when he
heard the shooting. He ran to the hotel
and arrived just after Kerr had left the
porch and at Mrs Reid's request went in
to see how badly her husband was injured.
He found Reid lying on the kitchen floor.
He thought he detected a single pulse beat
and then Reid was dead. Kerr was talking
to one of the bystanders when he arrived at
tho hotel but all he heard him say was 81
have done it,"
Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-06

shot just after she had reached the dining
room.
The first witness in the afternoon was
Mary ]. Hall, whose testimony was not i'm
portant. She was working in restaurant
about half a block from the hotel on the
day of the shooting She saw Kerr and his
brother drive up to the hotel, after which
John Kerr got out with his gun and looked
through the parlor window He then went
into the hotel and a minute after she heard
two shots.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-06

The immense sales OF Dents Toothache
Gum proves its popularity. Druggists. l5c,
Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-06
Special
Flower Sale

Manufacturers sample line
of imported French flow
ers. Everyone a silk
flower with foliage rub
Der stem, and all of them
worth $1.50 and $500 a
bunch on sale at
The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1899-08-18

From private Letter We lean thst
one Yamhillsr at least is doing well in
Baker county. Mrs. minnie ?. Flyer, Of
Sampler, who ls well. known in Ills
county. having taught school here for ak
) ears ana kept books for some time Tor
w. A. howe, Of Carlton, is the person. !.
on the fret day OF April she invested in
what's xnowu as the Stow Bird quartz
ledge, which joins the great Goleonda
snd Columbia leads and on the first day
OF June sold her ilterss:s, having made
l2O per cent on the principal Invested
This came property 10 today being devtl
oped and found to be the richest Iedges
ever struck in that SECTION, ard cannot
b, bad at any figure offered. The B'u
mountains contains the richest mineral
belt west OF the rot kies. go states. jos. b.
Dabney Fl Spokane and other mining
capitalists Of Rossland, B. = ard vari-
QUE points in California, who are visiting
5umpter and fsuring on opening up som
OF the best auar.z ledg>s 10 that section.
-NcMinville T. r.
The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1899-08-18

The worlds hondholders have dscreeu
aha. India must be forced 10 = void
standard. II the United ststes VIII
follow su,t by passlps the currency osl
agr,e Cd upca by the repassisan Aiemoefs
of the committee ON coinage, weights
and measures, the appreciation y The
value Of money viii 0e greater during
the nest desad+ than ever betare, ana
tae general level Of p,ic-s n America
and Europe will continue 70 iall lower
and lower each var. Il this policy is
pe,ssvered Ia. nothing saurto' dss'ot-
'sms Ia industry can Avoid bankruptcy,
Il means the doom Of thO Individual
business man, the tdi idual tatmer.
and the dertatlon Of the laeorer.--NA.
tional Waterman.